The Robert E. Simon Jr. Children's Center celebrated its 28th year, holding a community open house on Saturday, April 7, at their new location, 12005 Sunrise Valley Drive, Suite 30, Reston.

During the open house, guests toured the new facility's nine bright, open classrooms and playground. Children and adults enjoyed a craft and story time and celebrated Robert Simon's birthday with a cake and food donated by Reston Town Center’s Bartaco and Barcelona Restaurant and Wine Bar.

The "Simon Center" is a nonprofit created to meet the early childhood needs of children ages three months to five years (pre-K) in the community. The center first opened in January 1990 as part of the Reston Area Child Care Consortium. Licensed by the State of Virginia and accredited by the National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC) since 2000, the Simon Center offers year-round full-day, comprehensive programs for children with a low student-staff ratio. Special activities such as cultural music programs, creative art, Spanish instruction, yoga and more create a diversified learning environment.

Leila Kaszubinski is Assistant Director at the Simon Center. She spoke highly of the board of directors, staff, and the Simon Center community. "We are very lucky to have a volunteer parent-run Board of Directors that keeps the focus on the children and their needs while also supporting the staff. We have large classrooms so the children have more space to learn and now we are closer to the playground. During the Open House, it was a pleasure to see so many graduates coming back to support the community. We are a close-knit community and are in touch even after graduation," said Kaszubinski.

For more information about the Simon Center, visit www.simoncenter.org.