EAGLE'S WING
Child Care and Education Programs
http://www.housing.wisc.edu/eagleswing/index.php
Philosophy
Eagle’s Wing programs emphasize child-initiated learning within a culturally diverse community.Our programs nurture and support the development of children throughout the day by providing:
- Developmentally appropriate activities
- Respect for each child’s culture and background
- A program that addresses each child’s need for fun, creativity, active play, communication skills, problem-solving and decision-making skills, cognitive growth, social interaction, rest, and nutrition
- An opportunity for family members to be actively involved in the center
- A focus on anti-bias and peace education.
We recognize children as individuals and support each child in his or her unique developmental needs. At the same time, as part of a culturally diverse classroom in which mutual respect and understanding are emphasized, children at Eagle’s Wing are also encouraged to value teamwork, interdependence, and group harmony.
For the enrollment of children and the employment of staff, Eagle’s Wing does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, creed, religion, sex, HIV status, national origin or ancestry, age, disability, sexual orientation, marital status, pregnancy, parental status, military status, or veteran status. We ensure equal rights for all children, families, and staff. The University of Wisconsin–Madison is an Equal Opportunity Employer.
Anti-Bias Education
We are all members of a quickly changing, vastly diverse society. We are seeing that even the most homogeneous communities are becoming more diverse. We have the responsibility to help prepare our children for this diversity. If they are to successfully function in their future society, they will need to develop the skills and strategies that will afford them this success.
Eagle’s Wing embraces the diverse community to which we belong, and is committed to supporting it in its diversity. We have a strong commitment to multi-cultural, anti-bias care and education that promotes respect for all people regardless of differences in race, culture, sexual orientation, language, socioeconomic level, age, health, physical and mental ability, religion, political views or family structure. As part of our educational philosophy of respecting each child’s culture and background, we have the wonderful opportunity to not only affirm children’s identities, but also to further explore and celebrate a wide variety of cultural, racial, and ethnic differences. We also recognize that not all families consist of only, or primarily, fathers and mothers. We respect all families and embrace family diversity. Gender equity and sensitivity are important values we try to put into practice. We actively work to promote prejudice reduction, and to provide a nurturing, safe, inclusive environment for all children and their families.
Respect is more than simply not tolerating name calling, intimidation, or exclusionary tactics. It is openly discussing and addressing issues that arise spontaneously in the classrooms or on the playground. If attacks of discrimination occur, and we just let them go by, then of course, the child who is overweight or Jewish or short or who has gay or lesbian parents, for example, is devalued little by little. In addition, the witnesses to this act are once again desensitized to the small acts of cruelty that can mount over time and ultimately create biased attitudes in adulthood.
We try not to infringe on anyone’s privately-held viewpoints, but in a public setting, the law and common decency provide for each child to have a nurturing and equitable education. The Anti-Bias Curriculum by Louise Derman Sparks is a cornerstone of our daily interactions in the classrooms. For more information, please speak with the Manager of Children’s Services.
Guidance Philosophy
The guidance philosophy at Eagle’s Wing is intended to nurture children as they work toward independence and responsibility; it encourages and supports them in developing their problem-solving abilities; and it promotes self-esteem, while instilling sincere respect for the rights of others. The philosophy is implemented in a variety of ways:
- Problem-solving with the children
- The modeling of appropriate behavior by teachers
- The clear setting of reasonable, developmentally appropriate limits
- The redirection of children’s behavior
The Eagle’s Wing staff is trained in the guidance philosophy during their orientation. Training includes an explanation of those practices which are prohibited at Eagle’s Wing, including, but not limited to:
- Any form of physical punishment, including restraint or other corporal punishment
- Any form of emotional punishment, including embarrassing, derogatory, or frightening remarks
- Withholding of food
- The use of “time-outs”
Program
Eagle’s Wing first opened its doors in August 1992 with two classrooms, located in an apartment building. In 1998, we moved into our current space in the Eagle Heights Community Center. Throughout the years we have added more programs to meet the community’s child care needs and remained committed to offering programs with semester schedules flexible enough to meet the needs of enrolled student families.
Our programs are staffed by a Manager of Children’s Services, Lead Teachers, Associate Teachers, and Assistant Teachers. Whenever possible, it is our intention to lower the ratios of children to adults through placement of student interns and volunteers in each room, though student teachers and volunteers are never counted in our teacher/child ratios. All Lead and Associate Teachers have at least a four-year Early Childhood Education degree and all Lead Teachers are teacher-certified.
Program Schedules
The Eagle’s Wing staff is committed to a program that is flexible enough to meet the needs of our enrolled student families. A variety of scheduling options are available each semester. Families contract for the schedule that best meets their needs during any given semester. Accordingly, each room serves families with different scheduling needs.
Nido Room (Full-day Toddler Program)
- Age group: Full-day care for toddlers starting at 18 months
- Full day care: 7:30 a.m.- 5:15 p.m.
- Schedule options:
Monday through Friday
Monday/Wednesday/Friday
Tuesday/Thursday
Niiji Room (Full-day Pre-school program)
- Age group: Full-day care for children 24 months-5 years
- Full day care: 7:30 a.m.-5:15 p.m.
- Schedule Options:
Monday through Friday
Monday/Wednesday/Friday
Tuesday/Thursday
Pre-arranged drop-in care is available as space permits
HaNeul Room (Half and Full-day preschool program)
- Age group: 3-6 years
- Half day care: 7:30 a.m.-12:15 p.m. and 12:30 p.m.-5:15 p.m.
- Full day care: 7:30 a.m.-5:15 p.m.
- Schedule Options:
Monday through Friday
Monday/Wednesday/Friday
Tuesday/Thursday
Pre-arranged drop-in care is available as space permits.
Yuwa Room (Half-day morning or afternoon program)
Half-day morning or afternoon care for children 24 months through 4 years
- Age group: 24 months-5 years
- Morning session: 7:30 a.m.-12:00 p.m.
- Afternoon session: 12:45 p.m.-5:15 p.m.
- Schedule Options:
Monday through Friday, morning or afternoon
Monday/Wednesday/Friday, morning or afternoon
Tuesday/Thursday, morning or afternoon
Pre-arranged drop-in care is available as space permits
4K (Part-day 4 year old kindergarten program)
Care for 4, 5, and 6 year olds, with a focus on the transition into kindergarten.
- Age group and eligibility: Required entry into kindergarten the following fall. Must be four years old by September 1* of year enrolling or, if younger, must provide documentation of enrollment in a kindergarten program the following fall.
- Program hours: 8:00 a.m.-3:30p.m., Monday through Friday- Academic Year Program
- Extended care available: 7 a.m.-8:00 a.m. and 3:30 p.m.-5:15 p.m., as space permits
- Schedule Options :
Monday through Friday
Monday/Wednesday/Friday
Tuesday/Thursday
(Priority will be given to full week schedules)
*Note: Wisconsin public schools require children to be 5 years old by September 1 to enter kindergarten.
Early Birds (Before School Program)
- Age group & eligibility: 5-12 years and enrolled at Shorewood Hills Elementary School
- Program hours: 7:00-8:15 a.m., Monday through Friday
- Priority is given to families choosing full-week care. Part-week care is available as space permits (must be pre-arranged).
Transportation to Shorewood Hills School is provided by arranged bus service December through April. A morning snack is also provided. An Eagle’s Wing teacher will walk children to Shorewood School during the months of September, October, November, May, and June.
*Note: Children should arrive by 7:30 a.m. to ensure time for morning snack.
Gliders After School Program
- Age group & eligibility: 5-12 years and enrolled at Shorewood Hills Elementary School
- Program hours: 1:45-5:15 p.m. on Mondays; 3:15-5:15 p.m., Tuesday through Friday
- Scheduling Options:
Monday through Friday
Monday/Wednesday/Friday
Tuesday/Thursday
(Priority will be given to full week schedules)
Transportation to Shorewood Hills School is provided by arranged bus service December through April. An Eagle’s Wing teacher will walk children back from Shorewood School during the months of September, October, November, May, and June.
- Summer 2010 Rates and Schedule
- Age group: 5-12 years
- Period of operation: June through August when MMSD is not in session
- Program hours: 7:30 a.m.-5:15 p.m., Monday through Friday
- Full-week care only
- Families may contract for any number of weeks during the summer
- You may choose a half-day (mornings 7:30 a.m.–12:00 p.m. or afternoons 1:00–5:15 p.m.) or full-day (7:30 a.m. to 5:15 p.m.) schedule.
- Summer Flyer — Buckets of Fun
*Note: Due to the nature of our curriculum, all summer program children should be on site by 8:45 a.m.
Drop-off and Pick-up
Eagle’s Wing staff recognize that family needs and daily schedules may vary, and that some parents may need to drop off their child late or pick them up early. You may drop off your child anytime after the program begins and pick your child up anytime before the end of the session in which your child is enrolled. However, fees are based on your reserved time slot and not on actual time attended.
There is an hourly charge for a child attending on a non-contracted day or during a non-contracted time (as space permits, pre-approval required).
About Our Classroom Names
Since we are located in Eagle Heights, most of the classroom names are related in some way to eagles and/or birds. Staff, parents, and children alike have had a hand in choosing our classroom names. The general consensus was that we wanted to reflect both the wonderful international diversity of our community and Wisconsin’s cherished heritage. The classroom names selected span these concepts. These names were selected not as a tribute to specific countries, but to show our highest regard for the large international component of our community.
- Niiji is Ojibwa for “friend.” The Ojibwa are one of the indigenous peoples who originally populated much of Wisconsin. The name Niiji helps us reflect on our natural history.
- Yuwa is Turkish for “nest.” In fact, Yuwa is the word used in Turkey for many of their early childhood programs.
- Nido is the Spanish word for “nest”.
- HaNeul is the Korean word (using the English language alphabet) for “sky”.
Additional program information is available in several languages (PDF format).
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