Troops help celebrate Lindenhurst child care site achievement
By Beth Kramer ekramer@stmedianetwork.com February 8, 2012 7:44PM
Lindenhurst 2/7/12 Navy Sailor, Thomas Helms, of Zion, reads to children at Kindercare in Lindenhurst, on Tuesday, February 7, 2012. Kindercare is celebrating the fact that they recently achieved accreditation from a nation program. | Ruthie Hauge ~ Sun-Times Media
Accredited sites
National Early Childhood Program Accreditation sites in Lake County
KinderCare Learning Center, Buffalo Grove
The Learning Tree, Island Lake
The Learning Tree, Lake Zurich
KinderCare, Lindenhurst
Source: NECPA
Article Extras
Updated: March 11, 2012 8:29AM
A child care facility in Lindenhurst recently became the fourth child care facility in Lake County to achieve accreditation from a national program.
KinderCare Lindenhurst is now one of 30 child-care facilities in Illinois to have National Early Childhood Program Accreditation.
Parents of children enrolled at the facility were invited to an accreditation celebration Tuesday. Three area military personnel were also invited to read to the children.
“Kids love any type of extra-community involvement,” said parent Vince Juarez, who has two sons, ages 5 and 3, at KinderCare.
He called the facility “top notch” with a “first-rate curriculum.” He said he was pleased that KinderCare received its NEPCA accreditation.
The Lindenhurst facility is one of two KinderCare child care facilities in Lake County to achieve NEPCA, according to the agency’s Web site.
“Accreditation is assurance that it is a quality program well above state standards. It is one step farther than licensing,” said Andrea Nupen, assistant director of the Lindenhurst facility.
The Lindenhurst KinderCare is licensed by the state to handle 173 children. About 120 children are currently enrolled, according to Director Heather Hajduk.
From start to finish, it took about a year to get accredited, Hajduk said. The process involved NEPCA site visits and surveys from staff and parents to receive NEPCA accreditation, which is valid for three years.
“It’s something to better our center,” Hajduk said. “It is a big accomplishment.”
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