Q. - What is Salem Child Development Center?
Q. -When was Salem Child Development Center founded?
Q. - Who Governs Salem Child Development Center?
Q. - How many children does SCDC serve?
Q. - What size staff does SCDC employ?
Q. - What are the staff qualifications and training?
Q. - What kind of programs do SCDC offer?
Q. - What are SCDC rates?
Q. - What are the AGES, HOURS and DAYS of OPERATION?
Q. - What about EMERGENCY CLOSURES?
Q. - What other activities are offered?
Q. - What about when we are gone on family vacation?
Q. - Are snacks and meals provided?
Q. - What is Salem Child Development Center?
A. - SCDC is a nonprofit corporation, licensed by the Oregon State Child Care
Division. We are registered as a private school and serve the needs of
children, ages six weeks through 12 years old.
Q. - When was Salem Child Development Center founded?
A. - SCDC was founded in 1968 and Incorporated in 1971.
Q. - Who Governs Salem Child Development Center?
A. - A 15 member volunteer Board of Directors sets Salem Child Development
Center policies. Board Membership is comprised of parents and community members.
Q. - How many children does Salem Child Development Center serve.
A. SCDC serves approximately 1000 children ages 6 weeks through 12 years in 24 locations throughout the Willamette Valley. These include:
1) Infant/Toddler, full day preschool, and full day Kindergarten programs at our Fairgrounds Road location.
2) Infant/Toddler, full and half day preschool programs in Dallas.
3) A part time preschool program at Forest Ridge Elementary in Keizer.
4) Kindergarten Education Enrichment is offered at Clearlake, Forest Ridge, Liberty, Pringle, Schirle, and Dallas Elementary Schools. Transportation is available from Gubser, Rosedale, Sumpter, Salem Heights, and Lee elementary schools.
5) School age care provided for: Aumsville, Bennet Pearson Academy, Clear Lake, Forest Ridge, Gubser, Lee, Liberty,
North Marion, Pringle, Rosedale, Salem Heights, Schirle, Sumpter, Scott, Turner, and Yoshikai,
Hammond, Lamb, and Marion Miller. School age care is also provided for Lyle, Oakdale, and Whitworth Elementary schools in Dallas.
Q. - What size staff does SCDC employ?
A. - SCDC employees approximately 90 staff members and 8 volunteer foster grandmothers. SCDC follows a 1 to 4 ratio for the "continuity of care" programs, a 1 to 5 ratio for 2-3 year olds, 1 to 8
for preschoolers, and 1 to 15 for school age programs.
Q. - What are the staff qualifications and training?
A. - Staff are exceptionally dedicated, experienced, and energetic child care
professionals. Two years of education/experience in child care is required to be a teacher.
Reference and criminal history background checks, First Aid/CPR training, and food handler's liexcenses are all required. In addition, continued
training is required and funded to enhance and improve skills. Staff are highly
valued at SCDC and turnover is exceptionally low. The average length of employment of a teacher at SCDC is 14 years.
Q. - What kind of programs do SCDC offer?
A. - SCDC offers developmentally appropriate practices, research based curriculums, and a variety of enrichment activities for each age group.
Programs address the needs of the whole child and their families. Parent
involvement is a major part of the link in our efforts to provide strong programs.
Preschool/kindergarten classes enjoy swim/gym lessons and weekly field trips
into the community and surrounding areas. School age field trips are offered as
arranged per site. Large outdoor play areas provide large muscle development and
recreation. A strong educational component is included to prepare strong children for positive
futures.
Q. - What are SCDC rates?
A. - SCDC has competitive rates in the child care field. The center offers discounts for multiple children, vacation credits, and a 4:30pm early pick up rate at most after school sites. SCDC also provides scholarship funds for those in need through the the Charlotte Mair Scholarship Fund. The Board works to budget at rates that
offer accessibility and affordability.
Q. - What are the AGES, HOURS and DAYS of OPERATION?
A. - HOURS: All locations with A.M. care open at 6:45 a.m. and close at 6:00
p.m. Monday through Friday. Locations offering only after school care close at 5:30 p.m., Monday through Friday. Schools in the Cascade School District also offer care for "late start Wednesdays". Full day care is also offered from 6:45 a.m. - 6:00 p.m. during most school inservices and vacation days.
AGES: Fairgrounds site offers full day care for children 6 weeks through
kindergarten. On-site school locations offer before and after school services
for kindergarten through 5 grade.
DAYS CLOSED: Legal Holidays including Christmas Day, New Years Day, Memorial
Day, July 4th, Labor Day, and Thanksgiving Day. Closed for in-service/staff workdays
as follows: Fairgrounds site will close Veteran's Day and the 2nd Monday and
Tuesday in September. School sites close Veteran's Day and the Friday before
Labor Day. Early closure on Christmas Eve and New Years Eve at 4:00pm.
The before and after school programs in the Salem-Keizer school district are closed during school furlough days.
Q. - What about EMERGENCY CLOSURES?
A. - If public schools close early, or for the day, due to emergencies, SCDC
programs will also close and no care will be available for the children. Parents
need to have alternate arrangements should this happen. Closure announcements
are made on the radio. If the center closes while children are in our care, we
will notify parents to pick up the children. On delayed school days, SCDC will
open on schedule or as soon as the staff can safely reach the site.
Q. - What other activities are offered?
A. - Preschool, kindergarten and KEE programs attend swimming and gymnastic
lessons. The lessons are included in the tuition rates.
During the school year parents will be asked to cover additional costs of trips
such as the pumpkin patch or bowling. During the summer the school age children
will attend more trips and an activity fee will be included in the summer
tuition to cover the activity expenses.
Information willl be provided during the summer for the annual camping trip at
Silver Falls Park. Children from age 4 through 5th grade are invited to attend.
The site is not inspected or licensed by SCDC and alternative care or credit will
be available if you chose not to attend.
Q. - What about when we are gone on family vacation?
A. - 1. Two weeks advance written notice is required
2. Five consecutive days of vacation is needed to quality. (Equal to one
week for part timers).
3. Amount of credit available for the Fairgrounds Rd. site is one week per Sept. to May and 2 weeks
per summer months. For the school age sites vacation credit is available for three weeks per Sept. to May to follow school
schedule and 2 weeks per summer months.
Q. - Are snacks and meals provided?
A. - SCDC provides morning and afternoon snacks and milk or water for mealtimes. Snacks
consist of assorted crackers, cheeses, yogurt, vegetables, fresh fruit, bagels, etc.
We also provide cooking projects that the children can prepare, eat, and enjoy.
LUNCHES: CCD requires lunches be provided by parents and include food from the
four basic food groups, inlcuding fruits, cheeses, vegetables, proteins,
leftovers, yogurt, soups, pastas, etc. We have microwaves
and refrigerators. (Watch for van trips and pack appropriate outdoor foods.)