Over 130 years ago a group of philanthropic women gathered in Passaic and saw a need for quality care for the children of immigrant mill workers. The school is one of New Jersey’s oldest non-profit early childhood education centers. Our red brick building has stood on the same corner and provided a warm learning environment for new American families since 1905 when the ladies of Passaic raised the money to build it.

At that time the building echoed with a mix of Southern, Central, and Eastern European words and accents from countries such as Italy, Germany, Poland, Russia, Ukraine, Austria-Hungary, and points beyond. In the 1950’s they came from the southern United States and Puerto Rico. From the 1980s forward, the Spanish accents were from Central America, South America, and Mexico. The families have always come looking for better lives. Our school provides the first rung on the ladder of success for their children.

The Center’s Mission is to provide outstanding early childhood education, build child and family resilience, and transform lives by holistically nurturing the development of young children.

Using this holistic approach, we create a safe haven and provide the tools needed to pave the way towards a bright future.

We envision a community where all children have the resilience needed to overcome everyday challenges and families are well prepared to guide them into being the future leaders of the world. 

Child-Centered Excellence

Holistic Development

Family Partnership

Resilience Building

Inclusive Support for All Learners

Safe, Nurturing Environment

Professional Integrity & Expertise