President Brodhead is assisted in the ribbon-cutting ceremony for The Little School at Duke by Christa Nevins and her children, left, and Jennifer Dock and her children, right. Nevins and Dock are co-owners of The Little School at Hillsborough. Photo by Marsha A. Green.

Durham, NC - Duke President Richard H. Brodhead on Thursday marked the opening of Duke's newest on-site childcare center by cutting a bright red ribbon with oversized scissors as young children and parents watched with delight.  

The opening of The Little School at Duke, which will welcome its new community for the first day of school on Sept. 4, marks a significant expansion of services in support of Duke's faculty, staff, graduate students and their families. The school will serve up to 159 children from 3 months to 6 years old, more than doubling on-site childcare spaces for children of the Duke community. 

"We understand that one of the single most important things that can help all families on this campus is access to quality childcare," Brodhead said. "Being a parent is one of the great fulfillments of live, but when this joyous event happens, your life gets really complicated without an excellent place for your child to be in good hands while you work."

The new center is managed by The Little School of Hillsborough, which also continues its flagship childcare center in Hillsborough.

"We are delighted to be part of Duke's commitment to quality childcare," said Christa Nevins, co-owner of The Little School of Hillsborough. 

As soon as Brodhead sliced the ribbon, parents and children attending the open house streamed in to the building to visit new classrooms and meet teachers and classmates.

It was the second visit for Sunshine Hillygus, a Duke faculty member in the Department of Political Science. Her son, Jake, will attend the school. "We had a 4- and 5-year-old class gathering a week ago and have already set up a facebook page," she said. 

Hillygus enrolled her son at The Little School at Duke because she said she heard excellent remarks about the warm, creative environment at the school's Hillsborough location. "To have access to this quality of care at Duke is great," Hillygus said. "Jake can't wait to start."

The school has openings in all age groups. Visit the Human Resources website for more information about childcare resources at Duke.