We’re immensely proud of our program, our excellent team, and the positive relationships we’ve formed with so many families. Our vision is to be recognized leaders in high quality early childhood education throughout the area, and to be able to make a positive and meaningful impact on the lives of as many families, children, and staff as we can. We’re thrilled your family is joining ours and look forward to getting to know you!
first circle learning centers | parent handbook | welcome
welcome
who we are
WELCOMING • We are an open-door program that warmly welcomes children, families and staff.
PROFESSIONAL • We are skilled early childhood professionals who pride ourselves on our high standards.
SAFE • Safety is at the heart of everything we do.
CARING • We are caring and nurturing in our actions, thoughts, and words.
RESPONSIVE • We actively listen and provide effective solutions—responsive communication is important to us.
FOUNDERS
First Circle was founded by Charlie Marcotty and Marcy Smith Lee in 1997. After a decade of working together in nonprofit educational administration, First Circle was an opportunity to continue their partnership, in a field where they could make a positive difference in the world. Marcy retired in 2022; Charlie is president of First Circle and is actively involved in the day-to-day management of the program.
Like Charlie and Marcy, many of our admin team have raised their children at First Circle and as working mothers, understand the challenges that busy families face. We’re not a large chain or franchise where decisions are made far away from the day-to-day program. Our admin team focuses on building relationships with children, families and staff, and take parent input and feedback seriously.
HISTORY
Idris, Inc., Idris II, Inc., Idris III, Inc., and Idris IV, Inc. are Massachusetts-based corporations doing business as First Circle Learning Centers. Idris is the Latin word for knowledge, wisdom, and experience. In 1997, Charlie and Marcy acquired Care-a-Lot Child Care Center and Lexington International Preschool in Lexington and named it First Circle.
In 2019, First Circle acquired the Kiddie Lodge in Framingham. Founded in 1955 in a large homestead built in the 1840s, the previous owners of the Kiddie Lodge had brought it to the highest attainable state quality level, QRIS 4. In 2021, First Circle acquired Hugs Plus in Stoughton, a high-quality program for 30 years. In 2023, First Circle acquired Chestnut Children’s Center in Needham, a program well known for its excellence for 27 years.
what we do
EDUCATE • Learning is at the heart of what we do. Our curriculum educates the whole child while respecting individual learning style and pace.
PLAY • We teach children through play because they learn best when active and engaged.
PARTNER • We partner with parents, staff, children, and the community to build trust and achieve shared goals.
SUPPORT • We support each person’s unique needs and goals with sensitivity and flexibility.
READY • Our program readies children for their next steps, preparing them for future success in school and life.
CONTINUOUS IMPROVEMENT
As an organization that believes passionately in education and development, First Circle is committed to continuously working to improve all aspects of our programs. We welcome feedback at any time from our families and staff, either through our regular surveys or in conversation with our administrative staff. If you have an improvement you’d like to suggest, please let us know!
what we value
First Circle is based on our core values of respect, integrity, growth, flexibility, and standards of excellence. We incorporate our values into every policy, procedure, relationship, and communication. We’re very proud of our program, our excellent team, and the warm and friendly community we’ve built. Most of all, we’re greatly honored to have been entrusted with preparing thousands of children for success in school and in life, and allowed to share in the joy of helping them learn, grow, and thrive.
RESPECT • We believe in respecting everyone’s abilities, limits, feelings, values, backgrounds, perspectives, and privacy.
INTEGRITY • We value integrity—acting in an ethical, fair, and transparent manner.
GROWTH • We believe that growth is a lifelong journey, and that learning from challenges helps achieve our greatest potential.
FLEXIBILITY • We value flexibility, creating options in our policies and practices to support our families and staff.
EXCELLENCE • We value excellence and going above and beyond the highest standards in everything we do.
EQUAL OPPORTUNITY + NON-DISCRIMINATION
As part of the First Circle’s guiding philosophy, we welcome and encourage diversity, multiculturalism and anti-bias. Both in our student body and our staff, First Circle does not discriminate against anyone due to creed, race, gender, religion, national origin, ancestry, age, political beliefs, sexual or gender identity, disability, genetic predisposition, marital status or any other characteristic protected by federal, state or local laws.
We seek to foster a respectful environment among our staff and the children, where harassment and intolerance are not allowed, and where differences in background, cultures, and abilities are celebrated.