Contact Us
YMCA of Greater Miami
Association Office
1200 NW 78 Avenue,
Suite 200
Miami, FL 33126
305-357-4000
www.ymcamiami.org
YMCA of Greater Miami
Children Services
1200 NW 78 Avenue,
Suite 200
Miami, FL 33126
305-357-6622
South Dade Family Branch
9355 SW 134 Street
Miami, FL 33176
305-254-0310
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Homestead Family Branch
1034 NE 8th Street
Miami, FL 33030
305-248-5189
Village of Allapattah
Family Branch
2370 NW 17 Avenue
Miami, FL 33142
305-635-9622
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Strong Kids Campaign: Donate Now!
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We build strong kids, strong families and strong communities.
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Paula Polo (left) and husband Enzo Alzerreca (right) with children Montserrat (left) and Felipe (right) at the Homestead Family YMCA Preschool.  | |
According to the National Association of Child Care Resource and Referral Agencies (NACCRRA), there are over 11 million
children under the age of 5 throughout the United States who need care and
schooling while their parents are at work. NACCRRA also indicates research on the brain shows the first
years of life are crucial for intellectual, social and overall development with
80 percent of the brain developing by age 3.
At the YMCA, preschool
is so much more than just a daycare center. It is a place to grow. A place
where a child's social, emotional, cognitive, language and physical development
are continually nourished and enriched through a caring, knowledgeable staff and the implementation of the Creative Curriculum. YMCA Preschool is a place
where a young mind can make great leaps and a child's self-esteem can soar.
For
Paula Polo, mother of Montserrat Alzerreca, 6, and Felipe Alzerreca, 2, the
Homestead Family YMCA Preschool has been a true blessing. Montserrat attended the preschool program
from 2007 until last year when she aged out of the
program. Little Felipe recently began
his journey through the program in August of 2009.
"For
me, YMCA Preschool is the best preschool program out there," said Paula. "The teachers are so well prepared and so
well suited to take good care of the children. During her first week at the program, my daughter Montserrat did not
want to leave the facility to come home, and that really caught my attention."
According
to Paula, the classrooms at the Homestead Family YMCA preschool are filled with
educational toys, a friendly atmosphere and staff members that are always
willing to help no matter what the circumstance. The staff is deeply concerned with the individual
development of every child in the program, she adds. "They are people who know how to listen," she said.
"I
think the program has really helped my children learn how to socialize with
other kids early on," said Paula. "My daughter also came out of the program very well prepared in
reading and writing, and has already been on the Honor Roll several times since
beginning elementary school."
The United States is
very different from other countries (Paula is from Colombia, and her husband Enzo from
Chile) where it is more customary to have children playing outside with neighbors
and friends, she explains. The educational
system in the United States is also very different, Paula said, and the staff
at the Homestead Family YMCA has proved tremendously helpful in guiding her on
Montserrat and Felipe's educational paths.
"I have had a wonderful
experience with the Homestead Family YMCA, and have already recommended it to
some of the parents at my daughter's school who also have preschool-age
children," said Paula. "Other moms have
also been very impressed."
Not
all children are fortunate enough to have the means to pay for a quality
preschool program. That is why we offer financial assistance to families in need. With your help, we can ensure that more
children are able to reap the early developmental benefits of our program.
Please give to the Strong Kid's Campaign which provides scholarships so that no child is ever turned
away for inability to pay.
Donate Now. Every dollar counts!
Missed our last e-mail. Read it here.
Note: Interview with Paula Polo was translated from Spanish to English.
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