March 29, 2002

Hand puppets, finger paints and plastic dinosaurs can be found throughout the classrooms, but it is the peals of laughter from children at play that bring the Children's Quarters at the MGH Institute of Health Professions to life. The new daycare center, which opened in January, now is expanding its capacity to include a new kindergarten program to begin in September. Located at the Catherine Filene Shouse Building at CNY, the center is operated by Partners HealthCare and offers a viable childcare option for MGH and Partners employees.

"We are very excited about the new program," says Sheryl Weden, director of Childcare Services. "It will be a full-day program that is open all year round. We think this will be a great childcare resource for employees who have trouble finding a place for their kids to go during school vacations when other programs typically are closed."

Weden also says that another interesting opportunity that the center offers is a partnership with students from the MGH Institute of Health Professions' speech and language programs.

The students will be visiting the classrooms to offer reading readiness and other literacy programs. Enrollment now is open for 20 kindergarten spaces for children who are 5 years of age by Nov. 30, 2002.

The daycare center also is licensed to provide developmentally appropriate care to children starting at age 2. The centers hours of operation are 6:30 am to 6 pm, Monday through Friday. For more information or to receive an application, call Marie Galvin at (617) 726-6010.