445 Washington Street, Wellesley, Massachusetts 02482. United States
CALL (781) 328-1616
OUR OWNER
LORRAINE CRONIN
Background
The care of children has been Lorraine's lifelong passion; she has been taking care of children since she was a teenager. Twenty years ago, she began her career as a professional nanny and has never looked back; eighteen years ago she arrived in Wellesley to care for two children and two years later she began working for a family with four amazing children, where she remained for fourteen happy years. Lorraine now finds herself happily entrenched, both living and working in town!
Throughout her journey Lorraine has always dreamed of owning an Infant Toddler Childcare Center; somewhere she could bring her wealth of experience, learning of and passion for childcare to other children. Lorraine grasped the opportunity to do so as soon as it presented itself earlier this year and so Scalliwags was born.
Many people ask Lorraine what the name Scalliwags means and where it comes from. The word is used as a term of endearment in Ireland (from where Lorraine was born and raised) for children who are confident, fun, vivacious, mischievous and curious and it came to her while she was out walking one morning along Brook Path. Scalliwags perfectly captures the essence of the experience that Lorraine envisages for the children in her center!
Vision and values
Lorraine has a strong set of core principles for the Scalliwags center. She is committed to offering an exemplary childcare experience to each child that is entrusted to Scalliwags' care. This strong commitment has informed the approach taken to the creation of the Scalliwags physical environment; the employment of the Scalliwags learning and support staff; the adoption of the Scalliwags emergent/play-based curriculum and the creation and development of valuable relationships with parents and children. Lorraine wants to ensure that the Scalliwags experience is and remains exceptional.
Lorraine lives in Wellesley with her husband Denis and her son Conor.
Please do not hesitate to contact Lorraine directly if there is anything that you wish to discuss with her about Scalliwags and your child.
OUR AMAZING TEACHERS
AYLA GOSSELIN, Teacher
Qualifications:
Ayla is EEC certified in Infant, Toddler, and Preschool classrooms. Graduated from Johnson and Wales University with a BA in Criminal Justice. Related course studies taken included psychology and sociology such as deviant behaviors and abnormal psychology.
Experience:
Working aside children and young adolescents through internships and outreach programs (such as the R.I coalition for the Homeless). While serving in the USAF I had the privilege to do community work with trauma shelters. (Of ages infant to preschool who suffered through abuse or neglect). Also, worked as an ABA therapist for children with Autism.
Philosophy:
Believes in a nurturing, creative, and positive environment. Creating a diverse amongst all walks of life through symbolic play and trust. Heavily believes every child is different and each child should have all the opportunities to reach their goals. Building self confidence so they may be the strongest them they can be. Nothing is impossible we are all on different paths.
KATELYN LEONARDO, Teacher
Qualifications:
Katelyn has her EEC Certification in Infant/Toddler and Preschool. She started caring for children when she was 16 years old at Joseph Case High School in Swansea, Ma where she graduated from in 2012. They had their very own preschool program, Case’s Little Faces, and that is where Katelyn discovered how much she loves working with children. She took a few years off from teaching to pursue other careers but found that her true passion was teaching and has been doing so for the last four years. Katelyn gets re-certified in CPR and First Aid annually.
Experience:
Katelyn started off as a Teaching Assistant in an infant classroom before getting certified. Once she was an EEC certified teacher, she wound up being the teacher in that classroom for over two years. Since then she has also worked in Toddler and Preschool classrooms.
Philosophy:
Katelyn’s favorite part of teaching is being able to watch children as they progress through their developmental milestones. She is committed in providing a safe, happy, and nurturing environment for children to play, explore, and discover. She believes each child is unique and all children can learn whatever the circumstances. In her classroom she focuses on physical development, cognitive development, language/literacy, and sensory play. Katelyn is excited to be apart of the Scalliwags family and knows she will learn just as much from each child as they will from her, maybe even more!
Katelyn currently lives in Taunton with her husband, David and their dog, Bailey.