Billy Martin Child Development Day Care Center
About Us
Our program is designed to provide an exciting environment where children begin to discover the world around them through language, math, science, art, movement, and music. Our curriculum stimulates each child's innate curiosity and exploratory nature to prepare them for lifelong learning. Each child is accepted as an individual and recognized for his or her unique abilities. Cultural differences are also valued and celebrated in a larger social context of diversity, acceptance, friendship, and cooperation.
Our Vision
To enhance a child's growth & development. Strengthen families as the primary nurturers of their children; Provide educational, health & nutritional services; Foster cognitive, intellectual, social, emotional & physical development of children & their families; Link families to needed community services; Ensure well-managed programs that involve parents in decision-making; Help children to achieve high expectations for Kindergarten, Elementary & High School, advanced training & successful careers & life-long learning, so they thrive not merely survive; Optimum communication with families; Collaborate with CBOs to supplement services; Collaborative teaching & professional development. We use essential practices of family engagement, rigorous & developmentally-appropriate instruction & leadership. We follow Pre-Kindergarten & infant/toddler standards, so children gain the requisite knowledge & skills. We are unique because we have built a solid reputation of 47 years of providing excellent "child-centered" services. We have a warm & comforting environment in child-friendly facilities & passionate teachers. We follow the NYS PKFCC & the DOE Framework for Great Schools & we comply with EFQ to advance program quality. Credentialed teachers use ongoing, observation-based assessments at the developmental level, approved curricula & Key Developmental Indicators & NYS Early Learning Guidelines. We empower families & increase their self-sufficiency & independence.
Ethnic and Culture Diversity
The ethnic & cultural diversity found in NYC also presents formidable linguistic challenges for local social service providers. Billy Martin Child Development Day Care Center, Inc. serves parents & children in the Clinton Hill & Bedford Stuyvesant areas of Brooklyn, Kings County. BMCDC serves an area with a high proportion of minorities & with less than half of children under 5 (45.46%) enrolled in ECE. These families often exist within bleak economic, social & family circumstances. We dedicate our programs to ensuring that our immigrant youth have greater access to quality programs & services that will enhance their lives & shape their futures. We provide bilingual & dual language (Spanish-English) instruction to the young people in the program. Our population serves children of Latino & African-American ancestry & a few Asian children. Nearly seven in 10 (68%) of students in the organization’s School District 13 come from economically disadvantaged families, NYSED data show. All Pre-K children will be screened to get the developmental baseline before implementing high-quality, developmentally appropriate practices. We gather information about Pre-Kindergarten & Toddler Program participants, in compliance with the government regulations, to assess economic need. During the admission period, staff will help families to complete applications.
Instructional Quality
We know that children learn best via inquiry. We maintain high quality by providing warm & responsive interactions creating a nurturing & stable environment for the development of secure attachments between children, their families & beyond. We have same Pre-K teacher since 2013. Certified teachers tailor their interactions to fit the needs of the child, using responsive language, engaging all children: a) dual language learners; EMLLs b) students with disabilities; c) developmentally advanced or delayed; &, d) Gifted & Talented in classroom activities, fostering independence, & creating a language-rich environment.We use appropriate screening tools, e.g., Ages & Stages & authentic assessment tools for children, e.g., Teaching Strategies Gold (TSG)Our lead & assistant teachers meet or exceed Article 47.13 mandates, each holding a B.A. or M.A. degree.We teach both inside & outdoors, where they can play & engage with the natural world. We provide appropriate materials to promote independence & problem-solving. Our effective leaders give instructional support to teachers including access to professional development. They manage our program soundly, with quality improvement resources, stable & sufficient funding streams, & a pipeline of well-trained teachers. Our research-based curricula are developmentally,culturally, & linguistically relevant for all children. We scaffold & differentiate lessons to accommodate each instructional need. received positive feedback from DOE Reps.
Safety and Supervision
We develop & review annually, a written safety plan approved by the DOHMH & give staff copies & training to implement it using drills in medical & emergency response & fire evacuation procedures including staff duties. It provides names qualifications & duties of staff certified in first aid & CPR & describes separation facilities, supervision & other methods for ill children to follow until a parent arrives. We train all staff in first aid & emergency preparedness & about child abuse. Screening for the health needs of all our children requires all children to have a complete medical examination & receive immunization before entering the center each year. Health partners in the community visit to monitor the progress of asthmatic children & we notify teachers. We send children without insurance for a free health screening to the partnering health clinics. We arrange for free on-site vision testing by the Optical Academy & free dental services from Healthy Smiles. We maintain a safe, healthy & physical environment & a custodian for facility maintenance. We keep a monthly infectious disease log which documents the learning of all areas of the building as well as housekeeping responsibilities under established health codes. All staff members are fingerprinted & receive S.C.R. clearances. Each staff person is required to complete annual physical exams that include proper immunizations & TB screening. Staff monitor children during times to assure their safety and hand washing.