More Than Childcare: Inside Amistad’s Early Learning Program

Today, I had the opportunity to spend the morning inside our Early Learning classrooms, and what I witnessed affirms exactly what makes Seattle Amistad School different. We are not a daycare. We are not simply childcare. What happens in these rooms is real education, real foundation-building, and real community.

From the moment you walk in, the environment feels intentional. Toddlers and preschoolers are nurtured in a warm, culturally rich space where Spanish immersion blends seamlessly with high-quality early childhood education. Even our youngest students are greeted with color, curiosity, structure, and love—elements that together form the beginning of a lifelong learning journey.

As I moved through the Orugas and Mariposas classrooms, it was impossible not to notice the depth of care present. You can feel the love in every direction: from teachers to students, students to one another, and teachers supporting each other with patience and unity. The classrooms are thoughtfully organized, filled with bilingual learning tools and visual systems that spark interest at every age. Everything—from the labels to the routines to the materials—supports independence, joy, and early biliteracy.

What stood out most was how naturally learning unfolds. Children sing, count, explore, act out stories, build patterns, test ideas, and ask questions that their teachers follow with genuine curiosity. These children leave no stone unturned, and their teachers leave no curiosity unexplored. Learning is woven into every moment: the sound of a letter during morning songs, early math skills during block play, vocabulary growth during dramatic play, and social–emotional learning during small conflicts that become opportunities for guidance.

Here, curriculum does not wait until kindergarten. It begins now. Our Early Learning program offers play-based Spanish immersion, early literacy and pre-math development, outdoor exploration, music and movement, sensory learning, and social–emotional growth. Through 100 percent Spanish immersion, children naturally acquire vocabulary, listening skills, and early biliteracy. Small groups, intentional visuals, and consistent routines help them build confidence and independence. Over time, we see children expanding their Spanish vocabulary, developing early reading readiness and number sense, and learning essential skills such as cooperation, self-regulation, and problem-solving.

And at the heart of this program are the teachers. Today, I spent time with Lead Orugas Teacher Martha, whose journey reflects the depth of care that defines our early learning community. Martha began her career in nursing before becoming a mother. Wanting to be more present in her children’s lives, she returned to school to pursue a degree in education. Along the way, she mastered two additional languages—Spanish and English—beyond her native Garífuna. Her story, dedication, and warmth shine through everything she does. The children respond to her with trust and joy, and families feel deeply supported by her presence.

This is what makes Amistad’s Early Learning Program unique. It is not simply a place where children spend their day—it is a place where they begin to understand who they are, what they can do, and how they belong in a multilingual, multicultural world. Everything here is built with intention: the curriculum, the relationships, the cultural grounding, and the immersion experience that helps shape confident and curious young learners.

What I saw today was more than education. It was foundation-building. Community-building. Identity-building. Here, our youngest students are not waiting to learn—they are already learning, growing, questioning, and thriving.

Seattle Amistad School’s Early Learning Program prepares children not just for kindergarten, but for the world.