For Immediate Release

Friday, June 14, 2019

Contact: Jessica Sacco
Phone: 617-993-0003
Email: [email protected]

Whittier Partners with Haverhill YMCA to Open Child Care Center

HAVERHILL — Early Education and Care students will soon have a place to put their classroom learning into practice once the Haverhill YMCA opens a child care center at Whittier.

Beginning this fall, Whittier students will complete construction of the new center, which will be open to infants, toddlers and pre-school students in Amesbury, Merrimac, Haverhill, Byfield, Georgetown, Groveland, Salisbury, West Newbury, Newburyport and Newbury.

Crews are currently on site finishing the space, which is located between the Poets’ Inn, school store and cosmetology shop. The center will have its own entrance in a self-contained wing of the school.

Whittier and the Y partnered after Early Education and Care teacher Michelle Ring recognized a need to improve learning opportunities for students.

“The new center will allow students in every grade, starting with freshman exploratory, to work with children throughout every stage of their studies,” Ring said. “It was also important for us to remain competitive with our surrounding school districts that have child care centers on site.”

Children who are enrolled at the center, which will be managed by the Y, will also have opportunities to collaborate with Culinary, Business and Marketing and Health Occupation students on special projects.

“The YMCA is excited about this wonderful collaboration, and we are looking forward to offering high quality affordable early education to the communities surrounding Whittier Technical High School,” said Tracy Fuller, Regional Executive Director of the Haverhill and Plaistow YMCAs. “We are thrilled to also provide a unique opportunity for hands-on learning and professional development for Whittier early childhood education students.”

Children enrolled at the center receive a free youth membership. For more information about enrolling a child in the Whittier Y, contact Early Education Director Allison Anthony [email protected]

###