The Harrison Children's Center

Educating Young Minds

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Engaging

Art - Yoga - Music - Field Trips

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All Ages

High quality programs for toddlers, pre-school and school-age children

Outdoor Play Area

Research supports that play is important

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Our Services

Early Childhood
& After School Programs

For children ages 2.9-12

Working families of Harrison know they can count on us for the best care available for their children. Our teachers are educated, certified, and caring, and our student to teacher ratios are low and ensure that your child gets the care he or she deserves.

Toddlers

We understand the importance of nurturing and stimulating young minds. Our programs offer learning opportunities that are developmentally appropriate and address how children develop and learn. Eligible children must be at least 1.9 years old.

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Pre-School

Using the Creative Curriculum we focus on four areas of child development: social-emotional development, physical development, language development and cognitive development. The individual strengths, needs, and interests of each child are incorporated into our daily planning.

School-Age

We provide a variety of social and recreational at the end of their school day. We are committed to creating a safe environment in which children can develop the basic values of respect, caring, honesty and responsibility. Our nurturing staff supervises while encouraging children to make new friends and have fun!

Visit Us

Want to see us in action? Call or email us in advance to pay us a visit and see for yourself the level of care we are proud to provide.

About us

Our Mission

The Harrison Children's Center is a not for profit educational childcare organization comprised of two early childhood centers and three after school programs. We are dedicated to providing an educational childcare experience to every child. Focusing on a child's emotional, social, cognitive and physical needs, the teaching staff directs their efforts towards nurturing a respectful classroom community while simultaneously meeting the individual needs of the children within a group setting. Since young children acquire knowledge best through play and direct sensory experiences, we offer a variety of hands-on learning opportunities to foster child development. Program are designed to meet the needs of diverse ages and developmental levels. We strive to provide a safe, educationally and socially enriching environment in which children can learn to be self-confident and reach his or her full potential.

Our Qualified Staff

The Harrison Children’s Center’s staff consists of an Executive Director, Program Directors, head teachers, assistant teachers and a business manager.

Our early childhood programs each have a site director. Every classroom has one head teacher and two assistant teachers. Director’s must have either a NY State Director’s Credential, Bachelor’s Degree or Master’s Degree. The head teachers are required to have a Child Development Associate degree, Bachelor’s degree or Master’s degree. Assistant teachers must have a high school diploma with prior early childhood experience, NY State teacher assistant certification or a Child Development Associates degree. All staff members are required to have a minimum of 15 hours of training every year. Additionally, first aid, CPR and child abuse courses are required every two years. The teacher-student ratio is one adult to every 7 children for age 3, or one adult to every 8 children for age 4.

Each After School Program has a Director and teaching assistants. Directors have either a NY State Director’s Credential, Bachelor’s Degree or Master’s Degree. Assistant teachers must have a high school diploma, NY State teacher assistant certification or bachelor’s degree.

All staff members are required to have training every year. Additionally, first aid, CPR and child abuse courses are required every two years. The teacher-student ratio is 1 adult to every 10 children.

All staff members employed at The Harrison Children’s Center receives a background check, are finger printed and screened through the NYS Central Registry of Child Abuse.

Hours

7:30 a.m. - 6:00 p.m.

The Harrison Children’s Center Early Childhood Programs are open year-round from 7:30 a.m. until 6:00 p.m. During July and August we offer camp type such as water play, picnics and special event days.

Our After School Programs are located in the Harrison Ave., Parsons, and Preston Elementary Schools. They are open from September through June from 3:00 p.m. until 6:00 p.m.

Board of Directors

The Harrison Children’s Center is governed by a Board of Directors consisting of local community members. Their role is to develop policies that support our mission in providing a nurturing educational childcare experience to every child. Additionally, the board is responsible for financial planning, financial oversight and accountability. The Board reviews and approves the annual budget, program plans and organizational policies.

Board Members:

Sharon Hurley, President
Nancy Cannella, Vice President
Geri Rubenstein, Vice President
Helena Jaffe, Treasurer
Judy Hoff, Secretary

Rachel Berkey
Salvatore DiCostanzo
Illyse Dill
Lenore Goldsmith
Lenore Hyatt
Helana Jaffe
Debbie Mazza
Elyse Nathanson
Amy Tanenbaum
Jan Vinikoor

Enrichment

Art

Activity Description

Doreen Grozinger is a mixed media artist as well as an art and yoga instructor. She has been teaching art in Harrison since 1965. Miss Doreen visits each program twice a month using a variety of materials and techniques with the children. The culmination of our art program is an Art Exhibit in April celebrating “The Art of the Young Child.”

Nature

Activity Description

Debbie Mumford is the director and owner of “The Nature of things,” an environmental education program. The program offers nature curricula involving live animals brought to the site for our children to enjoy. (http://thenatureofthings.com)

Sign Language

Activity Description

Children and American Sign Language in Education: CASALE Inc. is a unique learning experience for hearing preschool children. The use of “finger spelling” is one of many strategies that are used to help develop early literacy skills. Our children are fortunate to have monthly sign language classes and truly love learning sign language. (http://casleinc.com)

Field Trips

Activity Description

Harrison Children’s Center incorporates age-appropriate field trips into our curriculum in order to bring real life experiences into their day. Many of our field trips involve walking to the library for story hour, the local fire house, post office, train station, or stores. Additionally, we may take a morning and visit an apple orchard, museum, aquarium or planetarium depending on our curriculum for the year.

Music

Activity Description

Music is not only fun for children, it helps them learn the discipline required to get good at something, and studies show that learning, practicing, and listening to music can help with analytical math skills as well.

Yoga

Activity Description

In our yoga classes, children experience how their breath and body move together in a fun-filled way! Through basic yoga poses, partner poses, group poses, yoga games, and more, yoga promotes strength, flexibility, coordination, and body awareness. Breathing and visualization techniques also teach focus, relaxation and self-control.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do you have to be a Harrison Resident to attend The Harrison Children’s Centers?

We welcome children from all communities to our Early Childhood Programs. However, you must be a Harrison resident to attend the After School Programs.

Is the Harrison Children’s Center licensed by any agencies?

The Harrison Children’s Center is licensed by the Office of Children & Family Services and/or The New York State Department of Education.

What are your hours of operation?

Early Childhood Programs are open from 7:30 a.m. until 6:00 p.m. fifty weeks a year. After School Programs are open from 3:00 until 6:00 p.m. and follow the school calendar. (During half days we open the after school programs from ½ day dismissal until 6:00 p.m.)

Do they have to be toilet trained to attend?

No, they do not have to be toilet trained. If a child is not out of diapers by the time they enter our program, we work with families to help in this area of development

Can I visit my child at the center during the day?

Yes, we have an open door policy.

Do you serve meals?

Children are offered breakfast, hot lunch and an afternoon snack in the Early Childhood Programs. A snack is served in the After School Programs.

Do you offer homework assistance in the After School Programs?

Yes, we offer homework assistance for a period of time during program operation. If extensive one-on-one help is required we will attempt to get assistance from the ROTOY program at Harrison High School. Please inquire with your program director.

Do you perform background checks on staff?

Yes, all staff members must be cleared through the Division of Criminal Justice Services and the State Central Register of Child Abuse and Maltreatment.

Is the staff trained in CPR and First Aid?

Yes, there are staff members at each program that have been trained in CPR/First Aid.

Do you administer medication?

Early Childhood Programs are licensed to administer over the counter medications and certain prescribed medications with appropriate documentation from a physician. After School Programs are not licensed to administer any medications.

How do I find out information regarding tuition?

You can call the main office at 914-835-4271 for the current tuition rate, payment policies and scholarship opportunities.

Is there a multi sibling discount?

Yes, there is a 20% discount for the oldest child.

Is payment required when my child is not present?

Fees are based on enrollment, not attendance. Payment is still required if your child is absent or away. Full payment is also required for holidays and vacations. The only exception is if you are away in either July or August and will be gone for 4 weeks or longer. (After School Programs are closed for July & August)

Do you have a termination policy?

One month’s advance written notice and payment is required if a child will no longer participate in the Early Childhood Programs. If attending an After School Program, please notify the site director if your child will no longer be attending or if they are taking a short leave and will return to the program later in the school year. Payment is required until the end of the current month.

I still have questions, who do I contact?

Please contact the Debbie Imperia, the executive director at 914-835-4271 or hccdebbie@gmail.com for any questions regarding either the Early Childhood Programs or the After School Programs.

Early Childhood Forms	After School Forms
Registration Packet (Early Childhood)	Registration Packet (After School)
Parent Handbook (Early Childhood)
Application Form
Medical Form

The Harrison Children's Center

Engaging

All Ages

Outdoor Play Area