General Information

ECC Information for Prospective Parents

Thank you so much for your interest in Early Childhood Center. ECC is a preschool for children ages 2 through 4. Children must be 2 by September to qualify for this year’s registration but it’s never too early to put your child’s name in our waiting file. Each February we register for the following August when the new preschool year classes begin.

VISIT US SOON
We welcome drop in visits and urge you to come by soon. We are always happy to give a tour of ECC to prospective parents. The best time for a visit is any day from 9:00 am to 11:30 am. This will allow you an opportunity to view the morning program and to meet the staff. Please come to the office and ask for the director.

PROGRAMS AND HOURS

The Preschool is open from 8:00 AM in the morning to 3:00 PM in the afternoon. Early care 8:00 AM
Morning Program 8:45 to 11:45 AM with extended care `til 3:00
PK-4 class Morning Program 8:45 to 1:00 PM with extended care `til 3:00

Afternoon Enrichment Classes for 3 and 4-year-old children are outlined on the Fee Schedule

PRESCHOOL CALENDAR
We follow the Dade County Public School Calendar as much as possible, beginning in August and ending the school year in May, followed by a 6-week summer program. Holidays and recesses are mostly the same as Dade County. Monthly newsletters are sent home from ECC describing the special events of each month’s calendar.

NATIONAL ACCREDITATION
We have been accredited by the National Association for the Education of Young Children for over 10 years. Because of this we receive a Gold Seal of Excellence from the State of Florida each year. We just recently received our fourth accreditation by NAEYC.

CORAL GABLES CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH
As a ministry of Coral Gables Congregational Church we are committed to serving the community to create a caring and nurturing environment for all young children and their families. There are no requirements as to Church affiliation. ECC is provided as an outreach to all in an ecumenical spirit serving families of all faiths and denominations. We are non-discriminatory in our enrollment.

OUR MISSION STATEMENT
We proclaim to the community that all God’s children are important! In a hurried world we choose to take the time, energy and resources needed to allow “children to be children” and to foster their development in age appropriate ways. We strive through our interactions to model the importance of human relationships in an inclusive community.

PURPOSE AND PROGRAM
Early Childhood Center along with the ECC Parents’ Association and Coral Gables Congregational Church have created and upheld a program which values a caring and qualified staff. Continuity of staff is important to us. We offer an excellent student-staff ratio, large classrooms with good resources, and a secure, enclosed, well-equipped playground. We provide opportunities for music and art on a regular basis. Our program encourages reading readiness through oral language, discovery, play, and age appropriate curriculum. It is our endeavor to create a safe, happy, and welcoming environment for all children and all families. We hope we can be of service to you and your family soon.

THE WAITING FILE
It is important to put your child’s name in our waiting file. The sooner you can get your child’s name and all younger siblings in the waiting file, the better your child’s chances are for being placed in the program. Please fill out the Pre-Registration form and mail it back to us with a check for the $10 pre-registration fee made out to Early Childhood Center.
Please understand that being in the waiting file does not necessarily guarantee a space for your child. Priority is given to pledging members of Coral Gables Congregational Church and ECC returning families. Then, quickly as possible, the remaining spaces are filled from the waiting file according to the order of pre-registration dates. If you are not called in this current year your child’s name will remain in the file and you will be notified as soon as a space becomes available in the age-appropriate group.

FINANCIAL AID TO FAMILIES IN NEED
Scholarship guidelines can be requested by calling the office. This assistance can be offered only to families who would otherwise not be able to send a child to preschool. The Scholarship Committee of the Preschool Parents’ Association reviews all applications. Copies of income tax returns of the past two years are required.

Fee Schedule

Click here to download the Fee Schedule (PDF format).

ECC Registration Procedure

Thank you for your interest in the Early Childhood Center. The first step towards registration is to get on the waiting list – the earlier the better! You can download the pre-registration form, call the office, or better yet, come by to visit us. As soon as we receive your child’s form along with the $10 processing fee, we will put them on the waiting list in order of the date of application.

Please be sure to come by for a tour of the school. We are always appreciative of the opportunity to show prospective parents around. You do not need to make a reservation, just pop in – it’s the best way to see who we really are. The best time to visit is between 9:15am and 11:15am, so that you can really see the morning program in action. Feel free to bring your child with you.

The formal registration process generally begins in mid – February. We first register our returning families, their siblings, and church families who are active contributing members. The remaining available spaces are then opened to the waiting list by late February or early March. We fill those spaces based on the seniority of application date.

When a space is available for your child, we will make at least four efforts to contact you over the course of two days, including phone calls to homes and cells, and email. Whenever possible we will leave messages. It is very important that we hear from you quickly. On the third morning, if we have not heard from you we will need to offer the spot to the next child. If we are able to contact you, you will have 24 hours to accept the opening.

When you accept the spot for your child, you may come out to pick up the registration materials or we will send them to you. You will have a one-week deadline to return them to us, along with the non-refundable registration fee. Immunization and Health forms are not due at the time of registration, but must be in the school office before classes begin.

If we are not able to offer your child placement for the current year or if you are not yet ready for your child to begin school, their position on the waiting list will be held for possible openings later in the year. We do often get openings over the summer months and even during the school year.

We regret the tight timeline but the only way to be fair to all the families interested in placing their child in our school is to proceed in as timely manner as possible. Now’s the time to do your homework – we encourage you to visit all the schools you are interested in. Please take advantage of the time, before the registration process begins to revisit us if you like, as you will need to make a decision quickly.

Again, thank you for your interest. We look forward to working with your family, so feel free to call us with any questions you have.

Pre-registration form

Click here to download the Pre-registration Form (PDF format).

For More Information

Please contact Barbara Watson, Early Childhood Center Director
305.444.9792

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