Dear Madison Area YMCA members and community,

We are excited to share some wonderful news with you! The F.M. Kirby Children’s Center of the Madison Area YMCA has been awarded a prestigious 4-star rating by Grow New Jersey Kids! This remarkable recognition is a testament to the dedication and hard work of our incredible teachers and staff over the past several years. It reflects the high quality of our early childhood care and education programs, confirming what we have always known: that our students are receiving the best possible start in life with us.

This achievement comes at a particularly meaningful time, as it coincides with the completion of our $1.16 million capital expansion. We opened two new classrooms at the beginning of the school year on September 3rd. This expansion allows us to extend our exceptional care and education to even more families in our community.

We will be celebrating this accomplishment over the coming weeks with our entire Kirby Center family, including parents, partner organizations, donors, foundations, and others who have supported us on this journey.

What Does a 4-Star Rating Mean?

A 4-star rating from Grow NJ Kids, New Jersey's Quality Rating Improvement System (QRIS) for early childhood programs, signifies excellence in early childhood education and care. Here’s what our 4-star rating means:

1. High Standards of Education and Care: Our program excels in key areas such as curriculum, child development, and teaching practices, ensuring a strong foundation for our students' learning.
2. Safe and Supportive Environment: We provide a safe, clean, and nurturing environment that supports children's physical, emotional, and cognitive development.
3. Family Engagement: We value family involvement and offer many opportunities for our families to be an active partner in their child's learning journey.
4. Qualified and Committed Staff: Our staff are well-trained, holds relevant certifications, and participates in ongoing professional development to ensure they remain at the forefront of best practices in early childhood education.
5. Assessment and Accountability: We use regular assessments to track children's progress and tailor our educational strategies to meet their individual needs.

We are proud to have successfully completed the Grow NJ Kids rating process and to have achieved this high standard!

Please join us in congratulating our dedicated Kirby Center team for their unwavering commitment to creating a place where children thrive, families are supported, and excellence is our daily standard.

We thank our families and community for your continued support and for being such an important part of our Kirby Center family. We are grateful to have you with us on this journey of nurturing and growing together.

Warm regards,

Diane and Karé

Diane Mann 
President and CEO 
Madison Area YMCA 

& 

Karé Matrisciano 
Executive Director 
F.M. Kirby Children’s Center 
of the Madison Area YMCA