“From then to now, just watching her grow constantly. It’s our biggest happiness because she loves waking up for school. She loves coming to the Center. She loves everything. Honestly. I love the fact that she loves coming to school.”
– Armon Harris, parent
“We grow together, we learn together, we explore together,” explains Giselle Rice, a teacher in the infant/toddler room at the Head Start Program at Metropolitan’s Learning and Wellness Center. “Without support, how do we have development, and without development, how do we have a future? Because our future is the children, and we have to help build them to be the best versions of themselves.”
Giselle was the teacher of Armon Harris’s daughter Amaya from when she entered the Head Start program as an infant until she turned two years old and transitioned into the Preschool classroom.
While searching for a daycare for his then infant daughter, Armon learned about the Head Start Program at MFS’ Learning and Wellness Center from a past employee.
“Once we started the program with her, I started noticing how advanced she was becoming, how she was paying attention to things as a baby, how she would pay attention to you as you’re speaking to her, as you’re talking to her, even if you sing it to her,” recalls Armon.
During her time in the infant/toddler room, Giselle also watched and supported Amaya as she grew. “I remember her as a little baby, then she started crawling, and then she was able to pull up on her own to stand up. Then she began walking. And from the walking came the running. But she was very curious, she loved to explore.”
As part of the Head Start program, Giselle also encouraged Amaya’s emotional and social growth. “We focus on all areas, but I would say starting off in the infant classroom, the main thing would be social emotional [growth]. That is a key factor. And then the language I would say comes next, and cognitive development.”
Not only does Head Start focus on the students’ development, but it also prioritizes parents’ growth.
“I love that they incorporate their parents into the program. I love how they incorporated us, how they welcome us with open arms. I’m an active parent,” explains Armon. “I love to be active in my child’s life and child’s school. I love to come to the events that they have for us.”
Amaya, now aged three, still loves coming to school. “We don’t have to wake her up,” Armon adds. “She gets up. She’s up every morning, 7:30 a.m. on the dot, and tells us, ‘Hey, dad, mom, I’m ready for school.’”
“Metropolitan has empowered us with growth and development, for my child and for us as parents,” says Armon. “The development process of seeing her grow from a baby to now, from the three years that she has been here, it has been amazing.”
“The teachers are amazing. They work with your kids. They take their time with your kids. I feel like she [my daughter] learned something new every day. And she got a new accomplishment every week.”
– Armon Harris, parent