Child Care
a Montana licensed Childcare Center
The SKC Childcare Center serves up to 41 children from 2-12 years old. The Childcare Center operates as a field laboratory for SKC students pursuing degrees in early childhood education, elementary education, psychology, and social work at SKC.
Our Mission and Vision
SKC Childcare Center is committed to provide professional quality care for the whole child and their family as we nourish healthy values and responsibility while upholding the mission of Salish Kootenai College.
We see SKC Childcare Center as a dynamic place of wonder, curiosity, and engagement where young children, their families, cultures, and communities are valued and respected as integral pieces in the tapestry of Salish Kootenai College.
Enrollment
The SKC Childcare Center offers enrollment throughout the SKC year if program openings are available. A complete registration packet must be in place before a child may enroll at the Center. Please contact SKC Childcare Director Leigh Ann Courville at (406) 675-8475 or stop by the Center during business hours to pick up a packet.
The SKC Childcare Center does not discriminate against any race, color, gender, age, religious creed, political ideas, marital status, physical or mental disabilities, sexual orientation, gender identity, or national origin or ancestry in accordance with SKC Policy.
Our Calendar
The SKC Childcare Center will open with registration of college classes for the fall quarter. The Center is open Monday - Friday from 7:30 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. when classes are in session. Our program is closed for all SKC student holidays and quarter breaks shown on the College calendar, and the Montana Early Childhood Education Conference in October.
Transitions Preschool
In 2012, the SKC Childcare Center was awarded a grant from the U.S. Department of Indian Education. This grant fully supports our Transitions Preschool; we enroll 40 preschoolers annually in this comprehensive preschool classroom. The SKC Transitions Preschool offers two sessions (8:30 a.m.-12:00 p.m. or 12:45 p.m. - 4:15 p.m.) Monday - Thursday.
Our Curriculum
At the SKC Childcare Center we implement the HighScope Curriculum in our center activities. The following paragraphs from www.highscope.org give a brief description of this research-based, child-centered curriculum.
Adult - Child Interaction
Adult-child interaction is the process of working alongside children and communicating with them both verbally and non-verbally to encourage learning. A key strategy for adult-child interaction is sharing control with children. Additional strategies include supporting children's play, using encouragement instead of praise, and taking a problem-solving
The Classroom
HighScope settings are divided into interest areas stocked with a stimulating range of materials designed for specific types of play, for example, house area, art area, block area, small toy area, computer area, reading and writing area. Materials are arranged in consistent places and the shelves are tagged with child-friendly labels so that children can get out and put away materials themselves. The classroom's organization also helps children understand how the world is organized, and concepts like more, less, same, different, large, small, in, out, in front of, etc.
The Daily Routine
In HighScope programs there is a consistent framework for the day that provides a balanced variety of experiences and learning opportunities. Children engage in both individual and social play, participate in small- and large- group activities, assist with cleanup, socialize during meals, develop self-care skills, and exercise their small and large muscles. The most important segment of the daily routine is the "plan-do-review" sequence, in which children make choices about what they will do, carry out their ideas, and reflect upon their activities with adults and other children.
