One year ago, 12 children waited at the doorstep of The Ray Ellison Family Center. Today, the center has 44 smiling faces and is anxiously awaiting more.
The new Center celebrated its first birthday on Oct. 9, 2002, with an ice cream social for the children and their parents.
Trina Jimenez helps the children add their favorite toppings to their ice cream.
Photo By Michelle Tyler
“I like to play outside and eat,” said Erica, 4, but her “favorite favorite” part of the day is naptime.
Rangel enrolled Erica
at the start of the fall semester, and she likes the convenience of having
her daughter on campus; she is able to visit and have lunch with her.
“The staff is great,” said Rangel, adding that she feels very
comfortable having her daughter at the center.
Child Development Specialist Trina Jimenez instructs Erica and other preschoolers
at the center. The curriculum consists of child-initiated activities,
including making silly putty, playing inside with beads or playing outside
in the sandbox.
“They like the messy stuff,” said Jimenez.
This Fall 2002, the center also welcomed Frank Guevara as its new Program
Coordinator. Guevaras experience includes teaching toddlers and middle
school students to directing an Infant Center in California.
In response to needs identified last year, Guevara changed the traditional
days of the center from Monday through Friday to a new flexible plan that
includes Tuesday/Thursday or a Monday/Wednesday/Friday schedule.
Guevara hopes to see
enrollment increase to the maximum capacity of 66 children. Child care
subsidies are available to students in the form of CCAMPIS (Child Care
Access Means Parents In School) grants. The college offers about 35 CCAMPIS
grants at a rate of $30 per week. Grants are available on a per semester
basis for students who meet certain academic criteria. Recipients must
be enrolled in a minimum of six semester hours. In addition to enrollment
criteria, students must participate in parent activities, study skills
seminars and monthly meetings.
Students interested in the CCAMPIS grant can visit Nora Esparza at the
new Student Success Center in PC, Room 126, or call Esparza at 921-5242.
The center is licensed for children 18 months through 5 years of age.
Although there have been many request for infant care, enrollment is not
open to infants because it would require a special license and facilities.
The Center is open to children of students, faculty and staff of Palo
Alto College and Texas A&M-Kingsville-System Center. For more information,
call 921-5490.