Where is the Center located?

The physical address of the center is 1400 65^th Street, Emeryville, Ca.

When will the Center open?

The Center is currently under construction and based on the current construction schedule we are projecting a fall 2010 opening date. Families will be updated on the progress of construction and the opening day throughout the course of the project.

What is the name of the Center?

For the time being the center will be referred to as the Clif Bar Child Care Center.   The Clif Bar child care team is considering an internal contest to name the center.  More information regarding this contest will be made available to Clif Bar employees when it becomes available. 

What types of enrollment schedules are offered?

The center offers full-week and part-week (MWF or TTh) schedules for ages two and up.  Children under the age of two can attend the center on a full time basis.  Drop-in service will be provided on a space available basis.  Please see the tuition sheet for complete information on the schedules offered and the related costs.

What age groups does the center serve?

Children ages 3 months  through entering kindergarten (typically 6 years of age).  

Who operates the Center?

The center will be operated by Children's Creative Learning Centers (CCLC).   CCLC is a Silicon Valley-based child care provider that specializes in developing employer-sponsored child care programs and currently operates more than 100 centers in 28 states. 

Enrollment

What is the enrollment process for this center?

Enrollment Interest Forms are currently available to Clif Bar families via this website. Spaces are currently being allocated on a first come first serve basis.  All forms needed to be considered for enrollment are available on the “downloadable forms” section of this website.   Families will be contacted within 48 hours of an Interest Form being received by CCLC.  At that time CCLC will inform you if a space is available in the age group you are seeking placement. 

When can I enroll?

Interest forms are currently being accepted.  First come first serve enrollment will take place until all spaces are full.  We will place families on a waitlist for when their child's age group fills. 

Which age groups are likely to have the most enrollment applications?

We anticipate that the infant and toddler classrooms will have the most interest in the initial enrollment process.   CCLC and Clif Bar are working together to maximize the enrollment in these rooms in an effort to accommodate as many families as possible.  We encourage infant and toddler families to submit their enrollment interest forms as soon as possible. 

Is the current enrollment process only for those seeking a space during the centers initial opening period?

Yes, the current process is designed to provide enrollment for those families seeking enrollment when the center opens in the fall 2010.  Those seeking enrollment in 2011 can complete the interest form to be placed on the waiting list for future enrollment.   

Can I register for space available drop-in care at this time?

If space allows, CCLC will accept drop-in care registration forms after the center opens in the fall of 2010.   We will not know if space is available for drop-in care until the enrollment process is completed.  Families will be notified on the status of drop-in care once the center opens.  To support a smooth center opening by allowing the regularly enrolled children to settle into their new center, if space is available for drop-in care we will  start accepting children until 30 days post the opening date.    

Who can enroll in the center?

Anyone who is regularly employed by Clif Bar & Company is eligible to submit an interest/enrollment form.  Employment status will be verified via a current pay stub showing the employees name.  Enrollment may be broadened to extended family,  friends and tenant of Emery Tech after demand is known through the initial enrollment period ending May 28th.   

Do I have to pay a fee to submit an interest form?

Yes. There is a non-refundable $25 fee due at the time you submit your completed form. If you are offered a space in the center and choose to enroll, you will be required to pay a non-refundable deposit (which will be applied to your first month’s tuition) to reserve your space in the center.   

When will I be notified if I have received a space?

Families will be contacted within 48 hours of an Interest Form being received by CCLC.  At that time CCLC will inform you if a space is available in the age group you are seeking placement. 

What happens if I am not offered a space through the enrollment process?

Families who are not offered a space will be placed on the waitlist in the order in which their form was received by CCLC.  You will be notified as soon as a space becomes available.

Programming

What are the child-to-teacher ratios and group sizes in each classroom?

The center will offer programming designed to meet NAEYC Accreditation standards. The child-to-teacher ratios will be as follows:

What are the Center hours and holidays?

The Clif Bar child care center will follow the Clif Bar holiday calendar. The center will be open from 7:00am – 6:30pm Monday through Friday (subject to change based on needs of enrolled families). The center will follow the Clif Bar schedule as well as being closed twice a year for staff training days.

Can children attend the center part week?

Yes, parents of children ages two and up can choose to enroll their child(ren) in part-week schedules (i.e. MWF or T TH).

If I work a 9/80 schedule how will this effect my enrollment?

Clif Bar and CCLC are first and foremost concerned with the care and education of children.  Consistency of care is of the utmost importance.   Those employees working a 9/80 can select one of the published child care schedules for their child.   If your child is regularly enrolled to attend on a Friday the center will not make adjustments to curriculum or tuition if you chose not to bring your child to the center on a Friday you have off.  CCLC must meet the needs of the majority of children in the center.  Curriculum is planned to meet the needs of children over the course of a week and not attending school may result in missing out on events and a portion of a lesson.   CCLC supports families having additional time together on a school day when it allows.  However, the center cannot adjust curriculum and fees to meet the needs of families who make the decision to not attend the center on any given day.

Curriculum & Accreditation

What kind of curriculum is offered?

CCLC's curriculum supports learning in a developmental-based, thematic and multicultural manner for each age group. CCLC views learning as a process that requires a balance between child-initiated and staff-initiated activities. Activities are designed to fit the developmental needs of each age group while ensuring that children are properly prepared for kindergarten.

CCLC uses its exclusive Guided Discovery Curriculum ™ in all its centers. Guided Discovery is a "whole child" approach to learning that incorporates different aspects of a child's physical, social, linguistic, cognitive, and emotional development into a variety of daily activities. Guided Discovery is rooted in educational philosophy and theory as well as practice. It relies heavily on Erik Erikson's stages of socio-emotional development, Jean Piaget's theories of how children think and learn, and on principles of physical development. The curriculum reflects the criteria set by the NAEYC (National Association for the Education of Young Children) Accreditation process.

What enrichment programs will be offered at the center?

The Clif Bar Child Care Center will offer a number of enrichment programs to enrolled families at the center.  These programs will start after the initial ramp up of the center is complete.  Enrichment programs offered at CCLC centers include:  phonics, math, computers, Spanish, dance, gym, etc.  The programs offered at the Clif Bar center will be finalized, with input from enrolled families, post opening.

Will there be a focus on children’s physical health?

In addition to healthy eating, curriculum focuses on caring for our bodies and daily outdoor play time in the thoughtfully planned play yards.  The center will have a kids gym located just behind the front office.  This space will be used by children ages two and up.  Staff will incorporate the gym into the weekly curriculum.  In this space children will learn about healthy habits, respecting their body and keeping their body healthy.  In this space children will have access to and participate in; child appropriate gym equipment, yoga, music and movement and dance.  

Will there be a focus on the environment at the center?

The Clif Bar Child Care will have an Eco-Healthy focus.   Environmental practices will be incorporated into the center curriculum and daily routines. Children will learn to care for their environment, to not be wasteful and participate in environmental classroom projects. Check your child’s classroom curriculum sheet for more details on what your child is learning in regards to being environmentally friendly!

What is CCLC’s discipline policy?

At CCLC, we encourage children to learn to control their own behavior. We use positive language by telling children what they should do instead of what they should not do. Our goal at CCLC is to provide a safe and positive environment for every child.

The following steps outline our discipline process:

• We set clear and consistent limits
• When conflicts arise, we speak with both children and find out what has occurred
• We guide children in problem solving by encouraging them to use their words
• Give children alternative activities
• At no time will any child be subjected to corporal punishment, confinement to cribs, or the withholding of food or drink as forms of discipline
• Time out is not used at the center, we encourage children and staff to discuss their  issues

What is NAEYC accreditation?

NAEYC accreditation means that an early childhood program voluntarily applied for accreditation by the National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC). The program then engages in an extensive self-study based on the Academy's Criteria for High Quality Early Childhood Programs. The accuracy of the program's self-study is verified during a site visit to the program by a team of trained validators.

The validated self-study, including the program director's responses to the validation visit, are reviewed by a 3-member national commission composed of recognized experts in childcare and early childhood education, judged to be in substantial compliance with the Academy's Criteria, and granted accreditation for a five-year period. The early childhood program agrees to act upon the commission's suggestions regarding areas needing improvement and to submit annual written reports documenting improvements and continued compliance. Less than 8% of all child care centers nationally have received NAEYC Accreditation.

Are meals and snacks offered and included?

The Clif Bar center will include morning and afternoon snacks in the price of the tuition. Lunch is to be provided by the parents.  We ask infant families to provide all formula and foods for their child in order to ensure each child receives what is needed at this age.

We are exploring options for providing organic, hot lunches in the future. Children will need to bring lunches from home at the Center opening.

In September of 2005, CCLC launched an initiative at our centers to improve the types of food we offer children during snack time. Our intent was to migrate to more whole grain foods, foods that are lower in sugar and eliminate the use of partially hydrogenated snack items. With the obesity epidemic CCLC has a responsibility to encourage proper eating habits and educate families on what that includes.

Snack time should be tasty, appealing, low in fat, high in fiber and high in protein. We serve hormone-free, antibiotic-free milk and many of our snacks are organic. Parents at CCLC's other centers have been very pleased with this progressive approach to snacks.  Snack will include items such as fruits, veggies, whole grain crackers and breads, yogurt, Clif Bar products, 100% juice drinks and milk.

Tuition

What are the tuition rates?

To see a current tuition schedule, click here.

Is there a scholarship program available?

The Clif Bar Child Care Center has a scholarship program available to assist employees in affording high-quality childcare by providing financial assistance on a sliding scale basis. Click here to obtain the scholarship application. CCLC and Clif Bar will work together on the scholarship process in an effort to assist as many families as possible. 

Are there any requirements for parent participation at the Center?

There is no requirement from families to participate in the program. There will be opportunities for families to volunteer through a new voluntary parent committee which will be formed after the center opens. Families can also participate at the center during special events. CCLC has an open door policy, parents are welcome in the classroom at any time.

More Information

Who do I contact with additional questions?

For programming questions, please contact CCLC directly via e-mail at clifbar@cclc.com.  

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