John Jay to offer an early childhood course

Two new daycare facilities are planned to open in Portland.

A local educational outlet is seeking to prepare staff for job opportunities that will come with them.

John Jay Center for Learning has announced that it will offer an early childhood education course beginning in January.

John Jay recently announced that it will offer Intro to Early Childhood Education (ECED 100) beginning next month. The entry level course is designed for early care and education teachers. It will offer an overview of the history, theory and foundations of childhood education as well as programs, curriculum and services for young children.

The class will run from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. from Jan. 19 through March 8. It requires work on campus and online.

Registration is currently open for the course. Those interested can sign up at John Jay Center for Learning or schedule an appointment with the Ivy Tech advisor by calling (260) 729-5525. The advisor is scheduled to be at John Jay on Wednesday.

The early childhood education course is being offered as The Portland Foundation and Pioneer Packaging are working toward opening early childhood education and daycare facilities in Portland.

The Portland Foundation is partnering with Westminster Preschools of Marion on Jay County Early Learning Center. To be located in the former Judge Haynes Elementary School on the west side of Portland, it is expected to serve 150 children from ages birth through 5. The target is to open the new facility in August.

Pioneer Warehousing is also in the midst of a $1 million project to construct an 8,100-square-foot child care facility at the north end of Wayne Street in Portland. When it opens, the facility is expected to serve 48 children.