Periwinkle Child Development Center

 Located across from the welding center on LBCC’s Albany campus is the Periwinkle Childcare and Development Center. After a short walk across the street, you go through the doors and  hear echoes of children’s giggles and see handmade art on the walls. 

The Periwinkle Child Development Center was put on campus with one purpose and one mission. Director Kendra Votava made it clear that their mission is to serve students by providing a safe, licensed childcare facility on campus for student parents. Her office surrounds visitors with everything purple and children’s art. 

Students who choose to send their child to Periwinkle get a significant discount on childcare. Dana Westbrook, who is the site coordinator, said their waitlist is "organized with LBCC students having priority, then LBCC staff, and lastly community members.” 

Westbrook said while LBCC staff makes up a small percentage of childcare placements, LBCC students make up the vast majority.

After the previous Head Start center moved out in 2022,  Votova came in with the goal of bringing back reliable and safe childcare for student parents. 

After voters passed a bond and grants were received, Periwinkle underwent about $1.5 million in renovations. Bringing the center up to code and making it license-ready required a full gutting and remodel of the inside of Periwinkle.

At Periwinkle, lead teachers must have a bachelor’s degree in early childhood education and three-plus years of experience in the classroom. Associate teachers are required to have an associate degree and often arrive right after graduating from LBCC. Additionally, staff are required to complete 20 hours a year of additional training through the state’s Preschool Promise Grant. 

The Preschool Promise Grant is a state-funded program that serves low-income families, Votava said. It provides children whose parents are unable to afford childcare with a “high-quality education.” The Preschool Promise Grant is similar to a Head Start program.

Most of the funding for Periwinkle comes from the state through the Preschool Promise program and early intervention services. Additional funding comes from various grants and the college’s general fund.

The facility also can accommodate children with developmental disabilities, Votava said. So students and families with IFSPs (individualized family service plan) are not excluded.

Westbrook said they also include strategies such as “assistive seating and utensils, hearing equipment, visual aids, and modifications to the routine and environment.” A special education specialist goes to the center twice a week to assist teachers with implementing accommodations for children with disabilities.

A typical day at Periwinkle follows a structured schedule. The children start with playtime during arrival times. Their days also include bathroom breaks, snack time, nap time, and indoor and outdoor activities. 

The teachers work to follow an emergent curriculum model, which allows teachers to follow the children’s interest. Votava explained that the curriculum encourages “deep dive investigations and experimentation into topics that interest the children.” 

“Emergent refers to the concept that our curriculum emerges from our observations and assessments of the children’s interests and needs rather than a preplanned or ‘boxed’ curriculum,” Westbrook said. 

She said instead of having themed months, if children are having frequent interactions with worms, teachers might plan curriculum around investigating worms. Westbrook said the constructivist aspect follows the belief that “children are active participants in their learning and not just empty vessels we need to fill with information.”

While this curriculum can make it more challenging for teachers with constant planning and re-evaluation of the daily lesson plans, staff has found it’s more engaging and creative for the children enrolled. The classroom environment is designed to be flexible and responsive to the children’s needs and interests. 

Elicia Saville, a lead teacher at Periwinkle, talked about allowing children to join or choose different activities based on their interest and readiness. She said she sees significant developmental progress in the children that she teaches. Her favorite activity with the children is circle time, which involves a little of everything, from music and talking to reading and various other activities. 

When it comes to children who struggle with transitions such as getting dropped off or moving from outdoors to indoors, Saville said they use a lot of visuals, including signs, to help with these transitions. She pointed to a wall of children’s cubbies that had visuals of what they need to do to go outside, like putting on their coats. Once children are accustomed to the routine, they begin to use the visuals independently. 

“On a daily basis, Periwinkle is very reliable and well-organized. My own schedule changes a lot, so knowing my daughter is getting consistency even when my days feel chaotic really helps,” said LBCC student-parent Kylie Melton.

Along with a curriculum that’s made for children, teachers also conduct parent conferences twice a year to discuss the progress of their children. Periwinkle also subscribes to an app called BrightWheel that allows parents to communicate directly with teachers. Teachers can share pictures, videos, and other updates as well. And families have access to observation rooms where they can watch their children without interrupting them. 

“I always know the schedule and what’s going on, and if something changes, they’re really quick to communicate,” Melton said. “That gives me the freedom to trust that everything is good for my daughter and actually focus on my classes instead of worrying.”

While Periwinkle has an enrollment of 55 students, they have a waitlist of 68. Votava said there are plans to open a new classroom in September to start relieving the waitlist. 

To get your child on the waitlist for Periwinkle, it’s easy and accessible online through their website at perwinklecdc.com. There, you can also find more information on teachers and services.