Pete’s Place Early Childhood Education Center

Pete’s Place is a fulltime, fully licensed child care facility owned and operated by St. Peter’s Health.

About Pete’s Place

The original Pete’s Place center was founded in 1986 as the first employer-operated childcare center in Helena at an on-site location near the Regional Medical Center. In August 2022, St. Peter’s added a second facility, Pete’s Place North. In August 2024, St. Peter’s closed both facilities and both Pete’s Place centers moved into a former elementary school located near the Regional Medical Center, greatly expanding their capacity. Pete’s Place accepts children of St. Peter’s employees on a first priority basis and serves three primary age groups: infants, toddlers and preschoolers.

Learning and play

Pete’s Place’s mission is to provide quality, compassionate child care that meets the developmental needs of the children in a safe, fun and loving environment. Each day includes developmentally-appropriate learning and play that helps prepare children for future success in life. Daily schedules vary by age and location, but include:

Age-appropriate play and rest
Arts, reading, music and more
Creative outdoor play

Our facility

Fully licensed through the State of Montana
Best Beginnings STARS to Quality Program Level 4
Child and Adult Care Food Program participant

Pete’s Place has 11 classrooms, with ages ranging from 0 – preschool. The classrooms are named after Montana wildlife animals, and include names such as the “Woodchuck Room,” “Moose Room,” “Wolf Pup Room” and “Bobcat Room”. The facility has two renovated wings; the upper serving ages 0 – 2, the lower serving ages 3 – 5.

Infant, toddler and preschool rooms follow developmentally appropriate practices established by the National Association for the Education of Young Children. Preschool rooms follow Creative Curriculum.

The secure Class Dojo app is available to parents, who can sign-up to see pictures, videos and messages from teachers throughout the day.

Outdoor play is an important extension of the learning environment, and each wing has its own outdoor play area.

All preschool classes spend creative and healthy time outside every day, so long as the temperature is above 0 degrees with wind chill and the air quality is not unhealthy. Their outdoor play area is filled with many age-appropriate items and structures, giving numerous opportunities for gross motor and dramatic play.

The infants and toddlers enjoy their own outdoor fenced play areas, separated by a fence. Both areas include several opportunities for gross motor play, with multiple age-appropriate climbing structures as well as a large sandbox. All toys and equipment are scaled to size. Toddlers have many opportunities to be active explorers, going outside every day unless the temperature is below 20 degrees.

Creative Curriculum by Teaching Strategies Inc., Mother Goose Time and Montana Early Learning Guidelines guide all lesson plans and activities. Each day includes both teacher-organized and child-initiated activities, indoor and outdoor activities, active and quiet periods and group and individual play. The daily activities are designed to provide appropriate experiences in early childhood development areas of social development, cognitive development, language skills, physical development and emotional development.

This center provides nutritious breakfast, lunch and snacks.

Our staff

Early Childhood Lead Teachers lead most classrooms, several also having an Early Childhood Assistant Teacher.

Early Childhood Lead Teachers must meet the minimum requirements:

Current national Child Development Associate (CDA) credential or Associate Degree in Early Childhood preferred
Minimum of 1,000 hours working in an Early Childhood setting
60 hours of approved training for Early Childhood Education
AHA Pediatric First Aid and Infant, Child and Adult CPR certified
Annual 16 hours of approved training
Preferred required training from Child Care Licensing and STARS to Quality to our current Level

Early Childhood Assistant Teachers must meet the minimum requirements:

High School Diploma or GED preferred
Must be at least 16 years old
AHA Pediatric First Aid and CPR certified
Annual 16 hours of approved training

Enrollment

Pete’s Place currently accepts children of St. Peter’s staff. If you are a St. Peter’s employee, please visit the People Hub employee intranet for more information or to join the waiting list.