Better Beginnings Day Care Center of E. Windsor/Hightstown NJ

<TABLE BORDER=0 CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 WIDTH="100%" > <TR> <TD VALIGN=TOP BGCOLOR="#000000"> </TD> <TD VALIGN=TOP BGCOLOR="#DDDDDD"><IMG SRC="curve1.gif" ALT="" HEIGHT=16 WIDTH=16></TD> <TD VALIGN=TOP ROWSPAN="2" BGCOLOR="#DDDDDD">  <P><B>BBDCC Information</B>  <P><A HREF="#Mission">Mission Statement</A>  <P><A HREF="#Preschool">Preschool</A>  <BR><A HREF="#Super">Super:BBs</A>  <BR><A HREF="#Peace">Peace Camp</A>  <P><A HREF="curric.htm">Curriculum & </A>  <BR><A HREF="schedule.htm">Events </A>  <P><A HREF="bbboard.htm">Board</A>  <BR><A HREF="fundrais.htm">Fund Raisers</A>  <BR><A HREF="wishlist.htm">Wish List</A>  <P><IMG SRC="whatsnew.gif" ALT="What's New" HSPACE=5 HEIGHT=33 WIDTH=75>   </TD> <TD ALIGN=RIGHT VALIGN=TOP BGCOLOR="#DDDDDD"><IMG SRC="curve3.gif" ALT="" HEIGHT=16 WIDTH=16></TD> <TD VALIGN=TOP BGCOLOR="#000000"> </TD> <TD VALIGN=TOP BGCOLOR="#FFFFFF"><IMG SRC="curve1.gif" ALT="" HEIGHT=16 WIDTH=16></TD> <TD VALIGN=CENTER ROWSPAN="2">  <P>Better Beginnings Day Care Center is a Non-Profit <A HREF="#501">501-c(3) </A>Center with Thirty years of Service to the Hightstown-East Windsor area of Mercer County, NJ. It has been consistently evaluated as an <I>"excellent and innovative"</I> program by State, County, and Peers organizations.  <P>Better Beginnings is <U><A HREF="#501">licensed</A></U> by the State of New Jersey, and has a contract with the State of New Jersey for a number of learning spaces.  <P><B>Better Beginnings provides:</B>  <OL> <LI> A Full-Day <A HREF="curric.htm">Program</A>, Open 7:30 am to 5:30 pm. </LI> <LI> A developmentally-appropriate multi-cultural, bilingual curriculum with activities based on individual needs and learning styles, promoted by a Dedicated Professional Staff. </LI> <LI> Outside activities using our Playyard, nearby parks, discovery walks and excursions. </LI> <LI> Nutritious breakfast, lunch and snacks; Nutritious hot lunches and snacks. </LI> <LI> Priority is given to protective service children, working parents, special needs, ESL </LI> <LI> Social Skills Development, including enhancing self-image, independence, respect for self and others, friendship, choice-making, and conflict resolution. </LI> <LI> An opportunity for <A HREF="#Volun">Volunteerism and Contributions</A> to a valuable community service. </LI> </OL> Fees (co-payments) for learning spaces at Better Beginnings are based on a <I>sliding scale</I> with tiers for State-contracted spaces with top priority for lowest income.  <P>In addition to the State-contracted spaces, Better Beginnings also provides learning spaces for families in <I>all income categories</I>, thus serving many economic levels.  <P>Better Beginnings is now accepting <A HREF="#applic">applications</A> for summer and fall 1998.  <P>Call for more information or a tour of the school.  <BR>Phone: (609) 448-6226  <BR>  <P><A NAME="Mission"></A><IMG SRC="mission_statement.gif" ALT="Mission Statement" HSPACE=5 HEIGHT=43 WIDTH=237>  <P>Better Beginnings is a provider of human services, having evolved during its 30 years of existence from providing a nursery school experience for a few economically disadvantaged children, to the provision of affordable quality child care for many, to the provision of such other services as feasible to meet the emerging needs of the families and children in the communities it serves. Better Beginnings seeks to serve all people in need of its services regardless of religious affiliation, race, sex, age, creed, color, national origin, ancestry, handicap, or marital status, and encourages self-esteem, mutual respect and harmonious relationships among all the diverse elements of the human community.  <P>In the provision of services, Better Beginnings is committed first and foremost to providing affordable, quality child care, giving parents the opportunity to be self-supporting, contributing and involved members of the community while providing their children with developmentally- appropriate learning experiences in a safe, healthy, nurturing environment.  <P>Better Beginnings is further committed to be as responsive as possible to the unmet needs of the families and children of its community, providing programs wherever feasible to meet such needs.  <P>In the process of responding to the ever-changing needs and problems of its families and children, Better Beginnings has evolved from a narrowly- focused program to a multi-service agency, while carefully maintaining the excellence and innovation for which the agency is noted.  <TABLE CELLPADDING=5 > <TR> <TD ROWSPAN="2"><B>Contact information</B>  <BR><IMG SRC="email.jpg" ALT="Internet Info" HSPACE=5 HEIGHT=81 WIDTH=72> </TD> <TD>Director: Bettie Witherspoon  <BR>318 North Main St.  <BR>Hightstown, NJ 08520  <BR>Phone: (609) 448-6226  <BR>Fax: (609) 448-6573</TD> </TR> <TR> <TD>URL: http://www.princetonol.com/groups/bbcdc/  <BR>Email: <A HREF="mailto:bbcdc@ix.netcom.com">bbcdc@ix.netcom.com</A>  <BR>Email: <A HREF="mailto:bettiewit@juno.com">bettiewit@juno.com</A></TD> </TR> </TABLE>     <FORM method="post" action="http://www2.netcom.com/bin/userfeedback">  <INPUT type="hidden" name="*uNlRDLxJHIxOxkxiIEECvkJs" value="sFlSwLuMBPMMFkwitvEwvDwtCKJBEvMuwGMCDEGivDxEtJGiGEDwBJJC">  <INPUT type="hidden" name="Subject" value="Web Page Message">  <INPUT type="hidden" name="From URL" value="http://www.princetonol.com/groups/bbcdc/"> <INPUT type="hidden" name="nexturl" value="http://www.princetonol.com/groups/bbcdc/"> <H3> Send us a message!</H3> What is your email address (this is so that we may reply):  <BR><INPUT type="text" name="from" value="" size=20> <P>Enter your message below  <BR><TEXTAREA name="message" rows=10 cols=50></TEXTAREA> <P><INPUT type="submit" value="Send the message!"></FORM> <BR>  <P><A NAME="Preschool"></A><IMG SRC="preschool.gif" ALT="Preschool" HSPACE=5 HEIGHT=46 WIDTH=158>  <P>Year Round, with developmentally-appropriate activities in language development (English and Spanish), math, science, gross/fine motor control, visual/auditory perception, music/movement, arts & and crafts, computer learning games, socialization, role-playing, problem-solving, health & and safety, and more.  <P><A HREF="#Begin"><IMG SRC="top_of_page.gif" ALT="Top of Page" HSPACE=5 BORDER=0 HEIGHT=20 WIDTH=95></A>  <BR>  <P><A NAME="Super"></A><IMG SRC="super-bbs.gif" ALT="Super:BBs" HSPACE=5 HEIGHT=48 WIDTH=157>  <P>Features academic, social and physical development; substance abuse and violence prevention activities.  Meets after school, with full and half-days when the EWRSD is closed and Better Beginnings is open.  <P><A HREF="#Begin"><IMG SRC="top_of_page.gif" ALT="Top of Page" HSPACE=5 BORDER=0 HEIGHT=20 WIDTH=95></A>  <BR>  <P><A NAME="Peace"></A><IMG SRC="peace-camp.gif" ALT="Peace Camp" HSPACE=5 HEIGHT=43 WIDTH=158>  <P>Summer Program, focusing on Conflict Resolution Skills, Social Skills, Learning to make and be friends, Trips, Games, Computers, Substance Abuse Prevention, Cognitive Reinforcement, Helping Others, Environment, and more.  <P><A HREF="#Begin"><IMG SRC="top_of_page.gif" ALT="Top of Page" HSPACE=5 BORDER=0 HEIGHT=20 WIDTH=95></A>  <BR>  <P><A NAME="applic"></A><IMG SRC="application-proc.gif" ALT="Application Procedures" HSPACE=5 HEIGHT=37 WIDTH=236>  <P>Applications are accepted year round, and should be made well in advance of enrollment. Immunization and medical reports, and income verification for state-supported learning spaces are required. Call 1-609-448-6226, or visit Better Beginnings. Office hours: 7:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m., Monday to Friday.  <P><A HREF="#Begin"><IMG SRC="top_of_page.gif" ALT="Top of Page" HSPACE=5 BORDER=0 HEIGHT=20 WIDTH=95></A>  <BR>  <P><A NAME="Volun"></A><IMG SRC="volunteerism.gif" ALT="Volunteerism and Contributions" HSPACE=5 HEIGHT=41 WIDTH=315>  <P>Contributions are gratefully received. Donations of toys, food, clothes, computers--new or used, software, paper, materials, equipment, furniture, craft items, items for families, are also very welcome. All donations are tax-deductible.  <P>Volunteers are welcome in all programs, including classrooms, food service, trips, fund-raising, <A HREF="bbboard.htm">board</A> membership, etc. Please call, write, or <A HREF="mailto:bbcdc@ix.netcom.com">e-mail</A> for more information.  <P><A NAME="Better2"></A>Better Beginnings' affordable child care for income-eligible families, and its drug and violence prevention programs are subsidized by Social Services Block Grant funding through the N.J. Division of Youth and Family Services, the <A HREF="http://www.princetonol.com/groups/uway"> United Way of Greater Mercer County</A>, the Township of <A HREF="http://www.east-windsor.nj.us/">East Windsor</A>, Borough of Hightstown, Mercer County, Child-Adult Food Program, First Presbyterian Church of Hightstown, contributions, and fundraising. <A NAME="extret"></A><I>Recent cuts in funding have made contributions and <A HREF="fundrais.htm">fundraisers</A> essential to the continuation of the program.</I>  <P><A HREF="wishlist.htm">Better Beginnings Wish List</A>  <BR>  <P><A NAME="501"></A><IMG SRC="registration-no.gif" ALT="Registration Numbers" HSPACE=5 HEIGHT=40 WIDTH=236>  <TABLE CELLSPACING=3 CELLPADDING=3 > <TR BGCOLOR="#CCCCCC"> <TD>Federal ID# 22-1989-487</TD> <TD>N.J. Charitable Registration# CHO-0137</TD> <TD>EO-221-834-598-000</TD> </TR> </TABLE> The operating policies of Better Beginnings are set by a volunteer <A HREF="bbboard.htm">Board of Directors</A> comprised of Parent Members and Community Members. A majority of the Board are Parent Members who are elected for 1-year terms, and must have one or more children enrolled at Better Beginnings. Community Members are elected for 2-year terms and in many cases, are nominated because they are willing to provide a particular expertise to the board.  <P>Regular Board meetings are held monthly, and are open to the public under NJ Sunshine laws. Public notices of the meetings are posted in our local newspapers. The Better Beginnings parents have an organization (called "HOPE") which also meets monthly and has its own officers. It serves as the forum for the parents to express their concerns, wishes, socialize, learn additional parenting skills, plan fundraisers and other volunteer activities.  <P><A HREF="#Begin"><IMG SRC="top_of_page.gif" ALT="Top of Page" HSPACE=5 BORDER=0 HEIGHT=20 WIDTH=95></A>  <BR>       <BR><I><A HREF="http://www.princetonol.com/">Return to Princeton OnLine</A>  </I>  <BR>Page created by: <A HREF="mailto:bbcdc@ix.netcom.com"> bbcdc@ix.netcom.com</A>  <BR>Changes last made on: <I>Mon Apr 20 23:58:40 1998</I>    <BR>  <BR> </TD> <TD></TD> <TD ALIGN=RIGHT VALIGN=TOP><IMG SRC="curve3.gif" ALT="" HEIGHT=16 WIDTH=16> </TD> <TD VALIGN=TOP BGCOLOR="#000000"> </TD> <TD></TD> </TR> <TR> <TD VALIGN=BOTTOM BGCOLOR="#000000"> </TD> <TD VALIGN=BOTTOM BGCOLOR="#DDDDDD"><IMG SRC="curve2.gif" ALT="" HEIGHT=16 WIDTH=16></TD> <TD ALIGN=RIGHT VALIGN=BOTTOM BGCOLOR="#DDDDDD"><IMG SRC="curve4.gif" ALT="" HEIGHT=16 WIDTH=16></TD> <TD VALIGN=BOTTOM BGCOLOR="#000000"> </TD> <TD VALIGN=BOTTOM BGCOLOR="#FFFFFF"><IMG SRC="curve2.gif" ALT="" HEIGHT=16 WIDTH=16></TD> <TD></TD> <TD ALIGN=RIGHT VALIGN=BOTTOM BGCOLOR="#FFFFFF"><IMG SRC="curve4.gif" ALT="" HEIGHT=16 WIDTH=16></TD> <TD VALIGN=BOTTOM BGCOLOR="#000000"> </TD> <TD></TD> </TR> <TR> <TD COLSPAN="6" BGCOLOR="#000000"></TD> <TD VALIGN=TOP BGCOLOR="#000000"><FONT COLOR="#CCCCCC">Copyright © 1998 Better Beginnings Day Care Center. </FONT></TD> <TD></TD> <TD COLSPAN="2" BGCOLOR="#000000"></TD> <TD></TD> </TR> </TABLE>