Students across all three La Cañada Unified School District’s elementary school campuses simultaneously celebrated an important anniversary on Friday, partying in honor of the 20-year-old partnership between the Child Educational Center and the district.
Currently, almost 650 LCUSD students are served at three sites, where CEC has instilled its progressive, holistic approach by providing extended care and education from transitional kindergarten through 6th grade.
“We’ve been doing it for 20 years, which is pretty impressive,” said Sheryl MacPhee, CEC’s director of development and communications. “It’s very special; we really feel like a mainstay of the La Cañada community. And that helps us spread our mission: We’re a progressive early care and education organization and we offer progressive, holistic care. We’re very nature-based and play-based, we firmly believe — and research has proven this — that play-based habitats for children help them learn best.”
Since the partnership between CEC and the district began in 1997, thousands of students have been enrolled in the program. In addition to providing services on LCUSD’s campuses, CEC offers full-day programs for students during in-service days and some holidays, winter and spring breaks at its Oak Grove Drive site, as well as offering Summer Exploration Campus.
In all, CEC operates infant, toddler, preschool and school-age programs at seven sites in LCF and Pasadena.
“The partnership between the CEC and the district has been very successful and meaningful,” LCUSD Superintendent Wendy Sinnette said in a release. “As an educator and community member, I believe that the CEC’s high-quality program continues to serve our community well.”
— Mirjam Swanson
