Rdca Ashburton Child Development Center, Bethesda

The mission of Rockville Day Care Association is to facilitate the provision of high quality child care and children’s programs in Montgomery County: To expand our services in communities where the need is identified. To improve the quality of our programs at our various centers through ongoing training for staff. To advocate for ongoing participation of parents. To advocate for increased support for quality child care programs by the government and community at large. To provide program management and administrative services to our associated child care centers. Facts Tuition is reasonable and is all inclusive - no additional fees are charged for materials, meals, field trips or special events We are a private, non-profit, 501c3 organization founded in 1969. We comply with all conditions under Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and the Americans With Disabilities Act of 1990. We are governed by a volunteer Board of Directors comprised of parents of enrolled children. Our Centers are licensed by the Maryland State Department of Education (MSDE) - Office of Child Care. Our preschool programs are accredited by the Maryland State Department of Education (MSDE). Our Centers participate in the US Department of Agriculture - Child and Adult Care Food Program. We accept vouchers for child care tuition from the Maryland State Purchase of Care Program (POC) and the Montgomery County Working Parents Assistance Program (WPA) We operate six child care centers, five are located in Montgomery County School buildings and two are located within Montgomery County Government facilities. Breakfast, AM Supplement and Afternoon Snacks are provided for all children. Our programs operate on a year round basis. We open on many of the MCPS closure days and provide full day care. We are closed on the following holidays; President’s Day, Martin Luther King Jr.’s Birthday, Memorial Day, 4th of July, Labor Day, Thanksgiving, the Friday after Thanksgiving, close at 3:00pm on December 24th, Christmas Day and New Years Day. In addition we are closed for two - three staff in-service days (one day prior to the start of the summer program and one-two days before school starts in the fall). We may possiblly close an additional day around Christmas (voted on by the RDCA Board of Directors on a year-to-year basis). CURRICULUM The various programs offered at Rockville Day Care incorporate all the basic areas of learning into the curriculum. The curriculum offered to both preschool and school age children is designed to foster social, emotional, physical, artistic and intellectual development through play and exploration. Children are encouraged to learn at their own pace in an atmosphere that is relaxed and nurturing. The important result is the development of a positive attitude toward learning and an enthusiasm for it. Rockville Day Care uses the Creative Curriculum for our preschool programs. Lesson plans are written weekly and posted in the classroom for parent information and reference. In addition to this resource, RDCA employs Program Directors who visit each classroom on a periodic basis. They serve as a resource to Directors, and the classroom teaching staff, to ensure that the program meets our objectives, to assist with classroom management techniques, help provide ideas for room arrangement and to observe interactions between staff, parents and children. Parents are encouraged to review the curriculum. Suggestions or ideas from parents are always welcome. The variety of activities provided in our programs help to promote growth in these areas of development. Children may choose to participate in creative dramatics, block building, arts and crafts, stories and finger plays, music and movement activities, sand and water play, science and nature activities, manipulative and small motor activities, basic math concepts, reading readiness, outdoor recreational activities, community awareness and field trips. Each day is balanced with opportunities for individual exploration with materials and equipment available in the classroom (generally referred to as free play) at activity centers, and teacher directed small group and large group activities that reinforce weekly themes and promote cognitive skills. Children are also guided to develop appropriate social skills and problem solving techniques. The actual daily routine, schedule and lesson plans are available for parent review in each classroom. Please check the Parent Information area in your classroom for more details. The daily schedule will vary from program to program and is dependent on the age of the children in the group, the needs and interests of the class, the incorporation of swimming, field trips and special events into the daily routine, planned meals, rest periods, outdoor play, etc. Schedules are developed by each classroom teacher. The teachers observe the needs and interests of the group and adjust their schedules accordingly. Rockville Day Care offers exciting summer programs for preschool and school age students. Our programs operate on a full day schedule and tuition covers all activities, swimming, field trips, special events, materials, meals (breakfast, lunch supplement and snack) and extended hours.