What I thought about Rogers Pierce

[mizarchivist]

Here's a brain dump of what I discovered about Rogers Pierce and what I still need to sort out, why I am hoping IF we need this at all, why I'm hoping it'll just work out. 

• There's a 3:1 ratio for kids/teachers. Toddler room has no more than 9 kids at a time.
• Toddler room is 15-24 months. Factors for moving include age, slots open in the 2-3 place, if there's a particular friend, they'll often move them together. 
• They have a pretty set routine every day. 
• Snack is morning and afternoon.
• I already know that the previous director wasn't quite so awesome and they lost enrollment because of that. The new director? Well, she brought in a lot of new teachers, so I think it's too early to tell if they'll stick around, as it's been something like a year. 
• When Mr. D. was playing in the room he'd be in, one of the teachers came over and played with him. All the kids seemed relaxed and engaged. There were several things going on at once and I think one of the teachers was about to start a yoga session with them. (Yay yoga!). Mr. D. started playing immediately and was doing so pretty nicely. Interested, but not territorial.
• They take the kids out on field trips on a regular basis and to the playground when the weather and seasons permit. 
• They are a non-profit and their board is run by the parents. 
• They're open 7:30-6. They do a hard 3pm pickup and then anything between 3-6 is softer. Enrollment costs are set to either 3 or post-3, no inbetween (OK, that's fine). Naturally, it's more cost effective to send a kid full time than for part time. 
• I can get to this place independently. This is a really big deal. It's less than 5 minutes from our house, in fact. I know there's a ton of good schools, but if I can't get there, they may as well not exist for me. 
• They are a nut-free school. (Not that this is a concern for us, but they take that thing seriously) Kids need to have up to date immunizations to attend. 
• I liked how it smelled: well aired and we were there when one of the rooms was getting hosed down, which happens every Friday. All the toys get washed. All kids are expected to take home their lovey and blanket at the end of the week to get washed, too. 

Questions

• What if I think it's too sugary/lacking in protein, what if he's hungry between times, what if he rejects what's there?
• If he needs a nap when it's not naptime?
• How do they resolve conflict
• Will ask about what they do when kids are sick
• See, the thing is, I sort of think that we are moving next June, almost certainly before Mr. D. is ready for potty training. Unless we move only a few blocks away, we'll have to find a new daycare near where we will be living or go with on the commute path. So, I have short-timer attitude about this right now.
• I did see potty chairs available. Clearly it happens while kids are there because they go up to pre-K. I should ask anyway what their philosophy is on that. 
• Re: breastfeeding: He's pretty much doing so at night. Although I again should find out more if he's having a hard day and wants some comfort. 
• Don't know if they're NAEYC. Um... Sure. I could see about that, too. I think I mostly care if the kid(s) is/are happy. 

So, we'll see. QE will need to check it out and we'll see what his instinct is on it. 

Comments

[kebbykate.livejournal.com]

When kids get sick they call you to come pick them up, end of story. And if they have a fever, they have to be fever-free for 24 hours before they can come back. Little kids spike mysterious fevers on a regular basis.

[kebbykate.livejournal.com]

Everything you described is standard practice and good, Most of the practices, like the cleaning schedule, are part of state regulations. The ratios you mention are the MA state ratios, it's 4 to 1 in CT for the same age groups. If the place doesn't set off alarm bells and the location and cost work, it should be fine. MA is well known for having higher licensing standards than many other states, so that helps.

If they had NAEYC accreditation it would be all over their brochures.

Toddlers are much less picky than slightly older children, so my guess is that he'll like the snacks just fine. ;-) Kids also tend to eat things that they see other kids eating. M, my picky, picky eater, does much better with the school lunch menu than with the home menu.

Being a non-profit is huge and a parent-run board is terrific--in fact those would be big things in the place's favor in my book. I'd give them +++ for those things. If the new director has kept a crew of teachers for a year already, that's a good sign, too. I'd give that a ++. There's incredibly high turnover in this field, so this is actually good. A good center with happy staff is much better for your kid.

[mizarchivist]

Cool. Excellent. Now we wait. Between you and gosling, who both have rigourous standards, I feel like that means half the battle is won. :)

[gosling.livejournal.com]

I know that school by reputation, although I don't know anyone who has worked there and/or had a child there. They are considered quite good. (This is the one right by the Arlington Public Library, yes?) I often would see them in the playground by the library, and I always really liked the interactions the teachers had with the kids.

Oh good!

[mizarchivist]

And if they got through their recent upheaval and still considered quite good, that sounds really good to me. Yes, they are the place by the library. It's in the basement of the now-former Congregational church and there's a great side-street entrance to the area behind the library where there's a playground.

Double-check on what counts as "fever"

[drwex]

Last year the schools switched their definitions from "101" to "100". That latter would've nailed us a lot as our kids tended to run 100 much more often when not actually ill.

Also be aware that "24 hours fever free" generally means you have to take one more day out than you think. If the kidlet is sick in that AM but fever-free in the PM you still can't send him the next day. He has to be fever-free for 24 hours, which means until the following PM. This kind of calculation messes up parenting schedules like whoa.

Ask them about lice. It's something they ought to have a plan for, though it's much less of a problem in youngers any of the kids with an older sib is at high risk.

Ask them about pick-ups. A good place will let you call and say "So-and-so is going to do pick-up today". Other places require you to pre-list all possible people who might pick up the kidlet, which can be less good in emergencies.

If they're state-licensed I assume they're required to run CORI checks on all staff, but perhaps that's worth inquiring about?

For our kids we cared a lot about staff turnover because our kids tended to bond strongly with one or two people at a facility and the loss of that one person would be a big deal. Given the moving plan (*surpriseface*) or Mr D's temperament that might be less of an issue, but it's a thing to think on.