Weaver Child Development Center (CDC) Accepting Registrations For Fall (Toddlers - 3rd grade).

The Weaver Child Development Center (CDC) – a Reggio-inspired Christian preschool and primary school teaching toddlers through third grade – has begun accepting registrations for fall 2013.

The school will finish out this school year in its current location on the campus of Malone University but will be fully established in its new home on the historic 50-acre Fieldcrest Estate in North Canton when the school year begins in the fall. The Weaver CDC currently has approximately 100 students, ranging from age 2 through 3rd grade. Serving as a “lab school” for Education majors from Malone, Walsh, Stark State, Kent Stark, and other local colleges, this well-renowned educational institution has a unique and innovative philosophy about educating children which meshes perfectly with Fieldcrest’s idyllic setting.

“Our teachers are guided by an educational philosophy called Reggio-Emilia,” states Susie Clark-Maioriello, Director and 1st grade teacher at the Weaver CDC. "The Reggio philosophy believes that children learn best from hands-on experiences. We believe that children learn more efficiently and effectively when they are co-creators of their own knowledge in a hands-on, sensory-rich environment where they are allowed to find their interests, develop ideas, create hypotheses, and experiment to see if they were right. In essence, we believe that children learn best from experiences, not worksheets.” The Weaver CDC is the only Reggio-inspired, Christian Preschool & Primary school in the area, and one of only a handful in the state of Ohio.

The school has historically had a waiting list, despite the fact that the highly regarded institution has never done any marketing or advertising. It seems to be Canton’s best-kept secret. But word-of-mouth and the school’s excellent reputation amongst parents and teachers in the community have kept the school at full capacity. “Anyone who is interested in our program should schedule an appointment to take a tour as soon as possible,” states Clark-Maioriello. “We already have a waiting list for a few of our classes.” Open registration began on February 19th.

To give parents an idea of how Reggio-inspired classrooms look and function, the Weaver CDC is hosting an Open House on Thursday, February 21st in its current location at the Johnson Center on the Malone University campus. Parenting expert, author, and syndicated columnist Diana Boggia will be giving a free presentation from 6:30PM to 8:00PM. Her books will be available for purchase. Reservations are required in order to attend the presentation (no childcare available/adults only). Please contact the school at 330.471.8264.