A Message from the Director
Dear Parents and Families of The Burke Foundation Early Childhood Center and Princeton Public School Pre-k 3 General Ed (Hybrid), Pre-k 3 & 4yr old DLI classrooms,

On Thursday, September 17, we opened our newly renovated childcare center doors to our children at The Burke Foundation Early Childhood Center at YWCA Princeton and Princeton Public school classrooms. Our renovated program building has new classrooms, a lactation room, additional children’s bathroom, HVAC air filtration system, and because of COVID-19—comprehensive health, safety, and security protocols. 
 
We are now in mid-October and our daily routine remains: Each morning with temperature checks and symptom screenings. For the health and safety of our staff and the families we serve, only staff, children, and essential workers are allowed in the building. This new check-in process has given my staff and I the opportunity to interact with children and parents on a daily basis, and our teachers are able to communicate with parents via ClassDojo, classroom phones, or emails. 
 
All staff wear masks and PPE, and children over the age of 2 are required and encouraged to wear masks each day. Our children are resilient and have been quick to adapt to wearing masks once teachers explained it’s a way to keep each other safe. 
 
As you know, we work closely with the Department of Children and Families' Office of Licensing and Princeton Health Department, as well as Princeton Public Schools, to maintain our strict health and safety protocols. 
 
Despite all that has changed here at The Burke Foundation Early Childhood Center at YWCA Princeton, our mission remains the same: to provide high-quality childcare and education to the families we serve. Our teachers still utilize a research-based curriculum that engages critical areas of cognitive, physical and social development, and all of our classrooms are bilingual. 

We are in the process of putting on the final touches of the virtual tour of the center and when it is completed you will receive a link so you and your child may view together.
 
As always, you may contact me at toshea@ywcaprinceton.org or 609-497-2100 x325. Please feel free to visit our website at: www.ywcaprinceton.org/childcare. 
 
Be safe & stay well! 
 
Tara O’Shea
Director of Childcare and Youth Programs
Notes from your Administrators
Dear Parents/Guardians,

We are so happy to be here to support you and your families while your child is in our program. We will continue to provide valuable resources to our families through our Community Resource page on our website. Please take a moment to visit our website at www.ywcaprinceton.org/programs/childcare-princeton. This page is updated regularly in order to provide you with advertisements for local events, contact information for important agencies, recalled items, COVID-19 related announcements, as well as any assistance programs being offered to the community.

While both programs operate under one roof, they have a few differences. We will try to help you understand these differences below:

The Burke Foundation Early Childhood Center at YWCA Princeton
  • Hours of Operation: 7:30am - 6pm
  • Classrooms: Sprouts (8wks - 12mons), Rose Buds (12 - 20mons), Cherry Blossoms (20 - 30mons), Tigerlilies (2.5 - 3.5yrs), Sunflowers (3 - 4yrs), and Dragonflies (4 - 5yrs)
  • Parent Teacher Conferences - Dates TBD, your classroom teacher will contact you directly to schedule a virtual conference.

The Princeton Public Schools Preschool Expansion Program at YWCA Princeton
  • Hours of Operation: 8:45am - 3:15pm
  • Classrooms: Buttercups - Hybrid (3 - 4yrs), Daffodils - Dual Language Immersion (3 - 4yrs), Butterflies - Dual Language Immersion (4 - 5yrs)
  • Parent Teacher Conferences - 1 pm dismissals on 10/28/20, 11/3/20, 11/11/20, and 11/18/20. Your classroom teacher will contact you directly to schedule a virtual conference.

Important Reminders for all:
  • Always use your Parent Handbook as a point of reference for all of our policies and procedures.
  • We cannot accept any drop-off after 10am. The only exception is for doctors appointments, please notify us of the appointment in advance and provide a doctors note for the tardiness.
  • Call the pick-up line at 609-273-6524 or 609-497-2100, ext. 336 as soon as you arrive for pick-up.
  • Please adhere to your child's schedule chosen at the time of enrollment. Late pick-ups and early drop-offs put an unfair burden on your child and the center staff who have other obligations. Starting November 1, 2020, a late pick-up/early drop-off fee of $25 for the first 15 minutes and $1 per additional minute will be charged. Please see page 20 of your Parent Handbook for clarification regarding this policy.
  • If you need morning or afternoon care, please contact us via e-mail to schedule this in order to avoid the fees listed above. The Burke Foundation Early Childhood Center offers drop-in care for our enrolled students as well as a before and aftercare program for our Princeton Public School students.
  • A current Universal Health form and immunization records must remain on file at the center at all times. If your child has their yearly physical or any new immunizations throughout the year these records must be updated. Your administrator will contact you if we are missing any records or if they have expired. Please act on these requests immediately in order to allow your child's pediatrician the time they need to complete them.
  • Every child, 6 months and up, in a childcare setting must have at least one dose of the influenza vaccine between September 1 and December 31 each year. Parents must provide documentation of this to the childcare office. 
  • Please keep us informed of any updates to your contact information. A quick email to Myra or Cassandra would suffice.
  • Because of unforeseen emergencies, usually related to inclement weather, our center may be delayed, closed early, or closed entirely. Please check our website at www.ywcaprinceton.org as well as our ClassDojo School Story.
  • If you haven't done so already, please download the ClassDojo app and use the image below to request to join your child's classroom.
If you have any questions please do not hesitate to contact us.

Best Regards,
Ms. Cassandra and Ms. Myra
Cassandra Mendoza
Assistant Director, The Burke Foundation Early Childhood Center
Email: cmendoza@ywcaprinceton.org
Phone: 609-497-2100, Ext. 311
Myra Rabanales
Administrative Assistant, The Burke Foundation Early Childhood Center

Family Liaison, Princeton Public School Preschool Expansion
Email: mrabanales@ywcaprinceton.org
Phone: 609-497-2100, Ext.336
Notes from the Teachers
Promoting Healthy Eating Habits
In our classrooms we continue to serve snacks that fit our goals to promote healthy eating habits. We are requesting that you continue these habits at home and with your child's lunch to the best of your ability. You may have noticed some sweet treats coming home in your child's lunch box. In accordance with the
Grow NJ Kids initiative, we are limiting the amount foods with added sugar or sodium served at the center.

Click the image below to visit the MyPlate website which provides an abundance of resources to assist you in implementing healthy eating habits at home.
The YWCA Princeton is a Nut Free Facility. Please label anything that may resemble nuts. Round firm foods that might lodge in the throat of a child less than 4 years of age are not permitted. These foods include whole grapes, popcorn, raw peas, chunks of raw carrots, celery, and meats larger than can be swallowed whole. We are instructed to send these items home and provide an alternative lunch option if we feel that your child’s lunch may contain nuts or is unsafe for consumption.
Toilet Training
It is our goal to work with our families when it is time for their child to start toilet training. Please note that if we feel your child is ready to begin the process we will reach out to the families directly for their support. Also, if you are ready to start trying before we contact you please reach out to your classroom teacher to discuss your plan so that we can follow your lead.
Important things to know when starting:
  • Continue to send pullups to school until the teachers advise you otherwise
  • When ready for underwear, please send ample sets of underwear, pants, socks, and an extra pair of shoes

Remember, accidents still happen. We have to be patient and understanding throughout this process.

Thank you for your cooperation and assistance in this matter.
Limit Items to be Brought into the Classrooms
In order to maintain the health and safety of our students and coworkers we are requesting that you limit the items you send back and forth from school with your child. Other then the occasional extra clothes and diapers/wipes, please limit the items to the following:
  • Lunch box
  • Water cup
  • Jacket
These items can easily be carried by your child (age appropriate of course) in order to support their independence. All other items should remain at home.

Don't forget to label EVERYTHING with your child's name. We are not responsible for lost or stolen items.
Mark Your Calendars
Pumpkin Picking
October 20 & 21, 2020
Next week we will be setting pumpkins out on the Bramwell lawn for each class to go "pumpkin picking". In order to maintain the health and safety of our students and teachers each class will go out at their own scheduled time and we will only place the amount of pumpkins needed for the children in attendance.
Autumn Spirit Week
October 26 - 30, 2020
Join in on the fun during our Autumn Spirit Week! Each day we created a fun way for your child to celebrate October. Enjoy the class participation through your ClassDojo app. Click the link below to start planning for each daily theme.
Halloween Parade
Friday, October 30, 2020
The children will have the opportunity to show off their Halloween costumes while parading through the halls and out on Bramwell lawn (weather permitting). While we are unable to invite our parents this year in order to maintain proper social distancing, we will be sharing the moment for you to enjoy in your own time. Be on the lookout for a video of your child's class on the ClassDojo Class Story!
Virtual Book Fair
November 13 - 26, 2020


Help us build your child's classroom library by purchasing books for your family through our virtual book fair this November. Please be on the look out for more information.
To learn more, call (609) 497-2100 ext. 325