About Us
St. Elizabeth's Day Home was a pioneer in early childhood education and was the first childcare center of its kind when the Sisters of the Holy Family established it in downtown San Jose in 1907. When the Sisters opened the Day Home at 136 Vine Street, they could not imagine how deeply their passion for the care of children would extend over the years and touch so many lives.
St. Elizabeth's Day Home serves children from 1 to 12 years of age, from a diverse range of cultural and economic backgrounds by fostering healthy social, emotional, intellectual and physical development. Our high quality early educational childcare offers children a sound foundation for lifelong development and stability. This tradition continues the standard established by the Sisters of the Holy Family.
OUR MISSION
To serve the needs of children and their families in a caring and home-like setting.
OUR VISION
Every child deserves a supportive environment in the context of family, community, and society.
OUR GOALS
- Nurture the emotional, intellectual, physical needs of the child
- Serve families from diverse cultural and socio-economic backgrounds
- Support the family with affordable quality childcare and provide financial assistance
- Maintain a safe, supportive, and consistent early education environment
- Partner with community resources to assist and support the family unit
- Practice the spirit of inclusiveness and serve children with special needs
St. Elizabeth's Day Home is committed to serving all children with varying needs and abilities and makes available activities, programs and services to those children with special needs. We comply with California's Unruh Civil Rights Act of 1973 and the American Disabilities Act (ADA) of 1990. We believe that the inclusion of all children allows both benefits and learning to our home away from home setting.
OUR PHILOSOPHY
Continuing the legacy of caring for families, St. Elizabeth's Day Home and the staff members are guided by a home away from home philosophy that:
- Relates to each child as a special individual
- Respects each family's values and belief systems
- Promotes the development of well being for the entire family through programs
- Involves parents and guardians in designing a continuum of social and academic growth for the children
- Emphasizes the importance of the first five years of learning
WHAT MAKES US SPECIAL
The culturally diverse St. Elizabeth's teaching staff is committed to the quality education of the children. The teachers value on-going professional development and follow the Code of Ethical Conduct of NAEYC. All teachers are encouraged to apply for their California Child Development permits and have close to a century of teaching experience between them.
In order to ensure the continued success of St. Elizabeth's Day Home, a dedicated Board of Directors governs our private, non-profit organization. We also have an active Family Committee and strong support from community volunteers.
St. Elizabeth's Day Home has an exemplary reputation based on family and guardian feedback with referrals from local public agencies. St. Elizabeth's Day Home is proud to have received acclamations of excellence from the State of California. Other commendations honoring St. Elizabeth's Day Home have been received from the City of San Jose and the County of Santa Clara Board of Supervisors. Readers of the Willow Glen Resident voted St. Elizabeth's Day Home the Best Day Care/Preschool in Willow Glen. As well, in collaboration with WestEd, E3 Institute through First 5, St. Elizabeth's Day Home is a Power of Preschool (POP) model school.
OUR SPIRIT OF INCLUSIVENESS
St. Elizabeth's Day Home is committed to serving all children with varying needs and abilities. The program makes available activities and services to those children with exceptional needs. Together as team partners we work to ensure that children with special learning or developmental needs thrive and have equal access to our quality early educational program.
St. Elizabeth's Day Home makes a case-by-case assessment of each family and child to help us determine what is required to fully or partially integrate the child into our program. This individualized assessment helps us to create a program in which all children can thrive. Our spirit of inclusion is based on collaboration, flexibility, and adaptability. These characteristics help us to support the growth and development of all children.