Early Childhood Development
NOW ENROLLING!
The Early Childhood Development Center is now enrolling children ages 6 weeks to 11 years of age!
OUR PHILOSOPHY
Our agency philosophy is that the earliest years of a child’s life are crucial in predicting ultimate success in school and life.
EARLY HEAD START
This partnership with the city of San Antonio, provides a high quality developmentally appropriate continuum of care and social services to infants and toddlers that are directly aligned with school readiness practices and skill attainment.The program serves children six weeks to 35 months of age and provides education, health, nutrition, and other needed support services.
Early Head Start is a federally funded program serving infants and toddlers under the age of 3, and pregnant women.
Early Head Start provides early, continuous, intensive, and comprehensive child development and family support services to low-income pregnant women, infants, toddlers, and their families. Check back soon for more updates.
DID YOU KNOW?
• Quality preschool provides children a strong foundation for long-term academic achievement.
• The Journal of the American Medical Association reported that children who missed out on Pre-K programs were 70% more likely to be arrested for a violent crime by age 18 and become repeat offenders.
We offer quality affordable childcare to children ages 6 weeks to 11 years old to enhance skills in their social, emotional, physical and cognitive developmental areas. The agency understands that providing a nurturing learning environment and nutritious meals to young children can enhance their learning capabilities. Our CDA certified teachers are dedicated to providing children with age appropriate activities and materials. The staff attends required workshops and trainings to ensure that they remain knowledgeable about all aspects of the child development profession.
LICENSED CHILD CARE FACILITY HIGHLIGHTS
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Quality Child Care Service
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Convenient Operation Hours (6:30am – 6:00pm Mon-Fri)
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Accept (CCS)Child Care Services & other assistance programs
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Affordable Fees – sliding fee scale
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Certified Teachers (CDA,CPR 1st Aid, Annual Training)
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Age Appropriate Activities
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Hot Nutritious Meals & Snacks
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After-school Care
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Assist With Toilet Training
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Open Year Round (Except Major Holidays)
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Free Parenting Classes
Youth Services
The Youth Development Department of Ella Austin Community Center is a year -round project, composed of two programs: the After School Program and the Summer Enrichment Program.
AFTER SCHOOL PROGRAM
The After School Program offers homework assistance to students, aged 6 – 14 years of age (Elementary – Middle School grades). It provides educational and recreational activities, fine arts (art, music, drama and creative writing), library usage and a computer lab. Students are provided with after-school hot meals (catered by the San Antonio Food Bank).
Positive self-esteem is promoted through motivational speakers, field trips to college campuses, and celebration of cultures. Program services are offered daily, Monday through Friday during after school hours – until 5:30 pm. The program has extended hours when there is school closure for staff development days and holidays.
The program tracks the academic development of each student by observing their grade cards and progress reports from their schools. Academic development is a very crucial component of the After School Program and degreed/certified staff offer tutoring to youth in areas where they may be academically deficient. Additionally, recreation, socialization skills, positive self -esteem and character building are promoted in the program.
Tuition-Free Scholarships for ages 6-15 for our Youth Development Programs.
SUMMER ENRICHMENT PROGRAM
The Summer Enrichment Program occurs during the summer months. Youth have a daily schedule which provides time for sports & recreation, board games, problem-solving/brain teaser activities, physical fitness, fine arts (which usually includes a drama or musical production by summer’s end), computer lab and library usage, a book club, motivational speakers, field trips and career exploration. In addition, during summer youth are provided with lunch and an afternoon snack each day. The youth’s academic skills are enhanced by practices and drills in subjects of the grade level which they have just completed. Staff members use the Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills (TEKS) curriculum for each child’s particular grade level. These practices ensure that the child has a solid foundation in the knowledge that is needed for the next school year.
STEM PROGRAM
Ella Austin Community Center incorporates Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math into all of its youth programs. Currently we also offer a year round Science and Math Academy for qualified eleven to fifteen year old children. This program is made possible thanks to the support and partnership with St. Philip’s College, The Center of Excellence for Mathematics and for Sciences. The academy focuses on fun topics with high-demand careers such as engineering, biotechnology, game design, alternative energy, chemistry, environmental science and more.
Senior Services
9:00am - 3:00pm, Monday - Friday
Our Senior Services Program offers senior citizens, 60 years and over an opportunity to eat healthy meals, socialize, stay active and be able to lead a healthier lifestyle. We serve nutritious well balanced noon meals, Monday to Friday, 12 noon to 1 pm. We also offer a variety of daily structured health and wellness activities, both educational and recreational.
Activities include: Exercise, Health & Wellness presentation and screening, table games, sewing class, arts & crafts, cultural enrichment activities, holiday and birthday celebrations, special events and field trips and many more fun activities. We have many partnerships/sponsors for these activities.
We also partner with the SAFB providing Monthly Distribution, every 2nd and 4th Wednesday of the month. To sign up for this program, clients can call our Senior Services Director – Lucy Pantoja – for an appointment.
Transportation is provided in the immediate community; other seniors use VIA Trans, regular VIA bus, dropped off and picked by relatives and other drive here on their own.
Uniqueness of Senior Center – building of its own, friendly and caring environment, handicap accessible, on a bus line, services provided, five days a week, Monday to Friday – 9 am to 3 pm.