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Early Education Partners

Bigelow Cooperative Child Care Center

Director: Dawn Lorino

Our Philosophy

Bigelow Cooperative is a non-profit early education and care facility committed to providing an extended family experience and a safe and caring environment for children.  Our co-op model is based around our belief that parents take an active role both in and out of the classroom.  Parents at Bigelow are partners, collaborators, and advocates for their children. As members of the cooperative, parents participate in classroom activities on a regular schedule, and belong to committees that perform support services for the Center.

Ages Served

Infant – 3 to 11 months

Infant/Toddler – 11 months to 23 months

Toddler/Preschool – 18 months to 33 months

Preschool – 33 months to 5 years

Ages as of September 1st

Our Program

Our goal is to nurture a love of learning in an environment that promotes independence, creativity and curiosity. 

Inspired by the Reggio Emilia philosophy that children are inherently active and capable learners, the Bigelow curriculum allocates time for diverse play experiences, and offers a wide variety of learning materials and play environments. The curriculum integrates the natural process of exploration and problem-solving with units on literacy, math, science, social studies and the arts, and incorporates resources for children with different learning styles (visual, auditory, kinesthetic). Emergent, theme-based curriculum takes advantage of children’s interests. We encourage creative development through activities that are meaningful and relevant to a child’s life experiences.  Young children express ideas in many different ways, including words, gestures, drawings, paintings, sculpture, construction, music, dramatic play, movement, and dance.

Bigelow is open 50 weeks per year and does not close for summer break or separate summer programs. Children can attend 2, 3, 4 or 5 days per week, either 8:30am-3:30pm or 8:30am-5:30pm. Optional early drop-off starts at 8am.

Enrollment Information

Bigelow accepts applications throughout the year for a September 1 start of school.   Mid-year placements are considered based on availability.

Bigelow admits students and hires teachers without regard to race, cultural heritage, religion, political beliefs, disabilities, sexual orientation or marital status of parents.