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Ready for School by Six

Suzanne and Pauline Suzanne

Growing up on a farm in Jamaica, Pauline’s parents and grandparents didn’t emphasize education to her. With the help of HIPPY (Home Instruction for Parents of Preschool Youngsters) – a United Way Success By 6 funded program – she is taking action to make sure her children get the kind of educational preparation she missed out on. “I want to be their first teacher. I want them to have the best education they can have, so they don’t have to struggle like I did.” When Suzanne was four, Pauline turned to HIPPY to help her to prepare Suzanne for school. HIPPY supplies support and educational materials to parents. There are lessons for each day of the week, which are designed to last between 15 and 30 minutes. However, Suzanne sometimes gets so wrapped up in the lesson that it goes well beyond 30 minutes. “They suggest doing a lot of reading to your children, which my daughter and I do all the time,” Pauline said. For her, the lesson she is teaching today will shape her children for a lifetime. And perhaps her children will help shape others. “Maybe one day they can go back home with me to Jamaica and they can share their knowledge there,” said Pauline.