At the Port Washington Children’s Center we believe that young children learn through play as they explore the world around them. With the guidance of nurturing, experienced teachers, children engage in developmentally appropriate hands-on experiences building their knowledge of the world around them.
Teachers develop their curriculum based on the interests of the children in their classes, creating rich, meaningful learning environments. Receptive and expressive language is developed through books, songs, listening games and dramatic play.
Teachers encourage children’s emerging interests in writing. Creative expression is also encouraged through art, music and dance. We encourage social interaction which allows children to establish positive feelings about themselves and others.
HISTORY
In 1975, a group of concerned citizens under the auspices of the Port Washington Community Council set up a steering committee to establish a child care center in Port Washington. Its purpose was to serve the economically and culturally diverse population of the community.
In the Summer of 1977, PWCC received both a grant and a loan from the North Shore Unitarian Church, Veatch Foundation, making it possible to open in our very first location, St. Stephen’s Episcopal Church. The Children’s Center, a licensed, private non-profit facility, began caring for 32 children. By the end of the year, the center had outgrown this space and moved to the Merriman School (an excessed school in the Port Washington School District). There the Center flourished and grew, increasing its capacity to 68 children.
In 1988, the center moved to the Flower Hill School and was able to provide care for 113 children from the ages of three years thru five years in our early childhood program and five through 12 years in our after-school program. In 1995, the center moved to its present location in the Landmark Building where it served 121 children. Over the next few years, our numbers increased along with the number of classrooms we utilized. Toddlers, 18 months thru 36 months, joined our program. We once again rented space from St. Stephen’s Church allowing us to serve even more children.
In the Fall of 2009, PWCC expanded its afterschool program to Sousa Elementary and then to Daly Elementary in Fall 2010. Our year-round program now is able to provide care for up to 92 children in Early Childhood and 170 school age children.
In the Summer of 2010, the Children’s Center was awarded the privilege of directing the school district’s summer recreation program, ATLAST. ATLAST, renamed, Port Day Camp, is now very much a part of the Center and makes it possible for us to provide high quality, affordable summer programs for even more children in our community.
Over these many years, many families have established friendships to last a life-time. Pre-schoolers have grownup and joined our teaching staff. Several teachers have met and married co-workers and the next generation now attends our center.,
Our Mission
The Port Washington Children’s Center provides high quality child care for families who reside or work in the community of Port Washington.
Our Philosophy
The PWCC provides a safe, nurturing setting for all our children. Our goal is to help them become productive, responsible members of society. We do this by offering a wide variety of activities that promote individual growth, giving them many opportunities to make choices, to be creative, to problem solve and to learn conflict resolution.
We strive to maintain the highest standards of early childhood education promoting research-based age-appropriate toddler, pre-school and school-age practices which allow the children to best learn and grow.
Credentialed early childhood teachers head our Toddler and Pre-School programs, providing experience, knowledge, and warmth. Our educational philosophy is that young children learn as they explore the world around them. As children play they are developing cognitively, physically and social-emotionally, learning to express themselves creatively while developing stronger communication skills. The PWCC grows children to be good people, living and appreciating the diversity within their community.
Our KidsPort teachers have related educational backgrounds and/or expertise in working with school-age children. KidsPort’s emphasis is on providing a relaxing, enjoyable experience that offers youngsters enrichment and recreation. We try to replicate the neighborhood where children have opportunities to interact with friends of varied ages, as well as their own age group. Children also have the opportunity to do homework as needed.
Admissions Policies
At the Port Washington Children’s Center, we believe every child deserves a safe, nurturing, and enriching environment where they can grow, learn, and thrive. Our program is designed for full-time dual working families who live or work in Port Washington, and our admissions policies are designed to give families a clear understanding of how enrollment works across our programs.
Eligibility
- Early Childhood Program: Children ages 18 months–5 years.
- KidsPort Before-, After-, & Summer Program: Elementary school students enrolled in Port Washington schools.
- Port Day Camp: Open to elementary school students who meet the same eligibility requirements as KidsPort.
Enrollment Process
- Inquiry & Tour: Families are encouraged to schedule a tour to experience our classrooms, meet staff, and learn about our programs.
- Application: Submit a completed application form along with a non-refundable registration fee.
- Placement: Enrollment is based on availability, with priority given to:
- Currently enrolled families and siblings
- Families referred by the Port Washington School District (for UPK slots)
- Confirmation: Once accepted, families will receive an enrollment packet with required forms, tuition details, and start dates.
Waitlist Policy
When programs are full, families may join our waitlist at no cost. Openings are filled on a rolling basis, giving preference to current families and siblings.
Tuition & Fees
- Tuition is billed monthly on the 15th of every month.
- A non-refundable deposit is required at the time of registration.
- Limited scholarships and financial assistance are available based on need. If you require scholarship or financial assistance, please speak to our office. Our staff will guide you through the Clarity application process.
Enrollment Commitment
By enrolling, families commit to the Center’s policies on attendance, tuition payment, and communication, ensuring consistency and a strong home–school partnership.
ProCare Account Registration
Registration will be a two-step process to ensure a smooth experience for all PWCC parents. Here’s what you need to do to secure your child’s spot in our programming, including our Step-Up Program, and afterschool programs Kids Port and Port AfterSchool (PAS):
Step 1: Create your family account on ProCare. Click here to create Your Family Account and start the registration process. Through this initial step, parents will create their family account, providing essential details for a seamless enrollment process. Please only enter ONE parent/guardian information at this time. Please make sure to clear your browse cache and to use Private/Incognito mode as the system is currently experiencing some issues.
Step 2: Select the program and customize your account. Within 2 working days of creating your family account, you’ll be all set to proceed to the second step! In this stage, you can register your child for the desired program, such as our Port AfterSchool program, and choose the specific days you want them to attend, select suitable pick-up times, as well as explore various vendor options.
Expect an Email Confirmation from ProCare. After successfully completing the family account, you will receive an email confirmation within 2 working days. After this confirmation you will be able to access your new account and proceed with the program registration process.
Port AfterSchool offers a diverse range of engaging and educational activities, ensuring your child’s after-school hours are well spent in a safe and nurturing environment. If you have any questions or encounter any issues during the registration process, feel free to contact our team at pas@pwchildrenscenter.org. Registration for PAS September will close on Monday, August 14th. Families that register after that time will be starting in October.