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Community, Arts and Individualized Guidance
University Avenue Discovery Center Preschool (UADC) has been supporting children and their families since 1967. While we rent our programming space from the First Congressional Church we have no affiliation with the church. Over many years we have grown with the times but continue to hold true to our late 1960’s roots of equality, solidarity, social justice and exploration of the Arts. With low teacher to child ratios of 1:10 for preschool and 4k and 1:12 for school aged children, emphasis is placed on individualized learning strategies based on each child’s unique abilities. Our Four Year-Old Kindergarten program, that is licensed through the Madison Metropolitan School District, has a refined curriculum that builds each child’s academic foundation with play based learning, experimentation, community involvement and group discussion.
Our Nationally and City of Madison Accredited Center is committed to forming a community atmosphere within each classroom and within our school as a whole. In addition, exploring our larger community of campus, the downtown area and local parks is an integral part of the learning experience at UADC. Our school often invites community members to participate in events such as Open Houses, Bake Sales, Parent’s Night Out, Parenting Classes-Networking Nights, Bike/Safety Rallies etc. throughout the year. The idea is that everyone benefits from the interwoven relationships and support system that come with community.
Our school is committed to exposing children to the Arts through formal classes in Dance, Yoga, Music, Art, Cooking, Spanish Language, Drama and Piano Lessons. Seasonally our school takes part in putting together a performance featuring newly learned music, dance and theater skills that are as inspiring for the parents as they are enriching for the students.
UADC works with Small Family Farm CSA from LaFarge, WI, as well as our own community resources to provide whole ingredients for nutritious meals for students and staff. Our chef prepares from-scratch breakfast, lunch and an afternoon snack daily at no additional cost. Children take part in growing, maintaining and harvesting from the community garden in addition to reaping the nutritional benefits of hot meals served with this produce. Children seem to really enjoy the diversified menu as much as the teachers and parents do.
UADC is licensed by the State of Wisconsin, City of Madison and Nationally accredited as well as rated 5 stars through Young Star. We offer full and half day care throughout the week operating from 7:15 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.
Facilities
Although we lease our facilities from the First Congregational Church, UADC has no religious affiliation. The church and its historic building have been a part of the Madison community since 1930. Classrooms at UADC are spacious and filled with a loving, creative and age-appropriate learning environment.We have ample indoor and outdoor space for running, biking, skipping rope, bouncing balls and playing organized games. Outdoors, we have a sandbox, musical instruments, garden beds, and a playground climber with two slides and a climbing wall. The climber is “graduated” so that younger and smaller children can easily access parts while providing a greater challenge for older and larger children. Often the kids will hike to one of the nearby parks and recreational facilities in good weather. Indoors, a large gymnasium, known as “the running room,” gives the children a wonderful play space during bad weather.
Non-profit Status
UADC is an independent non-profit corporation. Its membership consists of the parents and guardians on record for enrolled children and all permanent staff members. UADC is governed by a board of directors elected by the membership at an annual meeting held in the fall.
