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About Us
About Us
Mission Statement
Our mission is to build strong communities, families, and individuals by fostering respect and promoting a healthy spirit, mind and body for all.
YMCA Early Learning Center Philosophy
The Philosophy of the Down East Family YMCA is to provide children with a safe, fun, high quality, reliable, friendly, and activity-oriented environment. We will be teaching your child the YMCA’s four core values: Caring, Respect, Honesty, and Responsibility.
We are a center based programs run out of the Moore Community center on State street in Ellsworth (hours: 7:00am-5:30pm), and Beechland Road Center on the Beechland road in Ellsworth (hours:6:00am-5:00pm)
We are licensed at both centers for children 6 weeks to 5 years old, along with After school at our Moore center. We also have after school site in Hancock and Bucksport in the schools.
Staffing & Certifications
Staffing & Certifications
Our staff do a minimum of 30 hours a year in Early Childhood development training. Most go above and beyond
All staff are CPR/AED/ First Aid certified
We are a star 2 on the Rising star system but working toward a 3.
We have many staff working towards degrees or Maine State credentials.
Our staff are a dedicated, loving, child focused group of people.
Community/ Family Engagement
Community/ Family Engagement
Parent committee
Fundraisers
Open houses
Spaghetti dinners
Parent volunteers
Community readers
Monthly newsletters
Being a part of the Y is a bonus for community involvment
Involvment in our community festivals
Environments
Environments
Spacious classrooms
Indoor play space
Gym (at Moore center)
Large outdoor playgrounds
Natural learning classrooms (both Ellsworth locations)
Resource rooms
Moore center is downtown so walking distance to library, firehouse, playground and more.
Beechland has a large outdoor space to explore nature and learn through the Maine woods.
Our Site Directors
Shara Sala
Our Director Shara Sala of the Moore center has a bachelors degree in English, working on finishing her Masters in child psychology and is a Ed tech III with over 30 years of experience.
After 20 years of living and traveling across the country, Shara is happy to be back in Maine. She has nearly twenty years experience in Early Childhood Education as a teacher, family advocate and parent educator. Her passion for Early Childhood Development has lead Shara to working on completing her Masters Certificate in Infant Toddler Mental Health. Shara believes through play our children can grow and learn and she is proud to lead a team of caring, devoted teachers.
Ashlee Morse
Ashlee Morse our Director at Beechland has her Associates in Early Education and is currently in school working on her Bachelors from University of Maine Farmington. Ashlee has been in the early education field for over 10 years
Ashlee believes children learn best through play and hands-on experiences. She currently lives in Bucksport with her husband Steven and their two children Ellie and Gavin who are both Y kids.
Dana Gastaldi
Dana Gastaldi is our Director of Afterschool and Child care Administration. Dana holds a bachelor’s degree in education from the College of Charleston as well as a Masters master’s degree in healthcare administration from Southern New Hampshire University, further strengthening my ability to lead programs with care, structure, and purpose.
Dana moved to Maine in January with her husband and son.
Dana excited to join the YMCA community as the new After School Director. I’m passionate about creating safe, engaging, and enriching environments where children can learn, grow, and feel supported both academically and socially.
Sample Daily Schedule
Preschool
Preschool
(Schedules may differ based on location and classroom, schedules are subject to change)
7:00 – 7:30 AM Arrival / Adventure Room
8:00 - 8:30 AM Free Play
8:30 – 9:00 AM Breakfast
9:05 - 9:20 AM Read Aloud/Circle/SWPL
9:25 – 10:20 AM Intro to Centers/Centers/Thinking and Feedback
10:25 - 11:15 AM Outside Time
11:20 - 11:30 AM Making Beds
11:30 – 12:00 AM Lunch / Clean-Up
12:00 - 2:00 PM Rest Time
2:15- 2:25 PM Wake Up/Put Beds Away
2:30 - 2:45 PM Snack
2:45 - 3:00 PM Large Group Activity
3:05 - 3:20 PM Small Groups
3:30 - 5:00 PM Outside / Adventure Room / Free Choice /
Combine With Building
Large Group Activity Choices Mon: LFOAI
Tue: Math Whole Group
Wed: Story Problem/Social Emotional
Thu: Story Problem/Social Emotional
Toddlers
Toddlers
(Schedules may differ based on location and classroom, schedules are subject to change)
7:00 – 8:00 AM Arrival/Free Play/Clean Up
8:15 - 8:30 AM Circle Time
8:30 – 9:00 AM Breakfast
9:05 - 9:25 AM Music and Movement
9:30 – 10:00 AM Intro to Centers/Centers
10:00 - 11:15 AM Outside Time
11:20 - 11:30 AM Making Beds
11:30 – 12:00 AM Lunch / Clean-Up
12:00 - 2:30 PM Rest Time
2:30 - 3:00 PM Wake Up/Diapers/Table Activity
3:00-3:15 PM Snack
3:20 - 3:45 Story/Large Group
3:45 - 5:00 PM Outside / Adventure Room / Free Choice /
Combine With Building
Diapers changed every 2 hours or sooner if needed
• Schedule to change based on needs of children
Infants
Infants
Infants follow there own schedule of needs from 6 weeks till 12 month and then they moved to a lax schedule.
(Schedules may differ based on location and classroom, schedules are subject to change)
7:00 – 8:00AM Arrival/Free Play/Clean Up
8:00-8:15 AM Diapers/Handwashing
8:15-8:45 AM Breakfast
9:00-9:30 AM Circle Time/Music and Movement
9:30-9:45 AM Teacher Activity
9:50-10:45 AM Outside
10:45-11:00 AM Diapers/Handwashing
11:00-11:30 AM Lunch
11:30- 2:00 PM Rest Time
2:00-2:30 PM Wake Up/ Diaper
2:30-2:45 PM Snack
3:00 - 3:30 Teacher Activity
3:30 - 4:00 PM Adventure Room
4:00- 5:00 PM Outside / Free Choice / Combine With Building
*Each classroom and age has its own daily schedule but the one listed above is a rough outline of what the day may look like.
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