Introduction History Philosophy Staff Our Facilities
A Sample Outline of Program Activities

Introduction

The Children's Discovery Center is licensed by the state of Connecticut Department of Health Services under license number 12303. The Center fulfills the requirements of the Public Health Code to insure the health, safety and development of children and to provide adequate facilities for the preschool program.

A high quality early childhood program provides a safe and nurturing environment which promotes physical, social, emotional, intellectual and creative development in young children.

In our program, you will see:

• Frequent, positive, warm interactions among children and adults
  
• Planned learning activities appropriate to children's age and development, such as block building, painting, reading stories, dress-ups, and active outdoor play
  
• Daily fostering of the arts - singing every day using specific activities which promote pitch and rhythm; explorations in art - painting, drawing and sculpting
  
• Specially trained teachers chosen for their ability to work with young children
  
• A healthy and safe environment with aesthetically pleasing details and many age appropriate materials
  
• Nutritious snacks and celebrated special events
  
• Regular communication with parents who are welcome visitors at all times.
  
• Responsive and accomplished administration.
  

History

The First Church of Winsted established the Children's Discovery Center preschool program February 3, 1976 with an enrollment of twelve children to provide a caring atmosphere for the nurture of young children of our community. The Board of Christian Education of First Church was designated as its directors and operator of the preschool program.

 

Philosophy

Children's Discovery Center embraces the philosophy of nurturing and educating the whole child. Through our selection of staff, our physical surroundings, and active enrichment program, we seek to provide spiritual, social, emotional, physical, cognitive and creative experiences. We emphasize self-help skills and encourage situations, which will promote self-esteem while respecting individuality and personality traits.

The upper level at Children's Discovery Center is designed for teacher-directed activities. Circle-time establishes the unique opportunity for group awareness, social interactions, listening and language skills. The atmosphere is relaxed and joyful. Pre-reading and pre-math opportunities are available through activities, songs and games. Science and nature activities are enhanced with exciting, direct observations with live plants and animals. Music and movement are always included in 'circle-time'.

A wholesome snack is provided with parent donations, which include 100% fruit juice, fruit and/or vegetables and crackers. The children hold hands around the table and say our grace:

Our Grace
Earth who gave to us this food,
Sun who made it ripe and good,
Sun above, and earth below,
Loving thanks to god we show!
Blessings on the food!

Staff

The people that create a fun and stimulating learning environment here at the Children's Discovery Center include:

Karen Sovak, our Director and Head Teacher brings many years of teaching experience. Karen Sovak is a native of Schenectady, New York, and comes from a family of musicians and teachers - instrumentalists, choral, band and orchestra conductors, and church organists. Karen majored in Music Education at SUNY Potsdam and pursued further musical studies with several choral and instrumental ensembles. Karen also indulged her love of the visual arts and pottery-making, with classes at SUNY Albany and then at the Corcoran Art School in Washington, D.C. where she also began her career teaching young children at the Rudolf Steiner School in Falls Church, VA. In 1972. Karen moved to Winsted, CT where she established herself as a private teacher of flute and saxophone. Beginning in 1988, The Children's Discovery Center in Winsted, CT became the happy recipient of Karen's considerable creative, teaching, and organizational talents. As Head Teacher and Director, Karen expanded this arts and language-based program for pre-school children, winning National Accreditation for the school's innovative, experiential curriculum between 1988 and 1998. Karen’s administrative skills were developed during 1999 and 2006 when she held positions of General Manager of Pelagos Music Recording and Publishing Company and Executive Director of Joyful Noise, Inc. Karen continues as Director of the Chorus Angelicus Training Choirs, helping very young people to explore and rejoice in their emerging musical potential, and returned as Director/Head Teacher of the Children's Discovery Center in Winsted in 2009.

Pam Allen, team teaches with Karen. Pam has an extensive background in Early Childhood Education, having received her Associates Degree in Early Childhood Education and working in many teaching capacities at Children’s Discovery Center for the past twenty five years, and has attended numerous Early Childhood Education conferences and workshops on the national and regional levels. Pam has also taught Sunday School at First Church and participated in missionary work in Mexico. Pam brings to the school a special affinity to children, providing deep level of care and understanding. When Pam is not working at Children’s Discovery Center, you may find her tending store at Getting Off!

Gretel Eddy is our Administrative Bookkeeper. Gretel administers careful bookkeeping for the Center, receives tuition payments, and pays all necessary bills associated with the day to day operations of the Center. If you ever have a question or concern about payments, Gretel is always ready and willing to help you out!

Working as a team, we strive to provide the best possible early education experience for your child! Come meet the staff and see the center.

Our Facilities

The lower level is equipped with blocks, dress-ups, housekeeping, babies, workbench, pounding stump, sensory table, books, manipulatives and a variety of activities. Each day offers new and valuable choices for 'free play' and develops a keen awareness of self through dramatic play and artistic expressions.

Children's Discovery Center's Play Yard offers more opportunities for social interactions and gross motor skills. Equipped with a "Cardillo Trike Pike", swings, sandbox, overhand climber, cooperative tire swing, and tightrope walk, it encourages balance, agility and coordination. Children's Discovery Center is physically designed to maximize learning experiences and encourage the physical development of each child.

A Sample Outline of Program Activities

9:00	Arrival, Health Check, Attendance
9:15	Choices and Free play
9:45	Pick-up Time and Wash for Snack
10:00	Snack
10:15	Circle-time
10:50	Outside Play Time
11:20	Story Time
11:30	Dismissal

Daily programs are subject to change and the sequence and timing of activities will vary according to grouping.

Peer Problem Solving: Discipline

Peer problem solving is a technique developed to assist children in resolving their own problems. Acting as a facilitator, the teacher supports children as they become responsible for discussing and solving differences that normally arise in social interaction. The children's use of physical solutions is reduced while they create a positive self image. A major goal of the Children's Discovery Center's program is for the children to socialize and interact with their peers and staff members to solve social problems constructively.