Mission

The mission of the Fort Hill early childhood program is to:

• support the child care needs of Smith College employees;
• support the mission of Smith College and provide a site for students and faculty to conduct research, observations, and child study; and,
• model exemplary early education and care.

We strive to provide exemplary customer service to the many members of the Smith College and broader communities with whom we engage. 

Vision

“It is our vision that each child who comes through our door join a community of children, families, and teachers engaged in the joy, work, and wonder of childhood.”

Core Values

Our core values reflect our beliefs that:

• Development is a dynamic process of genetic, environmental, social and biological processes interacting over time.
• Knowledge is socially constructed.
• Children are competent and strong and able to express their understandings and theories in many ways.

We value:

An environment that conveys respect for children and engagement in learning

We value a dynamic, engaging, and aesthetically pleasing learning environment that encourages safe interactions between members of the community and invites interactions with materials. The space is thoughtfully designed and materials are chosen with meaning and purpose. The environment is intentional and reflects beauty, joy, order, comfort, and appreciation for the natural world. It is a relational space, where social and emotional expression is nurtured and communication is sustained.

Relationships as the basis for learning and development

Each member of the community is valued for his or her individuality and contribution to the group life of the school. Relationships are characterized by genuine listening, compassion, and respectful communication. We believe relationships are fundamental to teaching and to development.

Time for reflection and mindful awareness of the present

We value a pace of daily living and learning that provides time for reflection and mindful awareness. This pace should allow for learning from experiences, and caring for each other, for our school community members, and for the natural world. We strive to offer children unstructured time and space to engage in activities of their choosing at an unhurried pace. We value children’s health and respect their natural rhythms. We support their healthy development by planning for time outside, sleep and/or rest and good nutrition.

Collaboration among the children, families and teachers in our community

Within a culture of inquiry and research, teachers actively engage in in-depth and ongoing professional activities to understand children’s thinking. Teachers value listening, observation, and documentation as the basis of curriculum development. Children are offered a wide variety of materials to express their theories and understandings and are supported in pursuing extensive investigations and explorations.

Communication through documentation

We value the exchange with parents and colleagues that is stimulated when the everyday details of the lives of the children are shared. Documentation fosters teachers’ and parents’ connections to the children and the school and encourages collaboration. Documentation invites focused conversation, a deep level of exchange and a sense of community.

Professionalism

We recognize, value, and support the educators at Fort Hill as professionals with deep knowledge of child development and early childhood education. The educators assume significant responsibility and maintain professional standards and qualifications. We value a professional work environment and culture of continuous learning and development with many varied opportunities for professional engagement and time out of the classroom to plan, reflect, prepare, and communicate with colleagues and families. The professionalism of the educators and their dedication to children and families provides the foundation for our program, which is based on current, research-based knowledge of child development, teaching and learning.