The Cyert Center Welcoming Process
Beyond the required paperwork and onboarding steps, the Cyert Center has a thoughtful Welcoming Process designed to help new families feel supported as they join our community. Because our program runs from August to August, many of these initiatives take place during In-Service Week, just before the new program year begins. If your family joins us outside of the August start date, your child’s Classroom Educational Coordinator will guide you through an adjusted process to ensure a smooth transition.
Our goal is to foster trust, connection, and confidence from the very beginning. Through orientation meetings, resource guides, and one-on-one family exchanges, we work to equip families with the information and support they need. For our youngest learners, the process is especially gradual and personalized, easing infants into their new environment with care.
This intentional approach lays the foundation for strong relationships among families, educators, and children—helping each child feel secure, and each family feel at home in our community.
Preparing for your Child's First Day
The following are resources and procedures designed to provide families with essential information, introduce them to educators and classmates, and ensure a smooth transition for their child as they prepare to transition into the Cyert Center community.
Classroom Resource Guide
The purpose of the Classroom Resource Guide is to familiarize families with the specific routines, spaces, and procedures of their child’s classroom. Guides will be distributed to families prior to their Age Group Welcome Meeting.
Age Group Welcome Meeting
This is an opportunity to meet other families and members of our staff. Prior to the meeting, we distribute the Classroom Resource Guide, which includes essential information and an overview of classroom systems. Typically formatted as an open house, this should address many questions regarding classroom routines and formats.
Family/Educator Exchange Form
Families complete and submit the electronic form prior to meeting with Educators at their Family/Educator Exchange Meeting. When completing this form, families will share information related to identity and culture, as well as information about their child’s personality and disposition, development, feeding habits, napping habits, and health.
Family/Educator Exchange Meeting
These meetings provide a valuable opportunity for new families to meet with a Cyert Center team member from their child’s classroom. Families will complete a Family Exchange Form to guide the conversation.
Whole-Program Welcome and Orientation Meeting
Led by our pedagogical team, this meeting will provide updates on our philosophy, pedagogy, curricular goals, and opportunities for family engagement.
Classroom Visit and Supply Drop-Off
Typically occurring on the final day of "In-Service Week," families will be invited to visit their child’s new classroom and drop off belongings. For families joining outside of the month of August, classroom educational teams will reach out to make alternate arrangements.
Your Child's First Days at the Cyert Center
The Welcoming Process is our system for transitioning children and families into the Center at the start of the new program year. Specifically, the process for infants has been designed to ensure a smooth and gradual transition from parents to educators for basic care needs. This approach allows children, parents, and educators to build relationships over time, establishing a foundation of trust and communication.
The Infant Process
The welcoming process at the Cyert Center is a gradual transition inspired by the Inserimento approach from Reggio Emilia. It focuses on building strong relationships between the child, family, and educators to foster comfort and security. The process begins with a one-on-one meeting between the family and an educator to set expectations and build rapport.
The child's entry into the center progresses over several days through a process that we call Welcome Week: the first two days involve a parent accompanying the child for four-hour visits, the third and fourth days extend to six hours without the parent, and by the fifth day, the child stays for a full eight-hour day. By the second week, the child follows a typical daily schedule.
While the center encourages the gradual transition, flexibility is offered to accommodate parents' schedules, such as allowing a grandparent to join the child during the first week. Families are not required to strictly follow the process, and educators work closely with parents to ensure a smooth and supportive transition.
The Toddler, Preschool, Prekindergarten, & Pre-K/Kindergarten Process
After a family accepts a spot in a toddler, preschool, prekindergarten, or pre-k/kindergarten classroom, they receive a welcome letter from the educator team and schedule an information-gathering meeting to share details about the child and classroom. This initial meeting kicks off a dialogue and relationship-building process, where educators and parents discuss the best ways to welcome the child, plan the child’s first days, and schedule classroom visits. Like in the infant classrooms, parents are encouraged to spend time with their children in the classroom, and daily communication is emphasized to share updates on the child’s day. If needed, longer exchanges can be arranged for more in-depth discussions.