The Bright Beginnings daycare center opened its doors in a private cul-de-sac in New City, providing a structured curriculum for kids in a home-like environment (including a big backyard!).
As a newly New York state-certified teacher trying to snag a classroom, Jaime Edelschick found that even after receiving her Master's degree, it was hard to find work. "You know the state of the job market," she says. Like many people struggling to get their careers going, Edelschick also had trouble due to the poor economy and budget cuts in education. Deciding not to give up, she put her skills to use in a different way and opened Bright Beginnings daycare in August.
Wanting to provide "a structured day curriculum in a home environment," Edelschick built her daycare in the same building as her home on a private cul-de-sac in New City. The large fenced-in yard provides additional space for outdoor activities, and each day follows a routine that focuses on preparing students, ages six weeks to school age, for public school.
"When the kids get to kindergarten, the routine is second nature to them. They are used to the structure as opposed to taking the whole year to get acclimated," Edelschick says. In addition to bi-weekly and bi-monthly themes such as "all about me," where kids learn about each other, their families, and themselves, the preschool offers lessons in art, math, and social studies.
Edelschick also uses her certification in Literacy Birth-6 to provide daily one-on-one phonics lessons. Each child receives a 30-minute time slot dedicated to going over word and letter sounds and learning how to read. School-aged children enjoy class trips to go pumpkin and apple picking, and next summer the daycare will offer swimming lessons as well.
Bright Beginnings is located at 6 Charles Street, New City. Hours are Monday-Friday from 7:30am-6:30pm. For more information, call 914-420-5785 or visit www.brightbeginningsofrockland.com.
