25 Francis Ave.
Cambridge MA.  02138
Phone: 617-547-3432
Fax: 617-576-0107
Email: haryard@aol.com
Website: http://www.hyccc.org

Who we are

Harvard Yard is a non-profit, cooperative child care center and preschool, serving children from three months through 5 years of age, in Cambridge, MA.  It is open to all families, regardless of race, religion, national origin, cultural heritage, political beliefs, marital status, sexual orientation, or disability.  We believe in developing strong individual relationships, stressing respect for all children and their families.

The center is Harvard affiliated though not Harvard operated.  We are located at 25 Francis Avenue in Harvard’s Vanserg building.

The center employs 17 teachers in addition to an office manager, program manager and Executive Director: Kaori Hattori.

Philosophy

Developmentalism defines our basic approach to early childhood education.  As a parents’ cooperative, we build a community with children as our primary focus.  We work together to give children a warm, safe and stimulating environment.  We support parents and professionals to strengthen their partnerships in care-giving.  We believe that every member of our community - children and grownups - can benefit from an atmosphere that combines cooperation with respect and appreciation for the individual.

Goal

Our goal is provide a flexible and supportive environment to promote early childhood education.

How we operate

Children are divided into groups (or rooms) based on age:

Except for the 2.9 starting age for the preschool room, these are approximations, which may vary slightly from year to year.

We are open from 8:30 am to 5:30 pm, Monday through Friday. 3/4-time positions (8:30 am to 3:00 pm) are available in the YDR and RDR (two older rooms).  We offer early and late care from 8-8:30 and from 5:30-6 on as needed, as available basis.

Ratios of grown-ups to children meets or exceeds the guidelines EEC, the state regulatory agency for day cares.

Parents sign 10-month contracts (Sept. through June) with the option of enrolling their child (or children), one or both summer sessions.  The center is closed for a week in December, a spring recess week, as well as the last week of August.  Official holidays also result in center closings.

Twice a year, parents meet with their child’s teachers for a formal conference at which teachers share their perceptions of the child’s growth over the year and parents share relevant information about their child.  Special conferences can be arranged as the need arises.

Services

The center provides healthy snacks such as fresh fruits, crackers and milk.  Children bring their own lunches from home.  Disposable diapers are provided by the center, and charged monthly.

Enrollment procedure

First priority is given to in-center families with returning children.  Next priority is given to in-center families wishing to enroll a new child.  New families who are Harvard-affiliated are given next consideration followed.   Finally, new, non-affiliated families are considered.

We proceed through the waiting list based on date of application and whether the family requires full or 3/4-time care.  In addition, some age selection may be made in order to balance care-giving in the particular room.

Enrollment for September begins in April; visits for interested families are arranged as they are contacted from the waiting list.

Parent Involvement

As a cooperative, parent involvement is critical to every aspect of center operations.  Parents are expected to do weekly work time in the child’s room (based on a schedule arranged at the beginning of each year).  In addition, parents are expected to attend Membership meetings and participate in 10 hours of community work per year.  Tasks such as hiring new teachers, center renovations, repair and maintenance work weekends, open houses can all count toward committee work time.