Discovery Years opens fourth early childhood education center

NEWTON - In 1991, Marie and Peter Loukens opened their first early childhood education center in Hamburg on Route 23. Fifteen years later, they have now opened their fourth Discovery Years in Newton on Route 94, in front of Newton Memorial Hospital. The Sept. 5 ribbon cutting ceremony was followed by a reception given in conjunction with the hospital. The opening was attended by employees of Newton Memorial Hospital and representatives of Sussex Bank and Northwest New Jersey Community Action Program. Discovery Years works in conjunction with them as well as other financial assistant programs to help working families handle the burden of daycare costs. The new facility was designed by Jay Ventresca, the center’s director. Ventresca and his wife, Nicole Ventresca, have been working for the Loukins for 13 years. Prior to running the Newton facility, he was in charge of the second facility in Hamburg, on route 517. Nicole is the director for the Vernon center. Both Ventresca and his wife have masters degrees in Early Childhood Education. The center has many unique features. All the classrooms have windows that see from one room into the next. This visibility through the classrooms allows teachers to call for backup if they need it. Each room also has an intercom in it, as does the director’s office and the front door, for easy communication throughout the school. The intercom at the front door is for visitors to request entry, as all the doors to get into the center are locked at all times. Parents and staff each have their own individual access codes, though, so they can let themselves in. Adding her own input to her husband’s designs, Nicole has designed a “high chair” that is actually inside the counter, taking up much less room than similar tables, but with the same sturdiness and cleaning convenience. With hours that start at 6:30 a.m. and end at 8:30 p.m., the center is not just for your usual 9 - 5 parents, but hospital employees and commuting parents as well. One hospital employee, Jessica Frizzell, was there with her 20-month-old son, Memphis. She is thrilled to have such a beautiful, caring environment for her son to attend so close to her job. As soon as I saw it, I said, He has to go here. She called her husband, and that night went back to see it with him. Jay stayed late that night to give us the tour. Everyone here is great. Memphis’ first day was a rough one, with tears in his eyes, Frizzell left and went off to work. “Jay called me at work soon after to let me know that Memphis had stopped crying 30 seconds after I left. He said he didn’t want me to worry about it all day.” “The school has two playgrounds - one for the older children, and one for children up to 2 1/2 years old - so the youngsters don’t get trampled on by the big kids,” explains Nicole Ventresca. With two four-year-old rooms, two infant rooms, two toddler rooms, the recreation room for older kids and it’s own gym, this Discovery Years has plenty of room for all its children. They are licensed for kids ages six weeks to 12 years, have a preschool program, before and after school care, as well as a summer camp program. Having seen his design go from concept to reality, Ventresca said, “I couldn’t be happier about it.”