About Santa Fe

We opened our doors as Santa Fe Centers in 1996 and expanded a short time later, providing full-day Pre-K to fill a need in the community which is in demand to this day.  We are, and will always be independent & family-run. It’s one thing our families say they really love about us–we feel like family.  Not only do we focus on providing excellent care, but we emphasize the close connection between the community, our Center, and your home by offering many opportunities for parents to participate in activities and programs.

Mission

Our mission is to provide a high quality, supportive, family-centered program for young children in a warm, safe and responsive environment. Children are actively engaged in a variety of play and daily living experiences, which are designed to:

  • Promote their physical, social, emotional and cognitive development;
  • Encourage cooperation, responsibility and consideration of others based on age appropriateness and within reasonable expectations.

Our philosophy is based on the principle that children learn most effectively when they can explore and discover using materials that are of interest to them.

Philosophy

We meet the developmental needs of our growing children and their families by providing a safe, nurturing and stimulating setting for children from infancy through Pre-K. The specific classroom environment is based on current early childhood research, theory and developmentally appropriate practice noting that children learn best when they can explore and discover using materials that are of interest to them.  In practical terms, this allows children to be appreciated as individuals capable of directing their growth through an environment offering daily choices in self-directed play, ample exposure to nature, and opportunities to develop higher level thinking and problem solving with an array of toys, games, equipment and caring teachers guiding their daily experiences.

Through the use of thematic units in each classroom, teachers provide activities supporting development in the following domains:  sensory, language and vocabulary, large and small motor, creative expression and music and literature enjoyment.  The flexible curriculum meets the needs of children at each stage of development and awakens the child’s innate ability to “bloom” at their own pace.  Active learning experiences are available in the following interest areas:  sensory (including food experiences), blocks, dramatic play, art, and math and science.  By frequent changes to and enrichment of the environment throughout the year coinciding with the growth of the children, teachers support learning and creativity while simultaneously facilitating emerging literacy, math, science, and social studies concepts through developmentally appropriate care. Parent participation is encouraged in all center activities including our parent/staff committee, classroom activities, center wide holiday events, or spur of the moment opportunities to spend time with your child in their classroom.  Through open communication and positive parent/teacher partnership, a child’s developing self-esteem, social skills, creativity, independence, self-care and a life-long passion for learning can be fully supported.

Policies


The policies from our Santa Fe Parent Manual  are easily accessible for you on our website. See a quick overview below.

If you have any questions, please feel free to contact us.

Administrative Information

Admission

Children are accepted on a first come, first served basis according to the amount of space available. We encourage families to come for a tour of our centers. Our tours are usually scheduled in the morning. Siblings of currently enrolled students are given first priority on our list. Children of anyone belonging to the New Providence Methodist Church will be given priority placement as well. For inquiries about our centers, please email us.

Registration

If you would like to register your child please fill out the Registration Form. There is a non-refundable Security Deposit due at the time of registration. This Security Deposit will be applied to your last month at the day care, provided that you give us at least four weeks’ notice. It is always best to visit the center, however there is a Form available on our website which can be submitted online if you prefer.

Security Deposit

If you would like to register your child please fill out the Registration Form.

There is a non-refundable Security Deposit due at the time of registration in the amount of $500 for full time and $250 for part time families. The security deposit will be applied to your last month at the Centers, provided that you give us at least four weeks’ notice. It is always best to visit the Centers, however, there is a Registration Form available on our website which can be submitted online if you prefer. In the event of a mandated closure or prolonged shutdown (greater than two weeks) due to circumstances beyond the control of Santa Fe (e.g. government mandated closure due to pandemic, etc.), we reserve the right to return deposits to requesting families on a staggered, ‘as-needed’ basis or opt to keep the Security Deposit in full for the best interest of the operational status of our Centers.

Payment Policy

Payments must be made in full on the 1st of the month. There is no adjustment in the rates for vacation, illness, or general absenteeism, or for when the center needs to close for any reason i.e. staff seminars, bad weather, holidays, vacations, emergency situations, or other unforeseen circumstances.

Payments received more than 10 days after their due date will have an automatic $50 late fee added to the next month. It is your responsibility to ensure that your check is received in the check “mailbox” on time. You will receive an invoice to remind you of payment several days before the 1st of the month to allow for ample time to make payment.

If you are routinely over two weeks overdue resulting in a pattern of late payments, this may result in the dismissal of your child. Please talk to the Director if you are having financial difficulties.

There is a cost-of-living review every year with the potential for a subsequent increase in tuition if deemed applicable.

Curriculum

Santa Fe has incorporated the HighScope curriculum with the goal of nurturing a child’s potential in growth and development. HighScope allows our school to continue fostering a child’s natural curiosity to learn through discovery and provided opportunity. The gist of HighScope is to plan through designed-research based developmental indicators, do what encourages a child to focus on exploring the world through play, and review the techniques used to provide lasting benefits through reinforced scaffolding by the teachers to support extended learning. HighScope grants Santa Fe with comprehensive content areas for Infant-Toddler and Preschool Centers based on our goal to connect teachers, families and children. A child’s academic achievement and social-emotional development can expand outside of Santa Fe Centers with continuous implementation of HighScope’s researched guidance.

Growth in Opportunity (self):

  • Developing self-confidence
  • Understanding self-expectations
  • Building/strengthening resilience
  • Family involvement
  • Fostering independence
  • Open-ended discussion
  • Problem recognition / solving

Development through exploration (learning):

  • In classroom centers
  • Outdoor play
  • Family involvement
  • Plan-Do-Review
  • Creativity/ imagination
  • Routines
  • Resources

Infant –Toddler & Preschool Content Areas

  • Approaches to Learning
  • Social-Emotional Development
  • Physical Development and Health
  • Communication, Language and Literacy
  • Cognitive Development
  • Mathematics
  • Creative Arts
  • Science
  • Social Studies