Head Start Center
Nurturing Early Childhood Development
Since 1998 the Urban Horizon Early Childhood Discovery Center, has provided a safe, nurturing and activity-rich learning environment for 104 neighborhood pre-schoolers annually, where they develop social skills and creative expression. Students' families hail from many different countries, and speak over 14 different languages at home. In collaboration with Literacy Partners, the Family Literacy program offers parents an opportunity to participate in the learning experience alongside their children, and learn English language and parenting skills. A strong Parent Policy Committee shares equally in the decision making with the Sponsoring Board and Staff.
By offering professional, reliable and educational
childcare, Head Start helps parents maintain
employment and prepares children for later
success in school.
During the 2008-2008 year, the Head Start children engaged in a variety of activities to nurture their intellectual and creative capacities as well as enable them to explore the world outside their families and neighborhood. In October, the children participated in a field trip upstate to go apple picking and take hay wagon and pony rides. In the spring, the children hatched eggs and nurtured chicks, watched caterpillars metamorph into butterflies, as well as planted a flower and vegetable garden in the Head Start Play Yard. The Latino Children's Theater staged a performance of Little Red Riding Hood at the Head Start Center; and the children traveled to Carnegie Hall to attend a classical music concert and the Swedish Cottage on Manhattan for a performance of Peter Pan.
