Newsroom - 2024
Madison Area YMCA Celebrates Its F.M. Kirby Children’s Center 4-star Rating and New Expansion
October 18, 2024
Pictured celebrating the prestigious 4-star rating by Grow NJ Kids with four fingers raised to represent the four stars are many of the beloved teachers and staff of the F.M. Kirby Children’s Center, whose dedication made these achievements possible.
Pictured are Director of Childcare Rosemary Adamo, President & CEO Diane Mann, Gianforcaro Architects, Engineers, & Planners, Partners Matthew Gianforcaro and Anthony Gianforcaro, Exec. Dir. Karé Matrisciano, & Vice President Member & Support Services Joseph Gonsalves.
Pictured are YMCA President & CEO Diane Mann, Sam Ticknor & Gerald J. Glasser Foundation President Margie Ticknor, Y Board Chair Mike Griffin, Former Y Board Member S. Dillard Kirby & Adrienne Kirby, & F.M. Kirby Foundation President Justin J. Kiczek.
October 18, 2024– The Madison Area YMCA is excited to share some wonderful news with its community: 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 the incredible teachers and staff over the past several years. It reflects the high quality of our early childhood care and education programs, confirming what was always known: that our students are receiving the best possible start in life at the Kirby Center.
To celebrate this accomplishment, Kirby staff, parents, partner organizations, donors, foundations, and others who have supported the Y on this journey got together for a celebration at the Kirby Center on Thursday evening, October 10.
“We are incredibly proud to celebrate this significant achievement with our community. Earning a 4-star rating from Grow New Jersey Kids is a testament to the unwavering commitment of our dedicated teachers and staff. This recognition not only reflects the quality of care and education we provide but also reinforces our belief that every child deserves the best start in life,” said Director of Child Care Rosemary Adamo.
”Our celebration was a true reflection of the Kirby spirit—bringing together staff, families, donors, our architects, and community members for a fun and memorable evening. We were thrilled to honor our hardworking staff and the wonderful families who have been such an important part of this journey. It was exciting to give tours of our new classrooms and showcase the fantastic spaces that will support our continued growth. The energy in the room was incredible, and it was a joy to share this special night with everyone,” said F.M. Kirby Children’s Center Executive Director Karé Matrisciano.
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:
- 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.
- Safe and Supportive Environment: We provide a safe, clean, and nurturing environment that supports children's physical, emotional, and cognitive development.
- Family Engagement: We value family involvement and offer many opportunities for our families to be an active partner in their child's learning journey.
- Qualified and Committed Staff: Our staff are well-trained, hold relevant certifications, and participate in ongoing professional development to ensure they remain at the forefront of best practices in early childhood education.
- Assessment and Accountability: We use regular assessments to track children's progress and tailor our educational strategies to meet their individual needs.
The staff at the Kirby Center is proud to have successfully completed the Grow NJ Kids rating process and to have achieved this high standard.
“We are so proud of 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 their continued support and for being such an important part of our Kirby Center family. We are grateful to have them with us on this journey of nurturing and growing together,” said Matrisciano.
“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,” said President & CEO Diane Mann.
The F.M. Kirby Children’s Center underwent an expansion, which was completed for the start of the 2024-25 school year. This expansion was a direct result of the growing waitlist and needs of the community and to improve the facility for existing students. It allows the Center to better optimize our existing footprint into more usable classroom space, including space intended to serve siblings of our currently enrolled families and staff.
“Having my children enrolled at Kirby is like having them part of a second home. The level of care from the teachers and staff is like no other. My children have learned and continue to learn new and valuable skills every day and watching them thrive and grow during such developmental stages of their lives is a true testament to the commitment invested into each child. I am delighted and supportive of the Kirby Center expanding and filling needs so that every child has the chance to experience what my children have,” Kirby Center Parent Alexa Cali.
“Capacity at the Kirby Center has been full with a waiting list for nearly two years. We are pleased to be taking action to meet the growing need for childcare in our area. Together, we can expand our space and build a better, brighter tomorrow for our children, but it will take the community to help make our vision a reality,” said Matrisciano.
Throughout this project, maintaining a safe and appropriate environment for the students, staff, and families and minimizing disruption during construction remained the highest priority. Thanks to the incredible architects, Gianforcaro Architects, Engineers, & Planners, who have worked with more than 100 school districts in the state, including right here in Madison, with their expertise, all currently enrolled families continued without disruption of services, all children continued to be cared for in a safe and nurturing environment, and the project was completed on time.
How Can You Support Our Community?
Recognizing the needs of our members and neighbors, and the challenges and limitations of our childcare and early education center, the Madison Area YMCA launched a community fundraising campaign to expand our F.M. Kirby Children’s Center. The growing waitlists indicate the increasing need for quality early childhood education in our community. This expansion allows us to better optimize our existing footprint into more usable classroom space. Together, we can leave a legacy for future generations, just as community members of the past made our current facility possible.
Learn more at www.madisonareaymca.org/growingstrongertogether about leaving your legacy, naming opportunities, or to make a secure online donation in support of our Growing Stronger Together Campaign - an opportunity to make a difference in our community, now and for years to come.
As a mission-driven charitable organization and community wellness center, the Madison Area YMCA is dedicated to nurturing the potential of our youth, providing a safe space for teens, improving the community's health and well-being, and giving back by providing support to our neighbors.