Interlake Child Care and Learning Center

January 11, 2010

Dear Families and Friends of Interlake,

Good news ….
We learned this morning that our program has achieved accrediation by the National Association for the Education of Young Children. Yahooo! Our teaching and support staff, our board and you, our families are to be congratulated for (in the words of our letter from the Academy), “earning the mark of quality represented by the NAEYC Accreditation system.” Our teachers and staff have been grinning from ear-to-ear and giving lots of “high-fives” as well as celebrating with a pizza party and several bottles of Martinelli’s sparkling cider today. (The bubbles made all the difference!)

While there’s always room for improvement, the scores below reflect our effectiveness in pursuing excellence. We were rated for each program standard as follows:

1. Relationships – 100%
2. Curriculum – 90%
3. Teaching – 100%
4. Assessment – 100%+*
5. Health – 100%
6. Teachers – 100% *
7. Families – 100%+*
8. Community Relationships – 100%+*
9. Physical Environment – 80%
10. Leadership & Management – 100%*

*Score includes credit given for meeting Emerging Criteria.

We are indebted to Child Care Resources for the ongoing mentoring we’ve received from Dr. Maryann Johnston. She has been incredibly helpful in coaching us for the past year and longer in specific methods for meeting the NAYEC criteria (there are over 400 in all). Child Care Resources also paid for our application fee and has given Interlake mini-grants which has helped us purchase materials to augment our program’s quality.

This is such a satisfying outcome given the amount of hard work, commitment, and on-going progress that our teachers and staff have dedicated themselves to. Our children and families deserve this level of quality and I’m thrilled on behalf of Interlake Child Care & Learning Center that the NAEYC Academy recognizes our accomplishments.

Thank you families for your continued support of our community and our efforts made every day to do our best work!

Carol
(Cawol)

PS Feel free to continue the chain of high fives and good feelings with our staff as you drop off and pick up your children. Thanks!

“Big Changes Start with Small People”

Welcome to Interlake Child Care and Learning Center. Interlake provides full and part-time care for Infants, Toddlers and Preschoolers. Founded in 1982, Interlake is a 501(c)3 non-profit center, governed by a Board of Directors comprised of current and former parents. Every dime we raise and receive is applied toward our mission of helping you raise your children to be responsible, creative, compassionate human beings.

Interlake provides a warm and caring environment that celebrates diversity and allows children maximum freedom of choice while ensuring their physical and psychological safety. Our website provides some background information on Interlake as well as details on programs offered, rates and hours of operation. You can also request a tour or view our waiting list policy by completing one of these forms.

Weather Policies: (published Jan 2, 2009)  The following policies supercede all previous weather related closure policies. WE NO LONGER FOLLOW THE SEATTLE PUBLIC SCHOOLS’ WEATHER CLOSURE POLICY.

FLOOD:

During the school day, if the building is being flooded (ground water, sewage, debris, etc.) we will close the center. Parents will be called to pick up their children for the day. If the affected areas can be safely cleaned and sanitized in time, the center will open the following day. If a flood occurs overnight, parents will be notified as soon as possible of the closure for the following day. Information regarding the closure due to flooding, will be posted on the doors, website, and Yahoo group. The outgoing phone message will be changed to reflect the affected day’s schedule by 6:00 am.

ADVERSE WEATHER:

In the case of adverse weather conditions, the Executive Director, or designee, will make the decision as to whether the center is open, closed or will open late or close early. The decision is based on a number of factors including but not limited to: weather and road conditions and whether the necessary number of essential teachers and staff can get to the center to maintain the legally required teachers-to-children ratios. The decision to open late or close will be made by 6:00 am and will be posted on the school’s doors, and website and sent to the Yahoo group. The outgoing phone message will also be changed to reflect the day’s schedule. Should extreme weather conditions require the center to close early, parents will be called to pick up their children for the day.

POWER OUTAGE:

During the school day, if a power outage lasts more than 30 minutes, we will close the center. Parents will be called to pick up their children for the day. If the power outage happens overnight and the center is still experiencing an outage at 6:00 am, we will post the closure on the outside doors of the building and note the closure on the outgoing voicemail and the website. If possible, we will send out a Yahoo group email.