New IRSC Child Development Center Welcomes College's Youngest Pioneers
New IRSC Child Development Center Welcomes College's Youngest Pioneers
August 25, 2023 Jon Pine
FORT PIERCE—Indian River State College cut the ribbon Thursday, August 24, on its new Child Development Center at the College’s Massey Campus in Fort Pierce. IRSC Faculty, Staff, Trustees and Foundation board members joined area legislators and educational partners to welcome the College’s youngest Pioneers to their new home away from home.
Photos by Chris Arnold and James Crocco IRSC
Numerous studies indicate that a sustained high-quality early education has long-lasting impacts on an adult’s later success. Early education can also have a long-lasting economic impact on the community, according to a recent Center for High Impact Philanthropy study. For every dollar invested in early education, the average community may reap from $4 to $13 from impacts on educational attainment, employment, health, truancy and criminality, the study suggests.
In 2020, author and philanthropist MacKenzie Scott committed to giving the majority of her wealth to address some of society’s most pressing problems. IRSC was one of 384 organizations on the receiving end of Scott’s Giving Pledge, and the College chose to devote a portion of the gift to reinvigorating its Child Development Center.
In addition to providing quality early education, the Center offers hands-on learning experiences for students enrolled in Early Childhood Education programs at IRSC’s School of Education. College students may pursue an Associate in Science Degree in Early Childhood Education, as well as various Technical Certificates with college credit.
The new Center is situated alongside the IRSC School of Education. It houses operations for three IRSC early child education programs:
- The expanded Infant and Toddler Program serves children ages three months to three
years. The curriculum, toys, daily schedule, food and all aspects of the child’s environment
are planned to best support physical, emotional, behavioral and mental growth.
- The Preschool Program provides care and education for children aged 3 or 4 by Sept.
1 of the school year who are toilet-trained and can work well in a preschool setting
of 15 to 18 children. Students experience a balanced program of interaction with friends
in both teacher-directed and child-directed experiences. Classrooms contain areas
for creative art, dramatic play, blocks, math, science, literacy and cognitive and
small-motor development.
- Florida’s Volunteer Pre-Kindergarten (VPK) program for eligible four-year-olds is offered weekdays from 8:30 to 11:30 a.m. At the end of each month, VPK parents must complete a Parent Attendance Verification form.
The center's unique features provide a high-quality and secure learning environment:
- Classrooms in the new center are complemented by a lounge where children will gather
for drop-off and pick-up each day. The lounge features a reading area fouced around
a “reading tree” and tree mural created by artists Victoria Whitty and Victoria Vendryes.
- A large and secure outdoor play area, with direct access from classrooms, is home
to a superstructure that promotes gross motor development, age-appropriate swings;
tricycles; and music, water play, and outdoor art features—alongside tables and benches
to take learning outside
- A train yard housing the “Pioneer Express” is adjacent to the play area. The train is an authentic-looking, four-car, trackless train able to transport Child Development Center students to on-campus activities and events.
“We believe that the launch point of a person’s journey of educational and intellectual awakening occurs at their earliest age,” shared Dr. Timothy Moore, IRSC President. “This facility plays such a piviotal role in the socialization, the exposure, the intellectual curiosity stimulation for our young people—this is where it all begins. If we can capture them here we can drive them to success through the College. Future Pioneers will come through here, trained by current Pioneers… and lead the way.”
Operation of the IRSC Child Development Center meets the requirements of the Child Care Guidance, Services and Management program as specified by the Vocational Division, Florida State Department of Education. To request an Enrollment Application, visit irsc.edu. Parents are encouraged to apply as early as possible—especially for the infant and toddler program, which typically have waitlists. A $150 non-refundable deposit is required upon acceptance to the program.
For information about enrolling, visit https://irsc.edu/community/irsc-child-development-center.html, call 772-462-7645, or email irsccdc@irsc.edu.
