FORCHETTI FAMILY YMCA

CENTER FOR EARLY LEARNING

Prepare for a Bright Future through our full-day and half-day early learning and preschool program.

Our state licensed early childhood learning center serves children ages 6 weeks to 5 years old, preparing them for kindergarten with academic, social/emotional, and motor skill development. Every activity is carefully designed to expand imaginations, encourage lifelong friendships, and instill positive values

Offering more benefits for your child than your average preschool, the Forchetti Family YMCA Center for Early Learning features multiple playgrounds outdoors, enrichment programs, hot lunch and snacks served onsite, and more!

We partner with parents in the social, mental, physical, and spiritual development of their children by offering a structured and creative program provided by qualified and nurturing staff. 

At the Y, we understand the benefits of early childhood learning. We offer full-day and half-day preschool at our Forchetti Family YMCA Center for Early Learning. Below is additional information for each program. To schedule a tour or contact our Center Director, please fill out this form.

FULL-DAY

PROGRAM

Full-day preschool classrooms are licensed, full-day, year-round, school readiness programs. You have the flexibility to drop off and pick up your child anytime between 5:30 am – 6:30 pm.

HALF-DAY

PROGRAM

Now located at the Trojan Learning Center! Our half-day preschool program for 3-5-year-olds is licensed, has morning and afternoon options, and runs from August – May each year. Classes follow the Duneland School calendar, and children must be three years old to attend.

PROGRAM HIGHLIGHTS

The YMCA's Early Learning Center is about more than just looking after children. It is about nurturing their development. We provide a safe place for children to learn foundational skills, develop trusting relationships, and build self-reliance.

Curriculum

We use The Creative Curriculum®  developed by Teaching Strategies, Inc. This allows us to provide a well-rounded early learning program for children prior to Kindergarten. Our staff members implement both teacher-developed and child-directed activities. Here, curriculum builds year-after-year centering on development of children’s social-emotional, cognitive, language, physical skills, and core subject areas such as science, literacy, and mathematics. We partner with families to create goals for their child and update families on developmental milestones through conferences and Teaching Strategies assessment tools.

Enrichment Programs

Our center also offers these enrichment programs. Enrichment programs are included in tuition and reinforce classroom learning in a small group setting.

  • Music In Motion
  • Fitness and Nutrition Academy

Meal Time

Breakfast, lunch and snacks are included in full-day program tuition.  Meals are served “family style” with their peers.  Family style meals promote social skills, self help skills and manners.

Liscensed & Accredited

Our center isn’t just licensed—we’re a Paths to QualityTM accredited center, too! Paths to QualityTM accreditation means that we are committed to continuously improve the quality of child care and early education we provide and an outside agency visits us to verify everything we do.    

Our Facility

Intentionally designed to enhance the social, intellectual, emotional, and physical growth of all children, our facility features a huge multipurpose space, indoor and outdoor cafeteria, large classrooms with floor to ceiling windows, and an on-site kitchen. Outside, children are able to stay active when weather permits on two large, age appropriate playgrounds set on 5 acres of expansive outdoor space. Parents have a sense of security knowing our center has a monitored and locked front entrance for families, while classrooms and property are monitored with a state-of-the-art security system linked with an intercom system.

In accordance with federal civil rights law and U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) civil rights regulations and policies, this institution is prohibited from discriminating on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex (including gender identity and sexual orientation), disability, age, or reprisal or retaliation for prior civil rights activity.

Program information may be made available in languages other than English. Persons with disabilities who require alternative means of communication to obtain program information (e.g., Braille, large print, audiotape, American Sign Language), should contact the responsible state or local agency that administers the program or USDA’s TARGET Center at (202) 720-2600 (voice and TTY) or contact USDA through the Federal Relay Service at (800) 877-8339.

To file a program discrimination complaint, a Complainant should complete a Form AD-3027, USDA Program Discrimination Complaint Form which can be obtained online at: https://www.usda.gov/sites/default/files/documents/ad-3027.pdf, from any USDA office, by calling (866) 632-9992, or by writing a letter addressed to USDA. The letter must contain the complainant’s name, address, telephone number, and a written description of the alleged discriminatory action in sufficient detail to inform the Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights (ASCR) about the nature and date of an alleged civil rights violation. The completed AD-3027 form or letter must be submitted to USDA by:

mail:

U.S. Department of Agriculture

Office of the Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights

1400 Independence Avenue, SW

Washington, D.C. 20250-9410; or

fax:

(833) 256-1665 or (202) 690-7442; or

email:

[email protected]

 

This institution is an equal opportunity provider.

OUR CLASSROOMS

In our infant care rooms, staff members build positive individual relationships with at least one adult for every four infants. Our goal is to create a strong partnership and incorporate parental care requests in the development of healthy, thriving children.

YOUR INFANTS DAY

Your child is truly unique and days are tailored to suit each child’s individual schedules and needs.

  • The day begins with a welcome, and teachers create an environment for a smooth transition from home.
  • Throughout the day, infants engage in active learning. Together, we explore different environments that include blocks, toys, games, imitation, art, sensory, music and the outdoors.
  • When it’s time to send children off for the day, our staff assists children in a smooth transition out of the classroom. Parents receive information and updates on how the day went for your infant.

FACILITIES

Our clean, bright and cozy infant room has state of the art furniture, toys and equipment needed for your baby to play, nap, be fed and diapered properly in a calming, comfortable, safe and secure environment. Each child receives his or her own crib and cubby to store items. Mothers may choose to provide their own milk or stop in anytime during the day to nurse in our nursing room. Our center is licensed and meets strict standards as set forth by, Paths to QUALITY™, Indiana’s Child Care Quality Rating and Improvement System.

Toddlers receive guidance and support from a warm, caring staff. Classroom experiences help toddlers learn through play as they navigate social situations, investigate cause and effect relationships, and build essential early language and motor skills in a nurturing environment that includes at least one adult for every seven toddlers.

YOUR TODDLER’S DAY

Once the day begins, kids participate in:

  • Large-group learning to explore areas of daily life, weather, letter, numbers and colors
  • Small-group learning, which expands on concepts shared in the large group and works to serve more individual needs
  • Interest-based learning that helps toddlers make their own choices
  • Several transitions (washing hands before a meal, stories before nap time, etc.) that form a predictable routine, which helps toddlers feel secure, learn and socialize. Through transitions, children learn social skills and develop self-help abilities.

At the end of the day, our staff assists children in a smooth transition out of the classroom. You’ll get information and updates on how the day went for your toddler.

AREA OF FOCUS

  • Literacy – building vocabulary, language use and communication skills
  • Mathematics – basic counting and patterns
  • Science – developing an awareness of the world, people and technology around us
  • Social Studies – beginning awareness of people and places
  • Arts – beginning enjoyment of dance, music and visual art
  • Healthy Habits – Learning about healthy eating and personal safety
  • Body, Mind and Spirit – developing social skills while promoting core values

With at least one adult for every 10 preschoolers, your child will get the attention they need as they gear up for more structured classroom experiences.

YOUR PRESCHOOLER’S DAY

When children arrive, teachers create an environment for a smooth transition from home. Once the day begins, kids participate in:

  • Large-group learning to explore areas of daily life, weather, letter, numbers and colors
  • Small-group learning, which expands on concepts shared in the large group and works to serve more individual needs
  • Interest-based learning that gives preschoolers the opportunity to make their own choices
  • Several transitions (washing hands before a meal, stories before nap time, etc.) that form a predictable routine, which helps preschoolers learn social skills and develop self-help abilities

At the end of the day, our staff assists children in a smooth transition out of the classroom. Parents get information and updates on how the day went for your preschooler.

AREA OF FOCUS

  • Literacy building writing skills – increased vocabulary, letter formation, interactive writing and name recognition
  • Literacy pre-reading skills – shared reading, letter recognition, rhyming and alliteration
  • Mathematics developing skills – understanding number concepts, counting, shape sorting, matching patterns and relationships
  • Science – understanding of physical, life and environments
  • Social studies – understanding of people, places and environments
  • Arts – knowledge and understanding of dance, music, drama, and visual arts
  • Technology – awareness and beginning basis of tools and technology 
  • Social and emotional development – recognizing feelings, building peer relationships and exploring solutions to conflict
  • Physical skills development – large and fine motor skills,
  • Healthy habits – understanding healthy eating and personal safety, while building lifelong enjoyment of physical activities
  • Body, mind and spirit – developing social skills, core values and a foundation for social responsibility

With at least one adult for every 10 preschoolers, your child will get the attention they need as they gear up for more structured classroom experiences. During our time together, students in our Fours and Fives Classrooms develop a passion for learning and experience a true sense of achievement in literacy, math, science, social studies, arts, technology and healthy habits.

YOUR PRE-KINDERGARTENER’S DAY

When children arrive, teachers create an environment for a smooth transition from home. Once the day begins, kids participate in:

  • Large-group learning to explore areas of daily life, weather, letter, numbers and colors
  • Small-group learning, which expands on concepts shared in the large group and works to serve more individual needs
  • Interest-based learning that gives preschoolers the opportunity to make their own choices
  • Several transitions (washing hands before a meal, stories before nap time, etc.) that form a predictable routine, which helps preschoolers learn social skills and develop self-help abilities

At the end of the day, our staff assists children in a smooth transition out of the classroom. Parents receive information and updates on how the day went for your preschooler.

AREA OF FOCUS

  • Literacy building writing skills –  increased vocabulary, model writing, and letter practice
  • Literacy pre-reading skills – interactive reading, book knowledge, print knowledge and take home family activities
  • Mathematics developing skills – exploring concepts of addition, subtraction and classification, structured activities and math games
  • Science – understanding of physical, life and environments
  • Social studies – understanding of people, places and environments
  • Arts – knowledge and understanding of dance, music, drama, and visual arts
  • Technology – awareness and beginning basis of tools and technology 
  • Social and emotional development – problem solving with peers, building peer relationships, developing self-regulation, understanding social cues
  • Physical skills development – large and fine motor skills, CATCH activities
  • Healthy habits – understanding healthy eating and personal safety, while building lifelong enjoyment of physical activities
  • Body, mind and spirit – developing social skills, core values and a foundation for social responsibility

OUR STAFF

Our early childhood development staff are experienced, trained professionals chosen for their warmth, creativity, experience with children, and commitment to excellence. We employ individuals who are nurturing, understand child development, and respect each child. We seek employees who value working as a team with parents, colleagues, and volunteers. Our staff environment encourages mutual respect for each individual’s personal characteristics and teaching style, opportunities for shared leadership, and provision for providing professional growth.

The YMCA has a training series to advance the knowledge and development of all levels of staff. Mandatory YMCA training for child care staff includes first aid, CPR and Child Abuse Prevention

We’ve earned the trust of parents by being more than just a babysitter; we provide a nurturing place for your children to play, learn and grow.

For questions about our sports leagues, please contact our Sports Coordinator. If you need help registering your child or have questions regarding payment, please call the Duneland Family YMCA at (219)9264204 or email [email protected].

Have Questions? We're here to help!

Frequently Asked Questions

A: Beginning in 2021, each player will receive a reversible Duneland YMCA “all-sports” Youth Sports jersey.  The jersey is an additional $12, but will be used for all competitive sports leagues at the Y.

After purchasing the jersey, returning players are encouraged to bring back their jerseys from the previous season. If a player does not have a uniform from a prior season or would like a new one, a jersey may be purchased at scheduled times leading up to the first game.

A: Each player will receive an individual participation award.

A: Participants are placed on teams based on their age and requests. The information you provide on the registration questionnaire plays a large role in how teams are drafted.

A: We try to accommodate requests, but we cannot guarantee requests will be honored. Refunds are not provided due to an unfulfilled request. For teammate or coach requests, you must indicate whom you are requesting on the registration questionnaire.