b'C h i l d c a r e c o - o p r e t u r n s , r e m o d e l e d a n d r e a d y f o r t o d d l e r sFor the past four years, the number one question local parents who had toddlers at home would askEducation Director Lizeth Hernandez was, When is the Puente childcare co-op going to reopen? Itwas first shuttered for planned renovations in 2020, but the COVID pandemic kept it closed for farlonger than anyone would have expected. In addition, there was a staffing issue due to a nationwideteacher shortage.So when Hernandez started telling parents that Puente was finally going to reopen the co-op, thenews sounded almost too good to be true.But it was true. Puente welcomed its first post-pandemic cohort of 18-to-36-month-olds to thecompletely renovated co-op in January 2024 with two new teachers, Danna Gonzalez and MarisolSilva, and a sparkling new interior that was designed and created based on ideas that came from localparents and experts within the childcare field. Marisol Silva, Bilingual Childcare Program Associate Teacher and aparent leading a class activity with toddler.Opening the co-op was really a huge triumph for us and for the community, says Hernandez.Marisol Silva, Maestra Asociada Bilinge del Programa de Cuidado Infantil When we had to shut down because of the pandemic, it was a huge loss to families because werey madre, liderando una actividad en clase con un nio pequeo. talking about some of the most crucial years for childrens development.Founded in 2016, the co-op, named Sueos Unidos (United Dreams, in English), now has a built-in kitchen, interior bathroom, all-new childrens furniture, and made-to-order learning tools.It remains housed within Puentes own offices but with a solid wall in place of the accordion door that used to separate the spaces. It is still the only free bilingual childcare cooperative within the South Coast of San Mateo County, evidence of Puentes strong commitment to early childhood education. And both teachersare early childhood educators, community members, and mothers. Parents or family members of enrolled students volunteer as teachers aides each day, and theres a focus on developmental education. We have close relationships with the parents. Everymorning, we check in with them, ask them how their morning was. Did the children eat breakfast? Did they sleep well? Because even if theres a small change at home, we may notice achange in the classroom, explains Danna Gonzalez, the Lead Teacher. And parents appreciate it, too. At the conclusion of the 2023-24 school year, parents shared in a survey that they noticed growth in their children. A lot has changedso much more language, sharing, beingindependent, one wrote. Another parent said, He has learned to socialize with other children and share things. P u e n t es c o - o p p r o v i d e d 9 9 d a y s o f c h i l d c a r e f r o m J a n u a r y t oJ u n e 2 0 2 4 .16'