[Congressional Record Volume 149, Number 40 (Wednesday, March 12, 2003)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E442]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




 HONORING THE UNITED COMMUNITY NURSERY SCHOOL AS THEY CELEBRATE THEIR 
                            40th ANNIVERSARY

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. ROSA L. DeLAURO

                             of connecticut

                    in the house of representatives

                       Wednesday, March 12, 2003

  Ms. DeLAURO. Mr. Speaker, for the last four decades, the United 
Community Nursery School has been an invaluable resource to many 
children and families of New Haven. I am pleased to rise today to join 
with friends, families, and community leaders in paying tribute to 
their outstanding contributions as they celebrate their 40th 
Anniversary.
  I have long held a firm belief in the importance of education and 
have often spoke of our nation's need to ensure that, even at the 
earliest stages, our children have access to programs and services that 
will enrich their education. The United Community Nursery School has 
been doing just this for the last forty years. Before initiatives like 
Headstart and before educational programming like Sesame Street and Mr. 
Rogers, the founders of the United Community Nursery School recognized 
this need and worked hard to find a solution.
  At the time of its inception, quality nursery school programs were 
not available to every family. Members of the United Church on the 
Green, realizing this gap in the community, began to look for a way to 
offer these programs to all of New Haven's children. They envisioned a 
setting where small children, regardless of background, culture, or 
religion, would be able to play and learn together. They envisioned a 
preschool where talented and caring teachers could work with families 
to ensure that their young children were developing the skills and 
tools they need for a strong educational foundation. What began as a 
single classroom with a part-time staff grew quickly to become a 
remarkable education program for toddlers throughout New Haven.
  The United Community Nursery School became one of the first in 
Connecticut to be accredited by the National Academy of Early Childhood 
Programs. A respected community resource, they were also one of the 
first to be designated as a New Haven School Readiness site. For four 
decades, the dedication and commitment of the staff and the members of 
the United Church have ensured that this treasure continues to provide 
much-needed early learning programs. Over the last several years, 
research has shown and experts have said that early learning is a 
fundamental piece of a child's education. The New Haven community--and 
more importantly our young children--have indeed been fortunate to have 
benefitted from the many contributions of the United Community Nursery 
School.
  It is with great pleasure that I rise today to join all of those 
gathered in extending my sincere thanks and appreciation to the United 
Community Nursery School for all of their good work as well as my 
sincere congratulations on their 40th Anniversary. The legacy they have 
built will continue to educate and inspire generations to come.

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