The North Side Inside and Out

Posted June 12, 2012 - 3:31pm by Jenise Celestin

Montessori child care center celebrates milestone

One of the great dilemmas of working moms and dads: child care. The guilt of not being around as often. The wonder surrounding what you're missing out on while your kid shares 'moments' with their day care providers. When my daughter was just 12 weeks old, she started attending the James and Suzanne McCormick Montessori Child Care Center at Swedish Covenant Hospital. Even though countless colleagues told me their kids thrived at the school with a very enriched experience, I was nervous to leave her at such a young age. Well, three years later and I know that we are in a truly remarkable and special place. Molly is excited to come to school (PS her favorite teacher is Kensey, whom she's known since she started there) and I can rest easy knowing she is in a happy, healthy learning environment.

This Montessori-designated site focuses on teaching independence, responsibility, and self-discipline, as well as encouraging cognitive development at the child's own pace and stressing the uniqueness of each child.

Many of my colleagues and their grown children celebrated the 25th anniversary of the child care center earlier this month. The event featured lots of food, music, facepainting, balloon animals, a funny photo booth, and other video and photo displays throughout the center. There were even live musical performances throughout the afternoon featuring past students of the Center.

Here are a few fun facts about the James and Suzanne McCormick Montessori Child Care Center at Swedish Covenant Hospital:

• Dr. James McCormick, past president and CEO of the hospital, drafted the business plan which first proposed the idea for a hospital-sponsored child care center.
• Mary Newbold joined the hospital staff as the Center's director in 1986 - and still holds the position today! (PS-she has a Montessori Teaching Certification)
• In the 90s, the Center was relocated to its current location, thanks to a generous personal donation from Dr. and Mrs. McCormick (the Center was renamed in their honor).
• To this day, it's still the only Montessori hospital-based program in the US.
• There has been a continuous waiting list for the Center since 1988.

Maybe we'll be back for the 50th anniversary - when Molly is 28 years old, and I'm...not telling how old I'll be! :)

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