January 16th was a monumental day for Peake Childhood Center as we celebrated our expansion with a ribbon-cutting ceremony at our Newport News campus. The event was filled with excitement as local leaders, community partners, donors, staff, and supporters gathered to witness the official opening. The day began with remarks from several City of Newport News officials, Peake’s Executive Director, and the President of Virginia Peninsula Community College.
“This facility represents more than just a place of learning,” said Newport News Mayor Phillip Jones. “It is a commitment to ensuring all children, regardless of their background, are ready to succeed when they begin school. We know high-quality early education leads to long-term success, and this center is a step forward in empowering families and strengthening our community.”
The project is a collaboration between the City of Newport News, Peake Childhood Center, and Virginia Peninsula Community College (VPCC). Within the facility, Peake will serve 200 children, ages 6 weeks to five years, providing high quality educational experiences at an affordable cost for families. Simultaneously, VPCC will hold their early childhood educator classes under the same roof so their teachers can complete observations and internships in Peake classrooms.
“This center addresses a critical community need: parents desperately seeking quality childcare they can afford,” said Dr. Jennifer Parish, Executive Director of Peake Childhood Center. “Our Hampton center has a waitlist of hundreds of families that we simply cannot accommodate. This new location will not only expand availability in a state-of-the-art center, it also will be a model for future centers because of the partnership between the City of Newport News, Virginia Peninsula Community College, and Peake Childhood Center. Through this collaboration, we’re building something that will make a meaningful difference in the lives of local families for years to come.”
Following the ceremony, guests were invited to tour the new building, which features bright, welcoming classrooms, a library, gross motor skills room, and outdoor play spaces designed to inspire exploration and creativity. The facility has been carefully designed to foster a love of learning while ensuring children feel safe and nurtured.
The opening of the second campus is due in part to the unwavering support from our donors, volunteers, and community partners. Their generosity has made this dream a reality. It is through this collective effort that Peake can continue to fulfill our mission of ensuring every child has access to a strong educational foundation.
As we look ahead, we are filled with hope and excitement for the future. This new campus will allow Peake to serve even more families, providing children with the tools they need to succeed academically, socially, and emotionally.
