"Celebrating 38 Years!"
MISSION STATEMENT
Kids of Chatham Organization, Inc. is a not-for-profit center dedicated to providing quality child care to families in East Hampton, CT and the surrounding communities.
A NOT-FOR-PROFIT CHILD CARE ORGANIZATION
KOCO was established on March 15, 1988 as a tax-exempt, not-for-profit 501(c)(3) corporation. An annually elected Board of Directors consists of parent volunteers who attend quarterly meetings and participate in company policy decision-making.
Originally housed in a smaller facility near the post office, KOCO spent 21 years at its location on East High Street. A brand new facility (pictured above) was built for KOCO and opened on July 22, 2019. Our current student enrollment is approximately 150 children aged 8 weeks to 12 years.
PHILOSOPHY
KOCO is a nurturing child care center that values all children and excels in helping each child realize their full potential. At KOCO, we believe that children learn best through active play and exploration. Our curriculum is designed to facilitate this hands-on learning through a combination of scheduled daily activities.
OPERATIONS
Day-to-day operations are managed by
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Executive Director Janet Santos
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Assistant Director Brian Barber
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Opening Supervisor Matthew Barber
KOCO employs about 40 staff (20 full-time and 20 part-time). Over 70% of KOCO’s full-time staff have worked here for over 7 years. Five staff members have worked here 10 years or longer!
PROGRAMS
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KOCO has five Under 3 classrooms, beginning with infants 8 wks old through toddlers up to 3 years old.
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Our Preschool programs support kindergarten readiness skills in students ages 3-5.
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We offer before and after school care in our three Schoolage classrooms.
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KOCO is also proud to offer care for students during most school holidays, vacations, delays, early dismissals and snow days.
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Our popular summer camp for older students features visitors, field trips, club activities, crafts, games and more.
The staff at KOCO does not have high turnover rates, and retention is important when you don't want your kid to have a new teacher every other week. It also says a lot about leadership and the way they manage their people. The building is clean and well-maintained. My kids are happy here, and enjoy doing the extra fundraising activities that are offered, as well as summer camp. For preschoolers, the curriculum is based mostly on what the school district does in Kindergarten, which encourages a smooth transition into school. There's also strong involvement by the directors to know what's happening in the school system, which is incredibly important because continuity of services can make or break a kid. Bottom line: there's a reason there's a wait-list to get into this place.
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KOCO parent "Chris"
(google review)
