Alani Children’s Center On-Campus Program

Daily Schedule

Our schedule is based on the theory that children need long stretches of uninterrupted play to deeply learn. We spend half of each morning outside in our beautiful yard, and the other half indoors in our well-stocked classroom. Children participate in circle time, read stories, and share snacks with their peers. Children nap for about two hours in the afternoon and engage in quiet play and stories when they wake before dismissal.

Hours and Days of Operation

Monday – Thursday: 8:15 a.m. to 3:45 p.m.
Friday: 8:15 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.

August to May in conjunction with the fall and spring academic calendar. The Center is closed on all non-instructional days including state holidays, winter, spring, and summer breaks.

Programs are for two, three, and five days a week, depending on age and availability. No partial-day enrollment is available.

Meal Service

The center follows the USDA Childcare Food Program guidelines and provides 2 snacks a day. We are looking to restart our lunch service in the Fall of 2023; currently, children bring home lunch. Please discuss any dietary restrictions or allergies with your child’s teacher. Menu choices respect divergent cultural and ethnic eating preferences.

Teaching Staff

• Site Coordinator(s)
  Faculty members of the Honolulu Community College Early Childhood Education Program serve as the site coordinators for the Center.  They function as the Pedagogical and Operational Administrators for the program.
• Lead Teachers
  The day-to-day operations of the Center are the responsibility of the classroom teachers assigned to this Center. They are primarily responsible for the supervision of the children throughout the day. They plan learning experiences for the children and serve as mentor teachers for early childhood laboratory students and student workers.
• Child Care Aides, Assistants & College Student Workers
  This staff assists in the day-to-day classroom operations including planning and implementing activities and is trained in center protocols for health and safety upon hire.

Instructional Lab Course & Students

The center serves as a laboratory site to train early childhood educators and professionals who enrolled in Early Childhood lab or practicum courses in the UH system. A faculty member from the Early Childhood department at Honolulu Community College serves as their instructor and is also involved in the daily life of the classrooms as they work with lead teachers to develop and train lab or practicum students in the most current, best practices in the field.

Staff Ratios/Group Size

Because we know that children thrive and grow when their care is in small groups with consistent, well-trained teachers, our classrooms are structured accordingly.  At all times, including indoor and outdoor activities, we maintain the ratios established by the National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC).