Stargazer Academy Frequently Asked Questions
What is an early learning center? An early learning center is a facility or organization that focuses on providing education for young children, typically from infants to five years old. It is a place where children can learn, play, and socialize in a structured and nurturing environment. Early learning centers often offer a range of activities and programs that support the development of cognitive, language, social, and motor skills. The goal is to promote early childhood education and prepare children for life-long learning.
What learning opportunities does Stargazer Academy offer? Stargazer Academy offers an innovative curriculum involving language immersion (French, Spanish and English), STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Mathematics) hands-on learning, Social Consciousness (sustainability and public health), and Community Engagement. This is administered in a safe, Montessori-inspired environment that allows parents, children and instructors to interact naturally to make learning fun and engaging.
Why is the curriculum offered in multiple languages? Enrolling your child in a multilingual program can equip them with a unique set of skills that can benefit them academically, culturally, and personally including:
Cognitive development: Studies have shown that learning multiple languages from an early age can enhance cognitive abilities, such as problem-solving, critical thinking, and multitasking skills.
Communication skills: Learning multiple languages can improve your child's overall communication skills, including listening, speaking, reading, and writing. It can also enhance their linguistic flexibility and adaptability to different language structures and contexts.
Academic advantages: Multilingual children often demonstrate higher academic performance, especially in areas such as reading comprehension, vocabulary acquisition, and overall language proficiency. Bilingualism has also been linked to increased creativity, problem-solving abilities, and better performance in standardized tests.
Career opportunities: In an increasingly globalized world, proficiency in multiple languages can be a valuable asset for future career opportunities. It opens the doors to a wider range of professional fields and increases the likelihood of working in international contexts.
Social and emotional development: Being able to communicate with people from different cultures and backgrounds can enhance your child's social and emotional skills, such as empathy, tolerance, and adaptability. It can also provide them with a sense of belonging within diverse communities.
Brain development: Learning multiple languages can have a positive impact on brain development by promoting neural plasticity and strengthening cognitive abilities. Multilingualism has been associated with a reduced risk of cognitive decline and neurodegenerative diseases later in life.
Will my child become fluent in multiple languages? While the number of hours required to learn a language varies greatly depending on factors such as the language itself, your previous language-learning experience, and individual your learning style, a general guideline is to aim for a minimum of one to two hours of focused language study per day, or around 7-14 hours per week. However, dedicated time in an immersion setting such as a school or with activities including listening, speaking and interacting with native speakers has been shown to be more effective and language acquisition can be obtained in a shorter period of time. Through its immersive programs, Stargazer Academy offers children and their parents the opportunity to acquire a language together, increasing the ability to continue to practice at home and the total time spent learning the target language.
What other resources are available to help foster my child's growth and learning? Stargazer Academy is in the process of constructing a fully branded app that will include lessons, videos and study material for you to do with your child. Material will also be available on our website, which will be moving to its own domain that is linked but separate from its parent organization, the Marialla V. Magloire Foundation, Inc.
Who is the Marialla V. Magloire Foundation, and why did it establish Stargazer Academy? The Marialla V. Magloire (MVM) Foundation, Inc is a Florida based 501 (c) 3 not-for-profit that supports activities and projects in the areas of sustainability, healthcare, agriculture and education. The MVM Foundation has been involved in supporting educational initiatives since 2015, including annual scholarships to high school students with exemplary academic achievement, community service involvement and leadership. In 2022, MVM registered to do business in the state of Georgia and founded Stargazer Academy in order to help address the needs of the SW Georgia region in areas aligned with their mission. The Georgia program is an extension of the Foundation’s mission to improve the opportunities for underserved persons and communities by partnering with them and leveraging resources to achieve success.
Who can I contact for more information? E-mail us at stargazer@mvm-foundation.org for more information.
