Enrolling your student in kindergarten is a huge step in your child’s academic journey. For many children, it’s an important time for grasping how to read, understanding abstract concepts like addition and subtraction, and exciting children to want to be lifelong learners. Read on to see what sets our Kindergarten apart and how we prepare each kindergartener for success. [Click here to learn more.]

The 2023-2024 school year begins next week! We welcome current and new families to the exciting year ahead. See you all on September 5 for an exciting year full of promise, new friendships, learning, and personal growth for all.

We were wowed by Eyes of the Wild, who visited us our summer campers this month. The children were on the edge of their seats with anticipation through the entire exotic animal showcase. Eyes of the Wild is an exotic animal rescue organization that offers permanent sanctuary to more than 175 remarkable creatures. The children met an albino wallaby, a tortoise, a baby crocodile, a ferret, a tarantula, and other unique species. Our campers learned the reasons behind each animal's rescue, diet, and habitat.

Follow us on Facebook and Instagram @alldaylearningcentersnj or, if you are a current family with us, share your experience with other families looking for a new home-away-from-home for their children.

Sept.1: Staff Professional Development Day - School Closed Sept. 4: Labor Day - School Closed Sept. 5: First Day of the 2023-2024 School Year Sept. 25 - Yom Kippur - Closed for Professional Development Oct. 4 - Back to School Night - 2 sessions 6:30/7:15

Our summer campers explored the Somerset County 4-H Fair. A highlight was the chickens, cows, goats, horses, dogs, and more. They were captivated by trains, fun robotics, and many other attractions. The children enjoyed a delicious lunch to round out the trip in the food tent.

Thank you to all the staff, parents, and students who made this year's summer camp such a memorable experience. From field trips and entertaining shows from campus visitors to fun extracurricular activities like our new swimming program, this year's camp has been an enriching environment for each camper. It has been our joy to see the friendships that blossomed over these months. [Click here for our summer camp photo gallery.] Some off-campus field trip highlights: The Crayola Factory Jenkinson’s Aquarium Sky Zone Pirate Adventures TurtleBack Zoo 4-H Fair Princeton Lavender

Since unveiling our new swim program this summer, all students have been working on their swimming skills. The children enthusiastically practiced their breathing, kicking, and floating. Each has made remarkable progress in a few weeks. Several campers confidently swim without a board and can jump into the pool from the diving board! [Click here to learn more.]

Aug. 3: Cowboy Ronnie Aug. 7: Wear Hat Day Aug. 8: Magic Show Aug. 10: 4-H Fair Aug. 14: Wear Pajamas Day Aug. 15: Turtleback Zoo Aug. 21: Dress Disney Day Aug. 22: Princeton Lavender Aug. 24: Enzo the Lizard Guy Aug. 28: Crazy Hair Day Aug. 29: Sports Day Aug. 30: Wacky Clothes Day & Ice Cream Social Aug 31: Staff Professional Development Day - School Closed Sept.1: Staff Professional Development Day - School Closed Sept. 5: First Day of the 2023-2024 School Year

The All-Day Learning Centers staff launched our school's Sunshine Committee this month, infusing joy and positivity throughout our campus and the Hillsborough community. Seeing how our staff spreads happiness to our school, students, families, and the community is terrific. [Click here to read more.]

Our summer campers have spent time in our school garden planting and tending to watermelons, marigolds, sunflowers, pumpkins, and more each day. Our teachers showed students how to create greenhouses from recycled bottles to start their seedlings. We are excited to watch our plants grow as the children learn firsthand how to care for a garden by keeping a watchful eye, weeding, and watering.

Our Preppers program offers 2- and 3-year-olds quality academics, a positive classroom environment, and enriching extracurriculars to support our students. Click here for our How We Learn blog series, giving you an in-depth look at this unique classroom. [Click here to read more.]

Our campers (Preschool to Elementary) embarked on a pirate-themed adventure! At the helm of her giant yellow galleon filled with summer camp scallywags, Captain Erica steered the young adventurers to a thrilling field trip to Pirate Adventures Jersey Shore. The day began with a lively puppet show starring Petey the Pirate and his trusty companion, Sully. Laughter filled the air as the performance captivated the children. They enjoyed a scavenger hunt to uncover the hidden treasure of the legendary Redbeard! The children enthusiastically followed the clues and successfully discovered a treasure chest.

Follow us on Facebook and Instagram @alldaylearningcentersnj or, if you are a current family with us, share your experience with other families looking for a new home-away-from-home for their children.

Gallery on the Go Students created their own beach scenes on canvases with the help of Gallery on the Go! Enzo the Lizard Guy Enzo, The Lizard Guy, brought a menagerie of fascinating animals to our campus. Students met French Fry the Albino Snake, Tickles the Tortoise, and an array of geckos, turtles, lizards, and even hissing cockroaches. The children were entranced by each new creature and listened attentively while Enzo shared intriguing facts about the animals and their natural habitats. Mad Science Mad Science delivered a captivating science extravaganza for our campers. Scientist Lex Twister astounded everyone with mind-blowing experiments, from static electricity demonstrations to the sight of water evaporating before our eyes. The show's highlight was the thrilling Magic Trick Flash Paper that amazed the audience. Click here to see the rest of our Summer Camp field trips and special events.

Our How We Learn series dives deeper into the learning processes at All Day Learning Centers. We reviewed details about our toddler curriculum this month. Our dedicated teachers and staff have curated a program focusing on young children's cognitive, social, and emotional development. Click here for more about our nurturing environment, engaging learning time, and exciting enrichment for our toddler students.

Fun was had by all at our Donuts with Dad event! Students celebrated Father's Day with donuts, coloring and crafts, and outside time with dads. Family support is vital to our students' learning and growth at All Day Learning Centers. Hosting events that invite parents into the classroom is as important as it is fun!

This week, we marked the start of Summer Camp at ADLC! Our campers are ready for a jam-packed summer. We're excited to kick off our new swimming program and a fresh slate of exciting field trips. We also include the elements our campers love—music, art, sports, STEAM, and talent shows for older campers! A few spots are still available in some of our upcoming sessions. Check out our summer camp brochure, which contains all our camp information. Don't wait any longer; register now!

Our teachers and administration celebrated our 2023 graduating Pre-K class alongside parents at this year's advancement ceremony. Parents gathered to cheer on the students as they received their diplomas and performed the All Day Learning Center’s alma mater song.

Red, White & Blue Week (7/3/23-7/7/23) Wear Red, White & Blue 7/3 Jenkinson's Aquarium 7/6 Under the Sea Week (7/10/23-7/14/23) Dress Hawaiian 7/10 Paint on Canvas 7/11 (on-campus) Sky Zone 7/13 Reptile Week(7/17/23-7/21/23) Crazy Sock Day 7/17 Eyes of the Wild 7/18 (on-campus) Pirate Adventures 7/20 Science Explorers Week (7/24/23-7/28/23) Wear Class Colors 7/24 Lizard Guy 7/25 Mad Science 7/27 (both on-campus)

Our school is excited to partner with Grow NJ Kids! As part of this program, we will have a dedicated quality rating specialist assess all aspects of our program and improve the care we provide for our students and their families. Parents can expect to see some changes, including asking you, our parents, for feedback and recommendations through surveys and family focus groups. Also, I look forward to seeing more resources and education sessions, so we can assist families in navigating the challenges of modern parenting. [Click here to learn more.]

We rounded out the 2022-2023 school year on a sweet note with field trips to Rita's Italian Ice! Students kicked off the summer by enjoying their treats surrounded by their friends. Thank you to our staff, families, and students for another wonderful year. We look forward to all the excitement Summer Camp will bring!

Thank you to our dedicated teachers and staff for all you do for our students daily. While we are grateful every week, we gave them special recognition in May for Teacher Appreciation Week for their hard work and care for our school community. Each of our teachers make All Day Learning Centers a special place for our students.

June 9: Pre-K Graduation. School will be closing early at 4 p.m. June 15: Donuts with Dad June 16: School Closed for Juneteenth June 19: Juneteenth celebration June 23: Rita’s trip for the last day of school

Mark your calendars for a blood drive on Saturday, June 10th, 2023! Countless community members require life-saving blood, including children like our student, Harrison, who was diagnosed with leukemia last year. By donating blood, you can make a difference in the lives of our neighbors and friends. We hope to see you at the Hillsborough Elementary School cafeteria, 435 US 206, Hillsborough Township. Join us to give the gift of life!

After much preparation, our students in toddlers through kindergarten recently debuted their spring concert performance. The performance featured student songs, chants, and poems that coincided with their spring study. ADLC students performed songs that facilitated learning about weather, colors, insects, and animals and celebrated the wonders of growing up and spring. [Click here to learn more.]

Start planning a fun-filled summer for your child now! All Day Learning Centers’ SWIM-PLAY-LEARN summer camp offers exciting options for infants to Preppers, Preschool to Kindergarten, and Elementary students. Our robust summer program includes fun science projects, a full music curriculum, art projects, sports, and for elementary, talent shows! Another unique option at All Day Learning Centers is that parents can add extra activities they want for their children. Click here to see our brochure. Our school website also features all our summer camp information—ready for you to register now!

Thank you to our staff, parents, and community members who came together to celebrate our 50th anniversary. The day was filled with joy and fun, delicious food, games, and exciting activities. Providing safe, nurturing care for local children has been our goal since our opening in 1973, and we are excited to continue for many years to come. [Click here to learn more.]

Each of our classrooms celebrated The Week of the Young Child in April. All Day Learning Centers joined over 60,000 schools nationwide to bring attention to young children's and their family's needs and uplift the organizations that meet them. We celebrated with dress-up days and fun activities each day. Monday Little rockstars jammed through our halls for Music Monday dress-up day. They kicked off Week of the Young Child with a parade around the school in fun outfits with instruments in hand. Tuesday Adorable princesses and pirates enjoyed a fruit salad picnic on Tasty Tuesday! While outside for their picnic, they met the Easter Bunny and hunted down eggs on our campus. Wednesday Our students built the tallest towers they could for Work Together Wednesday! They dressed as their favorite community helpers, including firefighters, police officers, superheroes, and even some of our ADLC teachers. Thursday On Thursday, students were asked to wear as many colors as possible to match the vibrant art they created throughout our school. Teachers hung up large pieces of paper outside and covered the classroom tables so everyone could stretch their creative muscles through drawing, coloring, and painting. ​Friday Thank you to all parent readers who joined us for Family Friday to finish celebrating the Week of the Young Child. Students came to school dressed as what they want to be when they grow up and enjoyed afternoon snacks with their special visitors.

Our students have been preparing musical performances for this year’s spring concerts. Join us on May 16 or 17, depending on your child’s classroom. Both shows will be held at our school from 5 to 6:30 p.m.

Mark your calendar for a blood drive on Saturday, June 10, 2023! So many members of our community are in desperate need of life-saving blood. Donations benefit them and children like our student Harrison who was diagnosed with leukemia last year. Join us at the Hillsborough Elementary School blood drive to help our community in need of blood donation.

Author Karen Rostoker-Gruber visited our classrooms to read her beloved book, “Rooster Can’t Cock-a-Doodle-Doo,” a story about kindness, gratitude, and empathy in a barnyard full of animals. This story blends beautifully with our Kindness Curriculum, ensuring our children learn to tend to their emotions, self-regulate, and connect with their peers.

We thank all the mothers in our school community for the love and care they offer our students daily. Sign up below to join us on May 12 to celebrate Mother's Day with some refreshments and a craft at the locations and times listed below. Main and Annex Buildings from 9:30-10:15 a.m. https://www.signupgenius.com/go/10c094ca9aa2ea4fac52-mothers#/ Infants and Toddlers - Turf Playground Preppers 1-PreK 1 - Back of Annex South Building 2:30-3:15 https://www.signupgenius.com/go/10c094ca9aa2ea4fac52-mothers1#/ PreK 2-Kindergarten - Back of Annex

Join us for our school’s 50th Anniversary Celebration Fair on Saturday, May 6, 2023, from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. We will open our doors to the public for this free event and welcome Mayor Shawn Lipani! For 50 years, All Day Learning Centers has touched the lives of thousands of families from Hillsborough and neighboring communities. This celebration honors that legacy of caring for children and serving our community. Here is what to expect for our guests of every age: Carnival tent with food, drinks, and prizes Inflatable Obstacle Course Bounce House Balloon animals Face Painting Music and a DJ

Eid al-Fitr Our classes celebrated the Islamic holiday of Eid earlier this month. This festival commemorates the end of Ramadan, and families typically enjoy food, games, and gifts for children. Our Director, Melinda Rushing, gifted each child a goody bag full of treats. Each class watched a video describing why people celebrate Eid and what it represents. They also did a coloring page, and a parent came in to read a book. Earth Day We celebrated Earth Day on Friday, April 21! The children colored pictures of the earth, and we learned why we all need flowers and plants. Each student flexed their green thumb by planting a flower to bring home and watching it grow.

May 6th: 50th Anniversary Celebration May 12: Muffins with Mom May 16: Spring Concert - Toddlers, Preppers 1, Preschool 2, Prek1 and Prek2 May 17: Spring Concert - Preppers 2, Preschool 1, Preschool 3, PreK3, and Kindergarten May 29: Memorial Day - School Closed June 9: Pre-K Graduation June 15: Donuts with Dad June 16: Juneteenth (school closed) June 23: Last Day of School

Our summer camp is filling up fast, but spots are still available! Our jam-packed summer activities now includes a swimming program. Our campers love going on our weekly field trips or experiencing our on-campus special programs. We include the fun elements our children love—music, art, sports, STEAM, and talent shows for older campers! A unique option at All Day Learning Centers is that parents can tailor their summer camp experience for their children—adding activities—based on what you and your child prefer. This “choose your own adventure” approach to summer camp is one of the elements that sets our camp apart from others! Click here to see our summer camp brochure. Our school website also features all our summer camp information—ready for you to register now!

Our Toddler classroom is excited to have implemented a yoga program. There are so many benefits to teaching students yoga, and we are excited to see their skills flourish Here are just a few: Helps children manage their anxiety Improves children's emotional regulation Boosts children's self-esteem Increases children's body awareness and mindfulness Enhances children's concentration and memory Develops children's strength and flexibility

For over 50 years, families have trusted our dedicated staff to care for infants ages six weeks to 18 months. Our school offers tailored activities for both younger and older babies to help refine various skills as they grow. Click here to read about our school's carefully curated infant curriculum.

We are excited to announce a new addition to our summer camp: swimming! Students will learn through structured swim lessons, play water games, and refine their motor skills–all at no additional cost to parents. Click here to learn more about the Summer Camp program, including swimming for fully potty-trained students ages three and up. We’ve already started enrolling for Summer Camp, reserve a spot here.

April 3-7: Week of the Young Child April 10: Spring Picnic (parents will donate fruit items to make a fruit salad) April 21: Earth Day (plant flowers/make recycled art-possibly make recycled crayons) April 24: Eid Celebration (goodie bags and crafts)

Our school was a sea of green shamrocks and emerald-colored attire on St. Patrick’s Day with celebrations planned by teachers for all of our students. Our parties featured themed food, green outfits, and festive activities. Click here to see more photos from our classes.

Please remember that Pre-K graduation pictures are on Wednesday, April 6. Dress your students to impress for their cap and gown photos. Each child will be sent home with a photo card with information to sign up for notifications from the photography company. Once the portraits are ready, several photo packages will be available for purchase and will be shipped to the school for pickup.

The arts are integral to our STEAM program (Science, Technology, Engineering, Art, and Math). By fostering creativity, we help spark ingenuity and innovative thinking in each student. Our students regularly explore the work of famous artists. Their most recent study was of Takashi Murakami and his happy flowers. Click here to learn more about Murakami and his art’s far-reaching impact.

The Week of the Young Child is almost here! All Day Learning Centers will join over 60,000 schools nationwide to bring attention to young children and their families. Our school will celebrate with a week of fun dress-up days and activities from April 3 through 7. Here’s the schedule: Music Monday - Dress as a Rockstar Students will enjoy a reading by Karen Rostoker-Gruber and a parade around the school with instruments. Tasty Tuesday - Dress as a Princess and Pirate Princesses and pirates alike will enjoy a fruit salad picnic. Work Together Wednesday - Dress as your favorite Community Helper Each class will build its biggest tower using the blocks from its centers. Artsy Thursday - Wear as Many Colors as You Can The walls of each classroom will be covered in butcher paper for students to take turns painting, drawing, and coloring. Family Friday - Dress as What You Want to be When You Grow Up Parent volunteers will read to the class and other visiting parents alike before they all enjoy an afternoon snack.

Start planning a fun-filled summer for your child now! All Day Learning Centers’ SWIM-PLAY-LEARN summer camp offers exciting options for infants to Preppers, Preschool to Kindergarten, and Elementary students. We are excited to add swimming every week for campers ages three and up. All fully potty trained students benefit from our swimming program as part of our summer camp with no additional charge. Our campers will learn to swim as part of a formal training curriculum based on American Red Cross principles. Pool time will include structured lessons and free water play periods. Our robust summer program includes fun science projects, a full music curriculum, art projects, sports, and for elementary, talent shows! Another unique option at All Day Learning Centers is that parents can choose to add-on extra activities they want for their child. Click here to see our new brochure. Our school website also features all our summer camp information—ready for you to register now!

For Dental Health Awareness Month in February, Ms. Karen, a hygienist from Hillsborough Dentistry, taught our students the importance of brushing, flossing, and caring for their teeth. With a bit of help from Miss Karen’s stuffed toy Nemo, students saw good brushing techniques firsthand. The children discussed healthy and unhealthy food choices and learned about the “sugar bugs” that live in their mouths and can make teeth sick when they eat sweets and don’t brush them away. As a parting gift, each student received a goodie bag with a toothbrush.

Friday, March 17th: St. Patrick's Day Parties Friday, March 17th: Parents Night Out Monday, March 20th: Wear Your Favorite Color Day for the first day of Spring Friday, March 31st: Pajama Day

Our school is proud to teach our students the importance of diversity, cultural competency, and mutual respect year-round. Our teachers deliberately select multicultural books, celebrate holidays for all, and more. February was no different; our students focused on learning about influential Black figures in society. Click here to read more about how we celebrate diversity and honored Black History Month.

A new month means exciting new Kindermisik units for our students! Younger classes are learning to "Rhyme Around Town" by focusing on listening and imitating sounds. They'll hear various new sounds and use their imaginations to recreate the sounds they're hearing. During class, they'll also enjoy keeping a steady beat using their hands, feet, hips, and knees. Our older students are starting the "Let's Play" unit. This month, they will experiment with imaginative play. During class, the kids will recite two poems and use their hands to wave, clap, shake, and wiggle their fingers along with the words. Click here to learn more about the Kindermusik program.

The Cat in the Hat came to visit our classrooms and read a story to our students in celebration of Dr. Seuss’s birthday. He brought Thing 1 and Thing 2 too! The students were excited and many students couldn’t wait to give Cat in the Hat high fives and hugs!

Our students understand that our world comprises people from all parts of our planet and embrace others easily when they learn more about them. We enrich our curriculum with traditions from many cultures and religions throughout the year. Lunar New Year Our children learned about the Year of the “Bunny” this week. They tried moon cake, colored a Year of the Rabbit sheet, played Lunar New Year bingo, and scratched off their fortune! Black History Month At the youngest ages, children make inferences about their world through their senses—they hear everything and notice more than adults! Without thinking about it, children notice if a crayon box matches their skin tone or their dolls or action figures “look like them.” It may seem like a small gesture, but it’s significant for our children that we add skin-colored crayons in all our art rooms. This month, we will read “A Kids Book About Racism” (A Kids Book Company), a kid-friendly approach to this critical topic. Our children will learn about the contributions of famous Black people in society over the next few weeks. St. Valentine’s Day Love is in the air! We look forward to Valentine’s Day parties in all the classrooms on February 14th. We know how hard it can be for everyone to find a babysitter! We’re also offering our parents a date night on Friday night, February 10, 2023, from 6 p.m. to 10 p.m.! Cost: $40 per child or $60 per family. Sign-up here: https://www.signupgenius.com/go/10c094ca9aa2ea4fac52-parents#/.

Join us for a kindergarten open house on February 23 for all prospective kindergarten families—including current and new families interested in our school. Meet our kindergarten teacher and talk to our school director and other staff. We offer babysitting services in the same building, making it easier for parents to attend. If you have friends with young children who might be interested in our kindergarten, please invite them to join us!

Friday, February 10, 6 p.m. to 10 p.m.: Parent’s Date Night Tuesday, February 14: Valentine’s Day parties Tuesday, February 20: President’s Day (School Closed) Thursday, February 23: Kindergarten Open House

All Day Learning Centers has been a trailblazer for over five decades in early childhood development and care in Hillsborough. We have curated our curriculum to meet and exceed benchmarks for every stage of development and nurture each child’s social, emotional, and academic growth. Our qualified teaching staff created our curriculum, considering the type of support each new development stage needs. Click here to read more about how our children learn at different ages and stages.

We partner with the Dance Connection, a local Hillsborough dance studio run by choreographers, educators, and professional dancers, to bring dance to our children weekly. Mr. David and his team get our kids shimmying, shaking, and moving to the beat. Click here to see a video clip!

Our children love the Kindermusik Program we have incorporated into our curriculum. You can help your child develop the “steady beat” concept at all age levels through lap bounces, instrument play, and dancing. “Steady beat gives children the ability to walk effortlessly, speak expressively, and even regulate repeated motions such as riding a bicycle, brushing teeth, or dribbling a ball,” according to Kindermusik. While children move to the beat with their bodies instinctively, they learn to control their movements. Children following along or creating their own movement is essential to a child’s early development.

We are so happy to bring aboard Kindermusik, the internationally-known music curriculum that studies have shown can boost brain activity, language learning, movement, creativity, and social-emotional development. Our mission is to incorporate all the components that are time-tested and proven to promote early childhood development for all our students. Kindermusik is based on a music and movement program developed by educational experts in the 1960s and has benefits for all our students, including our infants.

We want to keep you informed so you always know what’s happening and coming up; please keep an eye out for our Apple Gazette news digest at the beginning of every month. We’ll feature all the latest news, photos, and upcoming events that are easy to access and view from a computer or a mobile phone. It’s easy to view by email, on ProCare, and our school website.

January 16: Martin Luther King Jr. Day (we will be learning about what he did during his time) January 23: Lunar New Year celebration February 14: Valentine’s Day parties February 20: Presidents Day (school is closed)

The last month of 2022 was exciting, featuring our student’s holiday concert, activities with our families, and a visit from Santa and the Hillsborough Fire Department. These events were a wonderful way to end our year, and we are grateful to start a beautiful new year with all our children and families. We will continue to feature all our news online, on ProCare, and on social media. Please follow us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AllDayLearningCenters and Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/alldaylearningcentersnj/.

The arts are a necessary component of our STEAM program (Science, Technology, Engineering, Art, and Math). Creativity is integral for sparking ingenuity and innovative thinking. An artist and specialized art educator designed the creative part of the program. Our art rooms are fully stocked with all the components for the highest quality arts program. We introduce students to the work of a famous artist each week. By standing on the shoulders of giants and discussing the masters, our teachers inspire our budding artists to look at the style and make their own unique masterpieces. Our young artists produce works based on the art from Keith Haring, Yayoi Kusama, and Claes Oldenburg. [Read More]

For over 50 years, All Day Learning Centers has been a pioneer in the Hillsborough community. Our robust curriculum nurtures children' social, emotional, and academic growth. It’s not a cookie-cutter curriculum; instead, our qualified teachers and staff combine the three popular preschool curriculums: the Creative Curriculum, Healthy Choices, and Kindness Curriculum. [Read More]