Daycare and Preschool at the West Side YMCA

Our Early Childhood Center builds strong kids, families, and communities through our comprehensive program. Our robust curriculum and flexible schedules are structured to meet your family’s needs and provide a safe space for your family to grow and play together.

Please join West Side Y Early Childhood Center Educational Director, Carmen Alvarez, for a series of virtual parenting workshops for the community.

Carmen has two masters degrees in both Psychology and Childhood Education. Before joining West Side, she worked in school as a teacher and mental health consultant. Her mission is to be a champion of children by providing children and teachers with an arsenal of academic, social and emotional strategies that help children to be independent thinkers and to strive for success.

Wed. Sept. 28, 6:00PM-8:00PM --Adjusting to School
Wed, Nov. 9, 6:15PM-7:15PM--Parenting 101
Wed, Feb. 8, 6:00PM-8:00PM--Sleep/Toileting
Wed, April 26, 6:00PM-8:00PM--Behavior Management

Join Zoom Meeting
Meeting ID: 839 2719 9857
Passcode: NhGen4

Questions? Please email Carmen at calvarez@ymcanyc.org.

Department of Education (DOE) 3K and Universal Pre-K (UPK)

About the Program

The West Side YMCA presents NYC’s free 3K and Universal Pre-Kindergarten (UPK), a quality program for 3 and 4 year old’s five days a week! Children will be in contact with highly qualified, certified teachers and personnel. Our curriculum places a high priority on creating an environment in the classroom that encourages children to experiment, explore, and pursue their own interests. The development of independence, trust and initiative is fostered through a balanced program of free play and structure, quiet and active play, and group and individual time. Learning centers in each room include science, dramatic play, block building, library, art, music and manipulative materials. Science, music, movement and art are also incorporated in our foundation.

Program Hours

Monday through Friday from 8:30AM-3:00PM with a fee based extended day until 5:30PM

How to Apply

Interested families can apply through the Department of Education website here: myschools.nyc/en/account/log-in/

Early Childhood Center

About our Early Childhood Center

Our Early Childhood Center is a year round (September through August), fee-based comprehensive child care program for children 6 months through 2 years old. Designed to provide a flexible schedule for working families, our Early Childhood Center is open Monday through Friday from 8:30AM-5:30PM.

Philosophy, Curriculum, and Schedules

Our Early Childhood Center is committed to providing a safe, supportive learning environment for young children. Teachers create a warm and loving atmosphere while offering developmentally based, engaging curriculum, where children can play, discover and learn. The development of independence, trust and initiative is fostered through a balanced program of free play and structure, quiet and active play, and group and individual time. Learning centers in each room include science, dramatic play, block building, library, art, music and manipulative materials.

Faculty

Our school is located within the West Side YMCA—an architectural treasure and landmark building. The school has well-equipped classrooms, with child-sized toilets and sinks in the classrooms. Our Early Childhood Center wing includes a library, indoor play spaces and a full-sized gymnasium. Children and parents enjoy recreational and educational opportunities throughout the YMCA. Each class is staffed with at least two teachers, and many of the faculty members hold advanced degrees in Early Childhood Education or in a related field.

Meet our Staff

	Misha Paskar Director of Early Childhood
	Bridget Sieling Early Childhood Coordinator
	Carmen Alvarez Educational Director

Early Childhood Admissions, Tours and Tuition

Interested families should fill out this Prospective Family Form and return to Bridget Sieling at bsieling@ymcanyc.org. After the completed form is submitted, families will be contacted to schedule an in person visit.

2023-2024 Early Childhood Monthly Rates

Program Based on Age September 2023	NUMBER OF DATES	MONTHLY RATE
INFANT SCHOOL DAY (6-11 MO)	2 (T/TH)	$1180
	3 (MWF)	$1770
	5 (M-F)	$2940
TODDLER (12-24 MO)	5 (M-F)	$2800
TWOS	5 (M-F)	$2630

Financial assistance is available.

2022-2023 School Calendar

Thursday, September 1^st	ZOOM Parent Orientation: 5:30pm-7:00pm
Wednesday, September 7^th	ZOOM Parent Orientation: 9:30am-11:00am
Monday, September 12^th	Scheduled Classroom visits 9:00am-2:00pm
Tuesday, September 13^th	First Day for All Students
Tuesday, September 27^th & Wednesday, September 28^th	3:00pm – 4:30pm ZOOM Parent Teacher Conferences: 3k/4K
Tuesday, September 27^th & Wednesday, September 28^th	7:30am -10:30am ZOOM Parent Teacher Conferences: Infant-2’s
Wednesday, September 28^th	Family Workshop – Adjusting to School with Carmen Alvarez 6:00pm-8:00pm Hybrid ZOOM
Monday, October 10^th	PROGRAM CLOSED – Indigenous Peoples Day/Columbus Day
Saturday, October 29^th	Boo-fest
Tuesday, November 8^th	Picture Day
Wednesday, November 9^th	Family Workshop - Parenting 101 with Carmen Alvarez: 6:00pm-8:00pm Hybrid ZOOM
Friday, November 11^th	PROGRAM CLOSED – Veteran’s Day - Professional Development
Wednesday, November 23^rd	Early Dismissal-3:00p.m. for all children - Thanksgiving Holiday
Thursday, November 24^th – Friday, November 25^th	PROGRAM CLOSED – Thanksgiving Holiday
December 7^th	Early Dismissal – 1pm Parent/Teacher Conferences (afterschool teachers will provide childcare)
Friday, December 16^th	Early Childhood Holiday Festival
Friday, December 23^rd -Monday, January 2^nd	PROGRAM CLOSED – Winter Recess
Tuesday, January 3^rd	Program Resumes
Monday, January 16^th	PROGRAM CLOSED – Martin Luther King’s Jr. Birthday
Tuesday, January 17^th	PROGRAM CLOSED – Professional Development
Wednesday, February 8^th	Family Workshop – Sleep/Toileting with Carmen Alvarez 6:00pm-8:00pm Hybrid ZOOM
Monday, February 20^th	PROGRAM CLOSED – Presidents’ Day
Tuesday February 21-March 3^rd	Black Excellence Exhibit
Friday, March 17^th	PROGRAM CLOSED – Professional Development
Thursday, March 30^th	Early Dismissal – 1pm Parent/Teacher Conferences (afterschool teachers will provide child care)
Friday, April 7^th	PROGRAM CLOSED – Good Friday
Monday, April 10^th- Friday, April 14^th	PROGRAM CLOSED – Spring Recess
Wednesday, April 26^th	Family Workshop – Behavior Management with Carmen Alvarez: 6:00pm-8:00pm Hybrid ZOOM
Friday, May 12^th	Early Childhood Spring Picnic
Friday, May 26^th	PROGRAM CLOSED – Professional Development
Monday, May 29^th	PROGRAM CLOSED – Memorial Day
Week of June 5^th	Written Progress Reports Delivered Via Email to Families – 3K/UPK
Monday, June 19^th	PROGRAM CLOSED –Juneteenth
Wednesday, June 21^st	3K Graduation
Thursday, June 22^nd	All UPK graduation
Friday, June 23^rd	Last day for 3K and UPK with camp option July and August EC Fee-Based resumes as regularly scheduled
Week of June 26th	Written Progress Reports Delivered Via Email to Families –fee based
Tuesday, July 4^th	PROGRAM CLOSED – In Observance of Independence Day
Wednesday, July 5^th	Kinder Camp begins
Week of July 24^th	ZOOM Parent Teacher Conferences (fee-based students only)
Tuesday, August 16^th	End of Year Celebration – Infants and 1’s
Wednesday, August 17^th	End of Year Celebration- 2’s (all groups)
Friday, August 25^th	LAST DAY OF PROGRAM - Early Dismissal-3PM for all children
Monday, August 28^th– Friday, September 8^th	PROGRAM CLOSED – Staff Professional Development & Clean-Up

Community News

The West side Y Early Childhood Center presents

Black Excellence Exhibit
February 28-March 4, 2022
Please join us for our very special exhibit celebrating Black Excellence featuring artwork by the children in our Early Childhood program. The exhibit is open to members and participants during normal business hours.

ECH Families are invited to the Exhibit Opening on Monday, February 28th at 8:30 AM-- stop by for some coffee and grab ‘n’ go snack.

Join our Online Community!

Stay up to date by following us on social:

Twitter: @WestsideYNYC
Facebook: @westsideynyc
Instagram: @westsidenyc

Questions?

We're here for you. Contact our Early Childhood Center team today!

West Side YMCA Early Childhood

Camp Menu

Department of Education (DOE) 3K and Universal Pre-K (UPK)

Early Childhood Center

Meet our Staff

Questions?