Welcome to our YMCA Learning Center, state licensed and nationally accredited by the National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC). Built in 1995 we have available to you and your family a state-of-the-art facility to grow spiritually and physically…a place where laughter is cherished…and where relationships blossom. Our uniqueness allows for children to practice Christian values daily, incorporate swim and gym into their regular activities and build lifelong friendships. Where else in our community can one do all that?
The YMCA Learning Center uses a developmental approach to caring and teaching young children. Our program offers opportunities for your child to explore, to make discoveries, and to use his/her senses and physical movement. Through hands-on activities children learn and develop at their own pace. YMCA Learning Center recognizes each child as an individual, expanding where they are, not where we want them to be.
Our infant program focuses around the needs and unique differences of each child. Each infant has a primary caregiver who centers her day around the schedules of those for whom she cares. Routines are the curriculum for an infant’s day. Every moment of a young child’s day offers opportunities for learning. Baby Sign Language is also introduced to the older infants in our care.
Infants need to view the world from many angles, and are offered that experience. This includes crawling, being carried, buggy rides, outdoor play, climbing, and rocking so that various perspectives are gained. Diaper changing, feeding, and other routines are viewed as vital times for communication, self-discovery, and socializing. They are encouraged to master feeding themselves despite the messiness that accompanies this activity. While being supportive of infants in their quest for competence, our teachers look to the parents as the best resource in working with their children.
In our toddler program, teachers understand that these children learn with their whole bodies. They learn more by doing than being told. Toddlers discover their world on a physical level, so it is expected that they will prefer walking, climbing, carrying objects, dumping, or dropping objects to sitting, picking up toys, or playing only in a designated space. These large muscle activities are the legitimate activities of being a toddler. In planning for toddlers, our primary caregivers are prepared to be flexible and spontaneous. Baby Sign Language is continued to be taught and used in the toddler rooms. This is especially beneficial as a communication tool for our non-verbal younger toddlers.
Our full day preschool provides quality child care (5:45 am – 6:00 pm M-F) with preschool and kindergarten readiness activities incorporated into each day. Hands-on learning is the foundation of our program. Our classrooms are designed with learning centers including activities focusing on dramatic play, language, science, math, social studies, music, art, and large and small motor development. Our trained staff rotate and add materials frequently to maintain and extend the children’s interests. Our preschool classrooms use literacy based curricula from High Reach and McGraw Hill. You can learn more about the curriculum by visiting www.highreach.com (used in 3's classrooms) and www.wrightgroup.com and search Doors to Discovery (used in our 4's and 5's classrooms).
Enrichment Programs
There are many opportunities to enrich your child’s day while at the YMCA Learning Center.
Hooked on Phonics Program (HOP)
Take your child's learning one step further! Hooked on Phonics is a one hour weekly session for 4-6 year old children. This program offers a small class size of up to 3 children with a knowledgeable and caring teacher. There will be computer time with the HOP "Learn to Read" CD Rom and a lot of one-on-one teacher/ student interaction.
Character Counts!
Character Counts sessions are held weekly for our 3-5 year olds at the YMCA Learning Center. This free enrichment program is taught by Ellen Rauch. There is a strong focus on character building and a Christian message each week.
Child Care Swim Lessons and Gymnastics
Children in our 4 and 5 year old rooms, as well as kindergarten swim every week with their classroom teacher and an assistant. Children in our 3 year old room swims every other week. This is a great enhancement to your child’s day at the YMCA!
Check out the Program Guide and see all the great activities that are available for your child while they are in our care. There are special times set aside for child care swim lessons and gymnastics. We will transport your child to any YMCA programs from 3:00 - 5:00 pm and all your running will be taken care of so you can enjoy your evening with your family.
This year we are offering care before and after kindergarten for those students attending the morning session at Batesville Primary School or the morning session at St. Louis School. We will provide care and transportation for the mid-day pick up from the schools and the times before and after class. The cost for Kindergarten Care also includes care on non-school days such as holidays and snow days. Swimming, Character Counts sessions, and field trips will also be planned activities for the school year.
Kids Club: Our Before and After School Program
Children in full day kindergarten and those in first grade through age 12 can register for our Kids Club Program. Children are transported to and from Batesville Community Schools including St. Louis School via Batesville’s school bus and/or the YMCA bus. Children are served breakfast before going to school and a healthy snack upon their arrival to the YMCA Learning Center. There is also a scheduled time to focus on school homework daily. Children have opportunities to join in a variety of experiences, including: service-learning; science and reading; swimming and other sports; and developing social skills. They gather in a safe environment that focuses on making friends, building relationships, staying active, and exercising leadership skills.
Summer Camp
Designed for children entering first grade through age 12, children will have the opportunity to develop socially and have learning experiences that encourage a natural curiosity to explore the world around them and have fun in the process. Weekly activities are planned around a theme. Activities may include a trip to a Cincinnati Red’s game, the water slide at Versailles State Park, skating until day’s end during Rollerama week, a visit to the Indianapolis Children’s Museum, roasting marshmallows by a campfire, sharing and learning camp songs, swimming and other water fun activities!
A Learning Environment for the Whole Child
Our mission is to offer the opportunities for your child(ren) to develop intellectually, physically, socially and mentally; to develop respect for the natural environment; to grow in the ability to relate to other individuals peacefully; and to enjoy the appreciation of the rich diversity of people that he/she encounters. This is accomplished in a comfortable yet challenging environment.
* Caring, professional, and experienced staff
* Safe and developmentally appropriate environment
* Curriculum based on age-appropriate learning activities
* High Reach Learning (www.highreach.com) curriculum is used in our toddler through three year old classrooms.
* Doors to Discovery (www.wrightgroup.com) is a literacy based curriculum used in our 4-5’s classrooms. An enhancement to this is the Sound, Rhyme, and Letter Time component which is also used in the classroom. Individual work time on kindergarten readiness skills is also a large part of the curriculum for those children that will be entering kindergarten the following year.
Developmental Records and Progress Reports
Infants through five years old will be assessed and their developmental milestones will be documented. Each August, the children will be assessed by their classroom teacher. A conference will be offered to parents where classroom and developmental goals will be set for each child. The children will then be re-assessed in January and May with parent/teacher conferences offered at each time. These are great opportunities to build the teacher and parent relationships and set individual education plans for each child attending our center.
