This past Saturday afternoon the cafeteria at Clayton Huey Elementary School in Center Moriches was nearly unrecognizable. It was full of balloon arches and balloon animals, miniature graduation caps, and extremely proud extended families. The Parent Child+ early literacy program concluded the 2023-24 school year by graduating eighteen little students who, alongside their families, worked hard and overcame hurdles for this accomplishment. As mentioned earlier this year, The Parent Child+ program is a home-based, early literacy program that focuses on some of the district’s most overlooked, underserved, and possibly vulnerable children from eighteen months to four years old. The program sends a home visitor into a family’s home with a book and a toy to engage not only the child, but the parent as well. The goal is to model and cultivate an environment of healthy learning in the home and, more specifically, between the child and their parent or caretaker.
Every year is a little different for this program, as it is for any program that works with and cares for individual people. This school year undoubtedly brought some challenges for the program’s coordinator, Catherine Gutierrez. Yet she realizes that becoming an effective, compassionate servant-leader demands that we are able to navigate all of it with the child’s benefit and development always first in mind. Watching the accomplishments and many milestones in the children’s and parents lives as they are engaged through books, toys, working on reading, writing, speech, and fine motor skills outweighs any challenges that the staff may face.
“We’ve had some very distinct accomplishments and expansions to the program this year. It’s been a blessing to watch and be a small part of our neighbors seen and unseen victories,” said Gutierrez.
This year, different than others, the Parent Child+ program held beginner English classes for parents in the program who are learning a second language. Gutierrez, a native Spanish speaker and dual citizen of both the United States and Colombia, personally taught these classes. Some of her students learned basic English phrases and conversation pieces while others were able to improve on what they already know. This will ultimately help them in teaching their children and in everyday life situations.
Another distinctive to this school year was strengthening the relationship between the program and the Unkechaug Indian Reservation in Mastic. Gutierrez began the year by reaching out to the Reservation’s new liaison Amy Wallace. The two sat down and opened a clear line of communication while also brainstorming about how they can engage and help the children of the Reservation. The result was extremely productive, as six children and their families enrolled in the program and received a visitor each week, Gutierrez being one of them.
“The Unkechaug Nation is always putting their children first, we are thankful for the opportunity to come along their side as they carve a better future for their next generation,” said Gutierrez.
Last and certainly not least, the program was able to further offer practical help to a few of the mothers who were struggling behind closed doors. The program stepped up to help a few new Mother’s with diapers, wipes, and other baby items for one young lady whose child is currently in the program while also expecting. Further, two children were screened for possibly being on the autism spectrum. Parent Child+ believes in early intervention and going the extra mile to get these children the help that they need. In this case, both children will be attending a special needs preschool come September. Another great accomplishment for the community as we’re able to connect parents with the resources for their specific need.
“We’d like to thank our founders, our staff, volunteers, and, of course, the Center Moriches School District. Also, Keith and Casey Caputo of Helping Makes U Happy, who supplied each little graduate with their own backpack full of learning and play tools. It truly does take a caring village to help educate these precious children that we feel responsible for,” concluded Gutierrez.
