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Long-Awaited Daycare Center Opens in Astoria, Enrollment is Now Open

High Five Daycare has opened an Astoria center at 23-81 21st Street

Nov. 7, 2022 By Max Murray

The owners of High Five Daycare in Sunnyside have opened their long-awaited Astoria location.

The Astoria center, founded by Jonathan Li, is located at 23-81 21st street and it provides local families with quality childcare in a neighborhood known for a shortage of top-tier providers and long wait lists.

Li, the executive director, and the staff at High Five’s new facility come with years of experience and a history of providing quality care. The company operates two other centers—one in Sunnyside and the other in Woodside.

The 21st Street center is located near Astoria Park in a brand-new space that provides a tranquil learning environment. The school also has an outdoor play area for children to engage in gross motor activity skills.

The center serves children from 12 months to 4 years with private care and 3K services.

A classroom at High Five Daycare in Astoria

High Five offers private full-time and part-time care between the hours of 8:30 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. The center also provides parents with the option of early drop off and extended day pick up for working parents. The staff also offers healthy and nutritious menus, served daily. Stroller parking is also available.

Children enrolled in the private 2s program get priority for the free 3k program that runs from 8:30 a.m. – 2:50 p.m. Early drop-off and extended day options for 3K students include rigorous after school options that include STEM, art, and language courses.

The students who have already enrolled at the center come from a variety of ethnic backgrounds.

“Our school already reflects the culturally diverse Astoria neighborhood with students from Brazil, Mexico, France, Italy, and Canada,” said Jessica Alonso, the school’s education director.

The center implements a Reggio Emilia inspired Emergent and Inquiry based approach to learning that follows the children’s interest and reflects their culture and community.

This progressive approach changes the roles of teachers and students. Teachers become researchers, observers, and facilitators as they explore along with children, and assist children in taking ownership of their learning and constructing their own knowledge.

“Our teachers facilitate and create a space where the children can explore materials and celebrate the process rather than the result,” Alonso said. “This approach highlights multi-sensory explorations, loose parts, open-ended natural materials, and various forms of expression including process art shaping children to become problem solvers, critical thinkers and leaders in our community.”

For more information on High Five Daycare or to enroll a child, please click here.

A classroom at High Five Daycare in Astoria

High Five Daycare in Astoria

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