Shepherdstown Day Care was envisioned and created by a small, diverse group of community members spearheaded by three women who saw the need for affordable, nurturing childcare and education for parents in the area. Created in 1973, Shepherdstown Day Care, Inc., Child Development Center was the first non-profit, 501(c)(3), childcare facility in Jefferson County. With $2,000 in start-up funds, a dream, and an unwavering board of directors, the Center began with accommodations for 20 children. Today, the Center is licensed to serve 100 children, ages 12 weeks to 10 years.
Since our inception, the Day Care Center has been housed in the former Eastside School, which served Shepherdstown’s African-American community. This history helps fuel the Center’s desire to serve a diverse group of children from a wide range of backgrounds. In 2006, the Shepherdstown Day Care Center begins a promising and exciting new chapter in its history, as it opens the doors on the Ruth D. Brown Infant and Toddler Wing, and a beautifully landscaped, child-centered, outdoor play area. The new wing is a symbol of the Center’s commitment to providing a nourishing and loving environment where our children can grow.
Creative Curriculum – A Brief Overview
The curriculum and assessment model used at SDC, “Creative Curriculum”, is a child-centered approach to teaching based on the most current research on how young children learn.
Teachers guide children’s thinking and support their learning as they interact with them throughout the day, plan individual and small- and large-group activities, and organize the classroom environment. Teachers create learning centers designed to support early literacy, mathematics, language development, social and emotional development, physical health and development and the arts and sciences.
For more information about SDC’s program please contact our director Melissa Holman at 876-6923.
Our Staff
The Shepherdstown Day Care Center is staffed by experienced, nurturing teachers. We are proud of our low staff turnover. Our experienced staff have been with us for an average of nine years. We provide ongoing staff training to ensure that our teachers have opportunities for development.
