The Mariposa Center

THE MARIPOSA CENTER'S MISSION IS TO CREATE A SAFE, WARM, NURTURING PLACE WHERE CHILDREN CAN KNOW THE JOY OF LEARNING, CREATING AND DOING AT AN EARLY AGE, AND WHERE FAMILIES CAN BE PART OF A WELCOMING LEARNING COMMUNITY. MARIPOSA AIMS TO ACQUAINT CHILDREN WITH THE POWER OF THEIR OWN IMAGINATION AND THE CONFIDENCE OF THEIR ABILITIES, INSPIRING THEM TO EMBARK ON LIVES IN WHICH LEARNING IS AS NATURAL AND NECESSARY AS BREATHING. MARIPOSA AIMS TO GIVE THEM A FOUNDATION OF A HEALTHY LIFESTYLE - BASED ON GOOD NUTRITION, REGULAR ACTIVITY, AND AN AFFINITY FOR THE NATURAL WORLD - THAT WILL LAST FOR THEIR ENTIRE LIVES. MARIPOSA SEEKS TO STRENGTHEN THE BONDS OF COMMUNITY.

MARIPOSA PRE-K PROGRAM: OUR PROGRAM ENCOURAGES CHILDREN TO LEARN BY IMAGINING, INVENTING, BUILDING, ROLE-PLAYING, AND CREATING THEIR OWN PLAY ENVIRONMENTS. THIS METHOD INFORMS CONFIDENCE, COLLABORATION, COMMUNICATION, AND CREATIVE THINKING. THE PROGRAM OFFERS A WAY FOR PARENTS TO ENGAGE IN A MEANINGFUL WAY WITH THEIR CHILDREN. THE PROGRAM OFFERS CLOSE OBSERVATION BY THE TEACHER AND POSITIVE TEACHER-CHILD INTERACTIONS WHICH MOVE EACH CHILD FORWARD IN THEIR INDIVIDUAL LEARNING. WE BELIEVE IN TEACHERS AS ROLE MODELS FOR LEARNING & HEALTHY LIVING. WE BUILD ON THE STRENGTHS OF FAMILIES. AS AN ALL-DAY LEARNING ENVIRONMENT FOR PRE-KINDERGARTEN, THE PROGRAM SERVES AS A LABORATORY FOR RESEARCH ON TEACHING & LEARNING METHODS, AS WELL AS AN INCUBATOR FOR DEVELOPING A MODEL OF CHILDHOOD LEARNING IN URBAN SETTINGS.

PARENT/TODDLER GROUP (CURRENTLY INACTIVE): FAMILIES AND PRESCHOOL SIBLINGS FROM THE HIGHLANDER CHARTER SCHOOL MEET WEEKLY WITH A MARIPOSA TEACHER AND ASSISTANT TEACHER. PARENTS AND CAREGIVERS HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO DEEPEN THEIR RELATIONSHIPS WITH THEIR CHILDREN, LEARN WAYS TO SHARE PRACTICAL DAILY TASKS AND ACTIVITIES, CULTIVATE ORAL LANGUAGE, AND BEGIN THE PROCESS OF SLOWING DOWN AND ENHANCING FAMILY LIFE THROUGH SIMPLICITY.