What makes Riverside Special...

History
Riverside Children's Center was founded in 1983 by a group
of people who saw the need to provide quality child care for
families living or working in Newton and its surrounding
communities. The Center is a private, non-profit corporation
whose purpose is to provide a safe and healthy environment for young children. Beyond physical care, the Center's goal
is to create a program which supports the social, emotional
and intellectual growth of each child.

Mission Statement and Program Goals
We believe that childcare should promote the emotional, social, physical and cognitive growth of each child. Each child should be viewed as unique and encouraged to reach their full potential through developmentally appropriate experiences. We are committed to enhancing each child's understanding of their world so they can approach new concepts, materials and situations with confidence and enthusiasm.

The Staff
We take great pride in our staff and realize that they are the heart and soul of our program. High quality care and education are never compromised at Riverside. Staff members give their very best each and every day and it shows! We select teachers who are warm and have a teaching style and philosophy that reflects the approach we use at Riverside. Our staff members are college-educated childcare professionals with diverse backgrounds and talents. We are proud of our staff longevity. Each classroom has at least one staff member who has been at Riverside between 15 and 20 plus years. Staff members participate in on-going professional development to learn new techniques and to build on their knowledge of early childhood education. They work closely with parents to foster the growth and development of each child. In addition to the classroom staff, there are two full-time floating teachers to provide additional coverage as well as continuity of care when teachers are sick or on vacation.

The Place
Riverside is located at the intersection of Beacon Street and Collins Road in Newton. The center has three separate play yards, one for infants, one for toddlers and one for preschoolers. The neighborhood has playgrounds, parks, and stores that the children enjoy visiting. The location is easily accessible by the green-line T, Route 128, and the Mass Pike.

The Family Involvement
Riverside is not only a child-centered program; it is a family-centered one. The Center understands that children are best served when parents' needs and concerns are met and addressed, along with the needs of their children. RCC's goal is to provide the best possible program for children and, at the same time, to be a resource and support system to families.

There are several opportunities for parents to become involved in Riverside. Parents may serve as board members or room representatives and they are invited to participate in various activities, including class dinner in the fall, holiday meals, a school picnic in the spring, workshops on family issues, and fundraising events.

Board of Directors
The Center is governed by a Board of Directors that includes the Center's director, business manager, teachers and parents. All board meetings are open to parents and staff and are posted in advance.

NAEYC Accreditation
We are proud to have earned the mark of quality from NAEYC, and to be recognized for our commitment to reaching the highest professional standards. NAEYC Accreditation lets families in our community know that children in our program are getting the best care and early learning experiences possible.
 
To earn NAEYC Accreditation, we went through an extensive Self-Study process, measuring our program and its services against the 10 NAEYC Early Childhood Program Standards and more than 400 related Accreditation Criteria. We received NAEYC Accreditation after a site visit by NAEYC Assessors to ensure that our program meets each of the ten program standards.  As an NAEYC-accredited program, we are also subject to unannounced visits during our 5 year accreditation period.

For more information about NAEYC Accreditation, visit www.rightchoiceforkids.org.