120th Anniversary
CLC opened its doors in 1902 as Stamford Day Nursery. It was founded as part of the Settlement House Movement and was run by ‘women of manor houses’ to provide child care services to immigrants (influx from Ireland).
During World War II, a second center was opened to accommodate working mothers in the defense industry. In 1965, the Stamford Head Start Program began serving families and in 1969, the Stamford Day Care Program began with a grant from the City of Stamford as part of the state funded day care center initiative that focused on working poor families.
In 1972, the agency changed its name to Child Care Center of Stamford. Inc. and the following year moved the headquarters to the current location at 64 Palmers Hill Road.
In October, 1997, the School Readiness Program began with 96 children at Stark School, Coretta King, Chester Addison and Yerwood Day Care Centers and in October, 1998 the Early Head Start Program opened.
In January, 1999 the Hillandale Child Development Center opened with 350 slots. In September, 1999, School Readiness opened in the Stillmeadow Elementary School.
In May, 2002 Mayor Dannel Malloy announced an agency name change to Childcare Learning Centers. Then in 2016, the name was changed to Children’s Learning Centers.
CLC’s History in Photos
On October 26, 1973, CLC broke ground on our Palmers Hill location which replaced our facility at 177 Broad Street! Here, Jeanne Ellis supervised some of the children at the groundbreaking.
Former CT Governor Dannel Malloy reading to students at CLC in 2004 when he was Mayor of Stamford!
In 2016 our students took a field trip to the Bruce Museum with our friends from Edgehill!
In 1977, children at what was then Child Care Center posed on a new treehouse built by students J.M. Wright Technical High School!
The Nursery House at 163 Greyrock Place during the 1926-1927 school year!
Potluck Supper!
1973
1972 – 1973 school year
1935 – 1936 school year
Spring playtime outdoors in 1996!
Walking outside in 1996!
1936 – 1937 school year!
Summer 2013 at CLC
The toothbrush drill for the older kids at Stamford Day Nursery during the 1926-1927 school year!
Field trip to Stew Leonard’s!
1935-1936 school year at Stamford Day Nursery!
The babies at Stamford Day Nursery during the 1931-1932 school year enjoying gifted toys!
Students wearing dresses they made themselves during the 1931-1932 school year!
Fall of the 2021 – 2022 school year!
August 1972
1972 – 1973 school year
The children’s hard work during the Stamford Day Nursery 1931-1932 school year!
1973
Playgroung time, 1972-1973 school year
Stamford Day Nursery Illustration, 1931-1932 school year
1972-1973 class photo
1996
1972-1973 school year
On the playground, 1924
Parents, children & teachers, 1972-1973 school year
Lunchtime, 1996
August 1972
Naptime, 1931-1932
Woodworking, 1972-1973
CLC Champions
We are recognizing a CLC Champion each month who has helped to bring us to where we are today!
December CLC Champion!
The Rotary Club is an important partner and donor, providing grants to support critical operating needs.
Over the past 5 years, The Rotary Club of Stamford has generously provided thousands of winter coats for CLC children in need. Rotary donated 400 winter coats valued at approximately $8,800 in 2022 alone! Rotarians order, sort and label the coats to prepare them for distribution to CLC’s eight locations.
“I have worked in higher education for many years and am now involved at the “front end” of the formal educational continuum,
the beginning. The significant work of the CLC staff, including the simultaneous education of parents, the importance of emotional development, and the dedication of its teachers all combine to
offer an impressive early childhood learning experience for our preschoolers. I am happy to engage with and support
such excellence!”
Dr. Sharon J. White
Former UConn Stamford Director
Educational Consultant
Chair, CLC Leadership Council
Thank you to Marsha for her years of support!
Pitney Bowes has been one of CLC’s most steadfast supporters for decades. Over the years, Pitney Bowes has provided an important voice for early childhood education, their senior team members have served as board chairs and on board committees, and hundreds of Pitney Bowes employees have volunteered to support special projects such as kindergarten backpacks, STEAM education enrichment efforts, and CLC Reading Heroes!
Significantly, the Pitney Bowes Foundation has provided consistent financial support for key programs, including its most recent $100,000 grant for CLC’s Head Start Extended Day program.
CLC relies on donations and volunteers to help fulfill our mission and we’re especially grateful for the decades-long commitment that Pitney Bowes leadership and employees have made to CLC.
We’re proud to honor Pitney Bowes and its employees as our September CLC
Mary Catherine Herbert has been with CLC for 42 years and teaches at CLC William Pitt.
January’s CLC Champion is Jane Norgren! Jane served as Executive Director of CLC for more than 20 years. During that time, she was instrumental in driving quality programming and expansion.
With so many wonderful memories of her time at CLC, Jane says she can’t possibly pick a favorite. But she says, “I always LOVED when the children performed: holidays, annual meetings, galas, etc. Swiss Bank employees once gave Palmers Hill a circus for a day, complete with animals, streamers, clowns, music and carriage rides! Even the groundbreaking for William Pitt was terrific! I also could have jumped with joy when the Board backed me in expansion and building alterations! City involvement was always prominent in these endeavors.”
Thank you Jane for your dedication to CLC!
120 Readers
