The Children's Center at SFTS

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Overview
Founded in 1980, the SFTS Children's Center is sponsored on a non-profit basis by San Francisco Theological Seminary. Governed by the SFTS Board of Trustees, the Children's Center was established primarily to serve the children of the students, staff, and faculty of the Seminary. Children of the greater community are admitted as space permits.

The Center is licensed by the State of California and is among the first early childhood programs in the nation to be accredited by the National Academy of Early Childhood Programs, administered by the National Association for the Education of Young Children.

The Children's Center is located at 100 Mariposa Avenue in San Anselmo, California in the heart of the San Francisco Theological Seminary campus.

The SFTS Children's Center
The Children's Center is a busy, happy, safe, loving, learning place for children. We trust that the Children's Center is also a supportive, encouraging, involving and validating place for parents.

The Staff acknowledge that parents are their children's primary teachers. We seek to work as a team with you to provide a loving and enriching environment in which your child grows in awareness of self, others, God, and the world around us. The curriculum creates experiences to enable your child to grow emotionally, socially, intellectually, physically, and spiritually.

Your child is recognized as a unique and special person and will be encouraged to grow at his or her pace in the developmental tasks. Our multi-age grouping provides unique learning opportunities.

Teaching Staff
Teachers are trained in the developmentally appropriate principles of early childhood education and are certified in child first aid and CPR. The staff meets regularly to discuss how best to implement the curriculum, keeping the needs of the individual children in mind. A ratio of one teacher for every eight children is maintained.

Programs Offered
Morning Half-Day: 9:00 A. M. -- 1:00 P. M.
Extended Half-Day: 8:00 A.M. -- 1:00 P.M.
Full Day: 8:00 A.M. -- 5:00 P. M.

From September through May, the Center is open Monday through Friday from 8:00A.M. to 5:00P.M. It is closed on the days indicated in on the school calendar. Summer hours (June through August) are 9:00 A.M. to 5:00 P.M.

Curriculum
Curriculum themes are developed in the various interest centers through activities which include blocks, puzzles, and manipulatives, art, music, and movement, language development, gross motor skills, dramatic play, science and math, cooking, water and sand play. Emphasis is on enjoying the planned environment, indoors and outdoors, by feeling free to explore a variety of activities within the safety limits established by the teaching staff.

Special Events
In addition to the regular curriculum, several parent and family gatherings are scheduled throughout the school year: parent orientation and informational meetings, a traditional Thanksgiving harvest feast, spring clean-up day, field trips, end-of-the-year potluck picnic and recognition of graduates. Parent-teacher conferences are conducted in the fall and spring of each year.

Facility
The octagonal, one-room schoolhouse was architecturally designed with young children in mind. It features a one way mirrored observation room for parents and defined learning centers which enhance a child's independence and growth. Double-glass doors open to an inviting play yard.

If you would like more information about the Children's Center here at SFTS, please contact Young Hee Park at 415-258-6660.