"Our favorite thing about Bright Start is that our son seems genuinely happy to go there every day. All of the teachers are always cheerful and friendly and the environment seems really great for a little kid to play and learn."
- Brian L
"Our favorite thing about Bright Start is that our son seems genuinely happy to go there every day. All of the teachers are always cheerful and friendly and the environment seems really great for a little kid to play and learn."
- Brian L
Preschool & Daycare Serving Washington, DC
Are you wanting to make a difference in a child's life? Then we want you to join our team!
We are SAFE and OPEN !
We are OPEN and provide Phenomenal Safe and fun learning environment for children ages 6 weeks to 5 years old.
Will have virtual Zoom Tours from 9:30 A.M. – 3:30 P.M. Effective May 18.
Bright Start Earlycare & Preschool will implement safety guidelines
that are consistent with local, state, and federal regulations.
News & Announcements
Bright Start Early Care and Preschool Now Offering Family Meals Service!
Our very own on-site Chef prepares diverse, healthy, natural meals for our Bright Start families, as well as the community. Time is precious, gain yours back by leaving the cooking to Bright Start with a meal service that you can trust. A’La Carte Meals and Monthly Meal Subscriptions available.
New Location - Bright Start NOMA Coming Soon
A Certified Green Environment For Good Health
Your child’s health comes first with Eco-Healthy child-care certified spaces where the air, water, and materials your child comes into contact with are safe and toxin-free. Learning flourishes in a safe, healthy environment that gives you peace of mind.
The Zono Sanitization Cabinet Ensures Your
Child Is Healthy
This state-of-the-art sanitization cabinet will thoroughly disinfect clothes, toys, trays, crayons, and more. Thorough sanitization means your child is safe from highly contagious illnesses, germs, and viruses.
A True Family Atmosphere, Your Child’s Home-Away-From-Home
Experience a true home-like feel, where every child knows every other child’s name. Kids are hugged and are greeted by name by all the teachers, as are their parents and grandparents too.
A Culturally Diverse and Inclusive Environment
It’s a beautiful thing to witness friends of all races and nationalities playing together. They continuously learn about each other, and the many cultures that make up our society. Your child’s sense of belonging is naturally enhanced, they embrace their own unique heritage, and they learn about the background of others.
Children are exposed to different cultures and backgrounds through activities such as:
- Viewing picture books that portray different nationalities
- Respecting different traditions such as Cinco de Mayo
- Learning about different races, for example, when learning about Black History Month
- Center-wide International Day celebrations with lively displays of traditional dress, delicious food, ethnic music, and of course, many different languages
Trilingual Early Care in English, Spanish and French
Learning more than one language boosts brain development and is a real-life skill best started young. Your child receives interactive, age-appropriate French enrichment classes twice a week and learns Spanish every day so that they have a basis for fluency in 3 languages.
A Reputation for Exceptional Care
“My daughter Celine started to attend Bright Start in the infant room when she was almost 6 months old. The care she received was top notch. I went to work every day feeling like she was safe and secure, well-kept and well-fed. She’s now in the toddler room, thriving under the care of a wonderful set of new teachers.”
-Tamar K.
Child-Directed Learning, with Expert, Loving Guidance
Whether it be moving a book into a corner for a quiet moment, or moving blocks to the reading area for building, your child can happily explore their own interests. This fluid, exploratory, child-led learning style is less disruptive and boosts your child’s natural curiosity.
Other benefits of giving the children the freedom to explore, with gentle guidance, are:
- expanding their executive functions
- Giving them the necessary feedback to develop on what they are thinking and doing
- Giving them the right information at the right time
- Teaching them how to think, not what to think
Enrichment Program Including Yoga, Soccer, Music, Dance, and Drama
Kids absolutely love all the music and dance throughout their day, like Zumbini: our all-levels baby Zumba! Visiting instructors, experts in their fields, come in and teach specialty classes on-site.
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Enrichment opportunities taught in-house by specialized instructors include:
- Physical Education such as weekly Yoga and Soccer
- Harambee drumming by Baba Ras d
- Drama with Wolf Trap, a premier Drama Institution, whose resident artist brings stories alive for children
- Monthly Librarian visits for Storytime
Awarded the NAC Accreditation for Excellence
Achieving this accreditation means we have demonstrated exceptional performance in the field of Early Childhood Education. This quality improvement system, the NAC, recognizes excellence. We are proud to have been awarded this accreditation.
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Natural, Fresh, Organic Food, Prepared From Scratch By a Chef
Your child enjoys gourmet food prepared by our on-site chef every day. A Bright Start parent boasts: “…It has not only helped to alleviate a task we have to take care of at home, but, more importantly, it has introduced and made a norm for our children a wide-variety of food options, from different beans and grains, to tofu and every fruit and vegetable you could imagine” (Kristen R.). Introducing your child to a variety of delicious meals, including every fruit and vegetable you can imagine, starts them off with a very healthy relationship. We believe all children deserve the very best in nutrition and health, and every parent deserves a break and assurance!
Amazing Astroturf Outdoor Play Area
Our on-site Astroturf playground will quickly become your child’s favorite place to play. Whether it’s going down the slide or the refreshing “Summer Splash” play, when we turn our playground into a beach scene – complete with mats, beach balls, sand, water, and umbrellas – there is no other like it in the city.
Secure Entry System for Your Child’s Safety
Your child’s safety is our top priority. Only authorized persons enter the building, using their own unique pin number, in our secure entry system. Any other person admitted and accompanied by staff can be followed by state-of-the-art video surveillance.
Livestream Webcam So You Can Check-In at Any Time
“ …They have a video camera that you can check in on–I trust the caretakers but it’s nice to know there’s that accountability. I check in every so often when I miss my little guy and it’s great, I’ll catch his caretakers singing and dancing, being silly and genuinely warm and loving with the little ones. ..” – Elizabeth T.
Parent Communication App Keeps You Up-to-Date
See your child’s daily activities, in pictures and videos, through our brilliant Preschool2me app. Diapers, bottles, meals, naps and activities are all entered, as well as reminders for supplies and upcoming events. You’ll always know what’s happening in your child’s day.
Community Involvement with Gardening, In-House Visitors, and More
City Blossoms, our school gardening program, allows your little one to tend to herb and veggie gardens. Specialty in-house visitors, such as dental health experts, come in and talk about health and wellness. We are community partners with a local farmer’s market so that we live and teach our essential sense of community.
what our parents have to say
"The care she received was top notch"
My daughter Celine started to attend Bright Start in the infant room when she was almost 6 months old. The care she received was top notch. I went to work every day feeling like she was safe and secure, well-kept and well fed. She’s now in the toddler room, thriving under the care of a wonderful set of new teachers.
- Tamar K.
"She is growing/ developing very well with your help. "
Overall couldn’t be happier with Bright Start. Cora is excited to go to school every day. She is growing/ developing very well with your help. I feel safe and secure leaving her in your hands.
- Alex T.
"They’ve learned a lot from their teachers"
As a parent I am very much amazed with what Bright Start provided my children. They helped my children developed their skills and they’ve learned a lot from their teachers. As an employee at Bright Start, I am very much happy because I have wonderful Director who understands the needs of her staff. She is very much supportive. She helps us grow in our career. I highly recommend Bright Start to all families and friends.
- Omelia M.
"Bright Start teachers gave them the foundation they needed for school"
All three of our kids have been cared for by Bright Start. The caretakers here are wonderful and make this place truly special -- and feel like family. And as my kids got older, Bright Start teachers gave them the foundation they needed for school.
- Heidi G
"The staff are unbelievably caring"
My son’s been going to Bright Start since he was 3 months old. The staff are unbelievably caring; the food is better than anything I’m taking to lunch; the rooms are clean; and the environment is super supportive. My son is thriving, and we couldn’t be happier.
- Susan V.
"Warm, happy and fun-loving environment"
Warm, happy and fun-loving environment - couldn’t have asked for more. Love all the activities available. Yoga, soccer, drums...you name it! Thanks Bright Start for making the transition to daycare so easy for us (including all the healthy meals! one less thing to think about...). Knowing our daughter is in great hands and having a blast makes the day all the better.
- Analisa B
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MARCIA ST. HILAIRE FINN
Managing Owner
Education:
Bachelor of Science in Nursing/Director Certificate
Work Experience:
Registered Nurse for 25+ years
Managing Owner of Bright Start Bilingual Center for 17+ years
Motto: “Embrace every child and foster their uniqueness“
Infant
Pooh Nursery
0 - 12 Months
Younger Toddler
Wobbler
13 - 18 months
older Toddler
Discovery
2-3 year olds – 19-24 months
Preschool
Innovators
2-3 year olds – 19-24 months
YOUNG
preschool
Explorers
24-35 months
Before & After School
3-8 years
Summer Camp
3-12 years
