Upcoming Events
We are open year-round, from 6:30 am to 6:00 pm, Monday through Friday.
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IMPORTANT!!! INCLEMENT WEATHER ANNOUNCMENT!!!
Dear Parents,
The season for inclement weather has arrived! I want to make sure everyone understands our emergency closure policy as stated in our Parent Handbook.
The Bellingham Childcare & Learning Center Board of Directors wants to ensure the safety of the children and staff at BCLC. When snow or hazardous road conditions exist, the Center may close or operate on a reduced schedule. For information, call the Center or check our website at www.bellinghamchildcare.com. The Center will not necessarily close when the Bellingham School District does, however, we do take their information and recommendations into account.
In the event that the weather worsens after the Center has already opened, you will be contacted by the Center to come and pick up your children immediately. For this reason it is particularly important that you keep the Center advised of where you can be reached at all times.
If road conditions keep you from getting your child to the Center on time, please follow the procedure for absences; i.e. call the Center and let us know that your child will not be attending that day or will be late.
We understand that many families need to make alternate arrangements for their children when school is delayed, canceled, or dismissed early. The best advice I can give is to work on developing a network of support that can react and adjust to changing conditions when weather becomes a problem. Planning ahead is important – for parents and the Center.
As always, if you have any questions or concerns, please feel free to contact me.
Sincerely,
Karen Ekdahl
Executive Director
In partnership with the community, the Bellingham Childcare & Learning Center, a non-profit corporation, provides high quality, affordable childcare to families of all income levels, assisting low-income families to become self sufficient. Our well qualified, nurturing staff offers a developmentally appropriate and safe learning environment for young children. Bellingham Childcare & Learning Center is a licensed, private non-profit 501 (c) (3) agency, dedicated to providing affordable care of the highest quality for young children while their parents work or receive training for work.
We believe that:
- All children deserve quality early learning.
- Relationships with caring parents and caregivers are key.
- Children learn best when they feel safe, loved, and secure.
Operating on a sliding fee scale, BCLC serves 72 children daily, ages 1 month to 5 years. Developmentally appropriate practices guide our curriculum, with an emphasis on creativity, choice, growing independence, cooperation, and friendship. In addition, building relationships between adults (staff, parents, community) for the benefit of families is a critical component.
- BCLC accepts children who are supported by subsidies from the State of Washington.
- BCLC Relies on contributions and grants to balance our operating budget and maintain affordable fees for families.
Bellingham Childcare & Learning Center Benefits
To Children:
- Individualized learning experiences
- Rich Social experiences
- Developmental and health screenings
- Nutritious meals
- Atmosphere which celebrates diversity
- Services to meet the special needs of children with disabilities
To Families:
- Direct Involvement in their child's education
- Parent education through newsletters, handouts, resource library, and family nights
- Information and referral to community agencies
- Involvement in the operation and evaluation of the program
To The Community:
- Parents are able to continue their education and / or be working, productive members of our society
"Play gives children a chance to practice what they are learning. They have to play with what they know to be true in order to find out more, and then they can use what they learn in new forms of play."
~Mr. Rogers
The Bellingham Childcare & Learning Center (BCLC) is a licensed, NAEYC (National Association for the Education of Young Children) accredited childcare and early learning center.
