Community Helpers Day at Young Hearts Preschool
Young Hearts, a Great Hearts preschool, recently celebrated Community Helpers Day, a special day set aside to provide our great-hearted preschoolers the opportunity to learn about and honor essential members of the community, from firefighters and police officers to doctors, nurses, and even teachers. Clarissa Sainz, the assistant director of Young Hearts, shared about the day’s activities and the lessons the young students are learning through these activities.
“At Young Hearts, we not only focus on fostering academic skills, but we also pride ourselves on equipping our students with values like integrity and courage which build them to be the perfect candidates to become community helpers like policemen, and doctors, and firefighters,” Sainz explained. ” Community helper day really shines a light on the respect and admiration that we aim to create from our students to the people who perform these roles.
Students dressed up as a variety of community figures, including firefighters, police officers, doctors, nurses, and much to the delight of the educators at the preschool, even teachers. “I think the most flattering is that we have a handful of kids dressed up as teachers,” noted Sainz with a smile. “We love to see the admiration from them and that they really view us as [role] models.”
Each costume choice reflects a child’s respect for these community roles, providing a meaningful glimpse into the students’ early understanding of service and responsibility.
A highlight of the day was the parade, led by school director Cori Lewis, held in the preschool’s courtyard playground. Children walked proudly in their costumes, holding up posters expressing gratitude to first responders, medical professionals, and educators. Parents and faculty gathered to cheer them on, creating some joyful expressions on the kids’ faces.
To add to the excitement, a special guest joined the festivities. The father of one of the students, a firefighter, brought his gear to the event to show them what it takes to be a firefighter and the kind of equipment he needs to do his job. This personal interaction with a real-life community helper added to the students’ understanding for his role. After giving them a chance to feel how heavy his flame retardant gear was, he read aloud a book about first responders to them.
The students’ anticipation was visible all week, as many proudly shared plans to dress up as their favorite community helpers. Sainz explained that this event combines the joy of imaginative play with important lessons. She stressed that it is not just a costume day for the preschool. “They’re learning about why that role is so important to them. Why is a firefighter important? Why is a policeman important? And why do I want to model that?”
Community Helpers Day at Young Hearts was a absolute success for students, parents, and faculty alike, blending fun and education to create a memorable experience that encourages children to dream big and value the roles that make communities safe and vibrant.
Enrollment for Young Hearts, our Great Hearts preschool program in Buckeye, Arizona, accepts applications year-round for children 3-years and older who are potty-trained. Learn more at https://younghearts.greatheartsamerica.org/enrollment/.
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