Child Care Center in Mendota Heights
Visitation's Child Care Center is guided by the same mission as the entire school, to provide "an excellent education within a Catholic environment permeated by Salesian Spirituality and the living tradition of the Visitation Sisters." We offer child-centered care through developmentally appropriate activities intended to help foster each child’s unique and individual potential as a human being.
Visitation has extensive indoor and outdoor facilities and spaces including two gyms, theater and stage, multiple ponds and outdoor fields, outdoor classroom and tennis courts for unstructured large motor play, as well as a designated indoor large motor play area.
See our Childcare Information Sheet for more information.
For more information or to schedule a tour, contact Anne Cherrier at acherrier@vischool.org or 651-683-1739.
We are licensed by the State of Minnesota and accredited by National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC).
Infant Room
| Ages | Class Size | Staff/Child Ratio |
|---|---|---|
| 6 weeks–16 months* | 8 children | 1:3 |
*Program transitions are based on ability, not age.
The philosophy of care in the Infant Room is based on a child-oriented, individualized approach to accommodate each infant's needs and personality and complement parents' styles and wishes. The Infant Room staff provides comfort, body contact, food, social activities and language experiences, presenting the external world to each infant in ways that promote his or her developmental process within a context of safety, security and trust. Education of children is a constant process of interaction based on the belief that everything we do with the child is education.
General Information
- We provide individualized scheduling, following the child's home schedule and routine to ease the child's transition from home to center.
- We create a stimulating environment, which includes a rotation of classroom supplies and materials.
- We provide close communication with parents.
- We create a comfortable environment where parents are welcome and encouraged to breast feed their child throughout the day.
- We offer nurturing, developmentally appropriate interactions.
- All children are held and rocked to sleep and then placed in their own full-size crib.
- All children are held while bottle fed.
- We provide opportunities for infants to interact with siblings enrolled in other classrooms.
- We host parent-teacher conferences two times per year.
Toddler Room
| Ages | Class Size | Staff/Child Ratio |
|---|---|---|
| 16 months–31 months* | 14–16 children | 1:4 |
* Program transitions are based on ability, not age.
The Toddler Room has a child-oriented, individualized approach to foster each child's physical, intellectual, social, and emotional growth and development. Quiet activities include stories, puzzles, painting, water play and quiet one-to-one play interactions. Active activities include block play, wheel toys, rocking horses, climbing ramp, outdoor playground play, walks and active participation in songs and games.
Our staff look to the children for cues as to what they may want or need to be doing. We understand that toddlers are constantly learning through exploration of their environment, so much of the day is spent allowing the children to make choices among a variety of options. Each child's unique development is respected, and activities are provided based on individual differences in tempo, style and approach. Education of children is a constant process of interaction based on the belief that everything we do with the children is education.
General Information
In the Toddler Room, we provide the following:
- A stimulating environment, which includes the rotation of classroom supplies and materials.
- Close communication with parents.
- A room designed for open exploration, with low, open shelves that allow for easy access to materials.
- Art, music and sensory experiences daily.
- Opportunities for daily fine and large motor development.
- Modeling and reinforcement of language skills.
- Nurturing, developmentally appropriate interactions.
- Toilet training to complement family efforts and child readiness (a child-size toilet is available, in addition to changing tables).
- Opportunities for toddlers to interact with siblings enrolled in other classrooms.
- Parent-teacher conferences two times per year.
Preschool One Room
| Ages | Class Size | Staff/Child Ratio |
|---|---|---|
| 31 months to 45 months* | 16–18 children | 1:4 |
* Program transitions are based on ability, not age.
The Preschool One Room is based on a child-oriented, individualized approach to offer each child the opportunity to develop his or her unique potential. We provide opportunities for each child to explore, experience and discover his or her world, promoting developmental progress within a context of safety, security and trust.
To support and enhance physical development, experiences that promote emerging skills and utilize the full range of the child's physical capabilities are part of the daily routine. To foster each child's intellectual growth, our staff assists preschoolers in enhancing their abilities to acquire, organize and utilize information from the environment in increasingly complex ways. Every child is nurtured and supported to enable him or her to develop a positive, trusting attitude toward others and a secure sense of self. Education of children is a constant process of interaction based on the belief that everything we do with the children is education.
General Information
In the Preschool One Room, we provide the following:
- A stimulating environment with activity areas that enhance learning. Learning supplies and materials are rotated frequently.
- Close communication with parents.
- Theme-based learning activities.
- Large- and small-group activities daily.
- Art, music and sensory experiences daily.
- Opportunities for daily fine and large motor development.
- Emphasis on socialization and problem-solving skills.
- Encouragement with toilet training (although it is not required). Child-sized toilets are available, in addition to a changing table.
- Self-help and socialization skills emphasized.
- Opportunities for preschoolers to interact with siblings enrolled in other classrooms.
- Parent-teacher conferences two times per year.
Preschool Two Room
| Ages | Class Size | Staff/Child Ratio |
|---|---|---|
| 45 months to first day of Kindergarten* | 18–20 children | 1:7 |
* Program transitions are based on ability, not age.
The Preschool Two Room is based on a child-oriented, individualized approach to offer each child the opportunity to develop his or her unique potential. We provide opportunities for each child to explore, experience and discover his or her world, promoting developmental progress within a context of safety, security and trust.
To support and enhance physical development, experiences that promote emerging skills and utilize the full range of the child's physical capabilities are part of the daily routine. To foster each child's intellectual growth, our staff assists preschoolers in enhancing their abilities to acquire, organize and utilize information from the environment in increasingly complex ways. Every child is nurtured and supported to enable him or her to develop a positive, trusting attitude toward others and a secure sense of self. Education of children is a constant process of interaction based on the belief that everything we do with the children is education.
General Information
In the Preschool Two Room, we provide the following:
- A stimulating environment with activity areas that enhance learning. Learning supplies and materials are rotated frequently.
- Close communication with parents.
- Theme-based learning activities.
- Large- and small-group activities daily.
- Strong emphasis on reading and writing skill development.
- Curriculum designed to help children better understand their relationship to the larger world.
- Art, music and sensory experiences daily.
- Opportunities for daily fine and large motor development.
- Emphasis on socialization and problem-solving skills.
- Self-help and socialization skills emphasized.
- Opportunities for preschoolers to interact with siblings enrolled in other classrooms.
- Parent-teacher conferences two times per year.
Enrollment
- An application fee of $25 per child is required. Application fees must be paid prior to placing a child in a classroom or on the waiting list. Application fees are non-refundable.
- The daily rate applies to any child who attends our program fewer than five days a week. Find the current rate sheet here.
- The hourly rate is for any children who
- split their day between the Child Care Preschool Room and the Montessori Preschool class.
- have any additional hours or minutes outside the contracted hours.
- have any hours beyond nine hours per day, regardless of the number of days.
- The minimum time is two days per week, except students who are also enrolled in Visitation's Montessori Preschool class.
- Our late fee is $1.00 per minute, which will be charged beginning at 6:05 p.m. for late pick-up. The fee will go directly to the staff member who stays late.
- Once a child is placed on the waiting list, he or she will remain active on the waiting list until the child is placed in a classroom or becomes kindergarten eligible.
- Waiting list families are encouraged to contact the center periodically to check program availability.
- Prearranged center and classroom tours are available all days of the week, any time between 7 a.m. and 6 p.m.