Frequently Asked Questions
MEDFIELD CHILDREN’S CENTER (MCC)
1. How long has the Center been in business?
Since 1982.
2. Does the Center have any certifications or accreditations?
We are certified by the Department of Early Education and Care.
3. What are your hours?
7:00 am-5:30 pm with our educational program occurring at 9:00 am – 11:30 am. We also have an optional lunch bunch program from 11:30 am - 12:30 pm.
4. What is your holiday schedule?
We take off all major holidays, and are closed for one week during the summer, the first week of August. We are also closed when the ENTIRE Medfield school system is closed due to inclement weather. See our Parent Handbook for more information.
5. How flexible are pickup and drop-off times?
When you enter the Center, you chose both drop-off (9:00 am at the latest) and pick-up (5:30 pm at the latest) times. With advanced notice, we generally are able to accommodate requests, as long as enough staffing is available.
6. What are your fees, and when does billing occur?
Please refer to your application packet as it varies depending on the program your child is enrolled in.
7. Is there a late pick-up fee?
$2.00/minute after 5:30 pm. If you are continually late before then, you will be charged at the hourly rate.
8. Do you encourage visits from parents?
Parents may visit MCC as often as they would like.
9. What do you expect from me as a parent?
We expect open communication between MCC and our families. We feel as though we all work together to provide the best experience possible for the children. Specific expectations can be found in our Parent Handbook.
10. What are the staff’s credentials and training?
Each classroom teacher is certified by the Department of Early Education and Care as a preschool teacher. Also, we are all certified yearly in CPR and every 2 years in First Aid. We are required to do 20 hours of professional development each year. The MCC staff attends seminars, meetings and take online courses to fulfill this requirement.
11. What is staff turnover like?
We have staff that has been here as long as 30 years! We are very proud that our turnover rate is unusually low.
12. How do you screen staff?
The Director does an initial interview with the candidate, then a working interview. The interviewee spends the morning with a group of children, observed by the Director and other staff members. It is important for us to get a good teacher, and also a good co-worker. References are carefully checked also. All staff undergo a thorough background check including a CORI, SORI, DCF and fingerprint checks.
13. How are the children grouped?
The children are placed into groups by age, using August 31st as the cut-off date because that is Medfield’s cut-off date for Kindergarten.
14. What is the teacher-child ratio?
Infants: 2 to 7. Toddlers: 1 to 4. 2.9 years and older: 1 to 10. We have a non-teaching Director onsite Monday through Friday and a teacher's assistant on Monday through Friday. All float as needed.
15. What is your educational philosophy?
We operate a “traditional” preschool in that we celebrate all birthdays, holidays and special events (i.e. Fire Prevention Week). We do a nice mix of teacher directed and child directed activities. See our Parent Handbook for more information.
16. How do you discipline a child?
We redirect a child 2 times and if the child is still upset or not able to settle down, he or she is asked to sit in a
chair for a few minutes. If the child after this is still unable to join the group, he or she may
be asked to go to the Director’s office so as not to distract the rest of the children in the class.
17. How do you comfort a child?
We give lots of hugs and kisses. We sit them in our laps and gently talk to the child who is upset.
18. What will my child be doing on any given day?
All children attend our educational program from 9:00-11:30. During this time the child will do an art project based on the theme of the week. Our daily schedule is flexibly structured to include Circle Time, Free Play Time, Cleanup Time, Story Time, Snack Time and Outdoor Play Time (weather permitting).
19. What about extra curricular activities?
Our PreK attends a presentation from the Audubon Society once a month for a nature presentation. Our Nursery classes benefit from having Miss Elaine Kessler come once a month to do a Music and Movement Program. Also, a company called Technology Pals comes in one day a week to do a computer class with those children who sign up to attend for a nominal fee. In addition, a dental hygienist from Walpole, has been educating the children on oral hygiene for over 10 years. My Gym comes over once per week to do a program with our PM Pals. For special events such as Fire Prevention week, we may bring in a Firefighter or Smokey the Bear to educate the children on fire safety. Parents with special vocations are always welcome to share their knowledge.
20. What role, if any does technology have at the Center?
Each class has a Kindle Fire to enhance their curriculum. For example, if we are studying dinosaurs, we may show the children examples of dinosaurs on the Kindle Fire.
21. Do staff members wash their hands after diapering and feeding?
Yes, we have an entire diapering procedure (posted) that we very carefully follow each time.
22. Do you have sign-in and sign-out sheets?
Yes, we have our daily attendance book that the teachers keep. The parents are not required to sign in or out.
23. Are the doors secure so that strangers cannot just walk in?
Yes. With the new facility we have state-of-the-art security. MCC uses a fob system to allow parents or families access to the building. The three main doors are equipped with security cameras which are monitored at two locations within the building so we can see who is at the doors at all times.
24. What is your sick policy?
We do not allow sick children to attend school. In the Parent Handbook, there is a fairly extensive “exclusion” policy that we strictly adhere to.
25. Do you have a safe enclosed outside play area?
Yes, we have a wonderful fenced-in outside play area. If at all possible, we station one teacher at the gate when children are playing in the yard.
26. How often are toys cleaned and replaced?
There is no set schedule. This is done on an as-needed basis. If a toy has been in a child’s mouth, it is cleaned. If a class has a few children with "pink-eye" (for example) all the toys will be cleaned.
We are excited to be on one of the first preschools in the area to have a state-of-the-art disinfecting cabinet called ZONO which removes 99.9% of germs on items safely and effectively, which we hope will keep the illnesses throughout the building to a minimum.
27. Do you provide lunch?
The children bring in their own lunches. We neither heat nor refrigerate lunches. We ask that you do send in spoons, forks, or straws as needed.
28. Do you provide snack?
We provide morning and afternoon snacks. It could be crackers or microwave popcorn to give some examples. We also provide 100% juice or water, whichever your child prefers. Our snack ingredient list is posted.
29. Where do the children rest?
The Nursery extended day children rest in sleeping bags in the big hall from 12:30 pm-2:30 pm. The Pre-K and Jr. K extended day children rest for 1 hour on towels in their classrooms from about 12:30 pm-1:30 pm.
30. Are you peanut-free?
No, our school is not but we offer peanut-free tables. Those children who may be allergic to any type of food are asked to provide their own daily snacks.
1. How long has the Center been in business?
Since 1982.
2. Does the Center have any certifications or accreditations?
We are certified by the Department of Early Education and Care.
3. What are your hours?
7:00 am-5:30 pm with our educational program occurring at 9:00 am – 11:30 am. We also have an optional lunch bunch program from 11:30 am - 12:30 pm.
4. What is your holiday schedule?
We take off all major holidays, and are closed for one week during the summer, the first week of August. We are also closed when the ENTIRE Medfield school system is closed due to inclement weather. See our Parent Handbook for more information.
5. How flexible are pickup and drop-off times?
When you enter the Center, you chose both drop-off (9:00 am at the latest) and pick-up (5:30 pm at the latest) times. With advanced notice, we generally are able to accommodate requests, as long as enough staffing is available.
6. What are your fees, and when does billing occur?
Please refer to your application packet as it varies depending on the program your child is enrolled in.
7. Is there a late pick-up fee?
$2.00/minute after 5:30 pm. If you are continually late before then, you will be charged at the hourly rate.
8. Do you encourage visits from parents?
Parents may visit MCC as often as they would like.
9. What do you expect from me as a parent?
We expect open communication between MCC and our families. We feel as though we all work together to provide the best experience possible for the children. Specific expectations can be found in our Parent Handbook.
10. What are the staff’s credentials and training?
Each classroom teacher is certified by the Department of Early Education and Care as a preschool teacher. Also, we are all certified yearly in CPR and every 2 years in First Aid. We are required to do 20 hours of professional development each year. The MCC staff attends seminars, meetings and take online courses to fulfill this requirement.
11. What is staff turnover like?
We have staff that has been here as long as 30 years! We are very proud that our turnover rate is unusually low.
12. How do you screen staff?
The Director does an initial interview with the candidate, then a working interview. The interviewee spends the morning with a group of children, observed by the Director and other staff members. It is important for us to get a good teacher, and also a good co-worker. References are carefully checked also. All staff undergo a thorough background check including a CORI, SORI, DCF and fingerprint checks.
13. How are the children grouped?
The children are placed into groups by age, using August 31st as the cut-off date because that is Medfield’s cut-off date for Kindergarten.
14. What is the teacher-child ratio?
Infants: 2 to 7. Toddlers: 1 to 4. 2.9 years and older: 1 to 10. We have a non-teaching Director onsite Monday through Friday and a teacher's assistant on Monday through Friday. All float as needed.
15. What is your educational philosophy?
We operate a “traditional” preschool in that we celebrate all birthdays, holidays and special events (i.e. Fire Prevention Week). We do a nice mix of teacher directed and child directed activities. See our Parent Handbook for more information.
16. How do you discipline a child?
We redirect a child 2 times and if the child is still upset or not able to settle down, he or she is asked to sit in a
chair for a few minutes. If the child after this is still unable to join the group, he or she may
be asked to go to the Director’s office so as not to distract the rest of the children in the class.
17. How do you comfort a child?
We give lots of hugs and kisses. We sit them in our laps and gently talk to the child who is upset.
18. What will my child be doing on any given day?
All children attend our educational program from 9:00-11:30. During this time the child will do an art project based on the theme of the week. Our daily schedule is flexibly structured to include Circle Time, Free Play Time, Cleanup Time, Story Time, Snack Time and Outdoor Play Time (weather permitting).
19. What about extra curricular activities?
Our PreK attends a presentation from the Audubon Society once a month for a nature presentation. Our Nursery classes benefit from having Miss Elaine Kessler come once a month to do a Music and Movement Program. Also, a company called Technology Pals comes in one day a week to do a computer class with those children who sign up to attend for a nominal fee. In addition, a dental hygienist from Walpole, has been educating the children on oral hygiene for over 10 years. My Gym comes over once per week to do a program with our PM Pals. For special events such as Fire Prevention week, we may bring in a Firefighter or Smokey the Bear to educate the children on fire safety. Parents with special vocations are always welcome to share their knowledge.
20. What role, if any does technology have at the Center?
Each class has a Kindle Fire to enhance their curriculum. For example, if we are studying dinosaurs, we may show the children examples of dinosaurs on the Kindle Fire.
21. Do staff members wash their hands after diapering and feeding?
Yes, we have an entire diapering procedure (posted) that we very carefully follow each time.
22. Do you have sign-in and sign-out sheets?
Yes, we have our daily attendance book that the teachers keep. The parents are not required to sign in or out.
23. Are the doors secure so that strangers cannot just walk in?
Yes. With the new facility we have state-of-the-art security. MCC uses a fob system to allow parents or families access to the building. The three main doors are equipped with security cameras which are monitored at two locations within the building so we can see who is at the doors at all times.
24. What is your sick policy?
We do not allow sick children to attend school. In the Parent Handbook, there is a fairly extensive “exclusion” policy that we strictly adhere to.
25. Do you have a safe enclosed outside play area?
Yes, we have a wonderful fenced-in outside play area. If at all possible, we station one teacher at the gate when children are playing in the yard.
26. How often are toys cleaned and replaced?
There is no set schedule. This is done on an as-needed basis. If a toy has been in a child’s mouth, it is cleaned. If a class has a few children with "pink-eye" (for example) all the toys will be cleaned.
We are excited to be on one of the first preschools in the area to have a state-of-the-art disinfecting cabinet called ZONO which removes 99.9% of germs on items safely and effectively, which we hope will keep the illnesses throughout the building to a minimum.
27. Do you provide lunch?
The children bring in their own lunches. We neither heat nor refrigerate lunches. We ask that you do send in spoons, forks, or straws as needed.
28. Do you provide snack?
We provide morning and afternoon snacks. It could be crackers or microwave popcorn to give some examples. We also provide 100% juice or water, whichever your child prefers. Our snack ingredient list is posted.
29. Where do the children rest?
The Nursery extended day children rest in sleeping bags in the big hall from 12:30 pm-2:30 pm. The Pre-K and Jr. K extended day children rest for 1 hour on towels in their classrooms from about 12:30 pm-1:30 pm.
30. Are you peanut-free?
No, our school is not but we offer peanut-free tables. Those children who may be allergic to any type of food are asked to provide their own daily snacks.