Westside Messenger - December 25th, 2022

PAGE 2 - WESTSIDE MESSENGER - December 25, 2022
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2022
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Messenger photo by Dedra Cordle
On Dec. 12, county commissioners, city officials, and community advocates on the westside celebrated the
completion of construction at the Hilltop Early Learning Center with a special ribbon-cutting ceremony. Once
the center is licensed by the state department of job and family services, it will be able to serve more than
200 children living on the westside. The Hilltop Early Learning Center is slated to officially open its doors later
this winter. Pictured here preparing to cut into the ribbon to celebrate the occasion alongside children at the
Lindbergh Early Childhood Education Center are (left to right) Dr. Gina Ginn, CEO of the Columbus Early
Learning Centers, Columbus Mayor Andrew Ginther, Franklin County Commissioner Erica Crawley, and Jonie
Johnson, caregiver to a future learner at the center.
LEARNING CENTER
Continued from page 1
nity. It’s not always that you get to have a child or care
for a child who is so ready to go learn and at such a
young age.”
As the caretaker to her two young grandchildren,
Johnson and the two boys got a sneak-peek at the facility
when they attended a city-sponsored Family Fun
Day in late October. While there, she asked the then 4-
year-old Isaac Price Jr. his thoughts on the center and
she received two very enthusiastic thumbs up.
“I think it was love at first sight when he caught a
glimpse of that magnificent indoor play area,” she said,
referring to the expansive nature-based play structure
that features slides, swings, sensory panels and a
climbing wall.
Johnson said she too fell in love with the place when
she toured the facility and spoke to the staff who will
be working there when it opens this winter.
“Isaac has asthma and knowing that he is going to
be attending a child care facility that has a healthcare
clinic inside of it with nurses who know how to handle
his medication and work with him when he has attacks
just put me completely at ease,” she said. “It means a
lot to have this kind of facility here because it means I
don’t really have to worry as much about him getting
the care and attention that he needs.”
One of the most unique features at the Hilltop Early
Learning Center is the 3,000-square-foot healthcare
clinic that will be operated by staff with Nationwide
Children’s Hospital. Not only will they be able to treat
upset stomachs and the occasional bloody knee, but
they will also be able to provide mental health services,
physical support services, screening services and
wellness checks. Most services will also be available to
families who do not have children enrolled at the center.
“When we started this project, we didn’t just want it
to be a site for early childhood education although that
is at the heart of our mission,” said Dr. Gina Ginn,
CEO of the Columbus Early Learning Centers. “We
also wanted to be able to provide families with the
tools that are needed to be successful.”
For instance, Ginn said the center will have a fully
stocked food pantry for the families and the greater
community to access. Most of the goods will be donated
by Our Lady of Guadalupe Center, who will also distribute
a bag of food monthly to families whose children
are enrolled at the Hilltop Early Learning
Center.
“We not only want to surround our children with
the tools to be successful in school and beyond, but we
also want that success to be extended to our families
and the community we serve.”
Hilltop Early Learning Center officials say they
hope the facility will be able to open its doors to the
area’s future young learners this winter, preferably
sometime in January.
“We are still waiting to obtain our license from the
Ohio Department of Job and Family Services, but once
we do, we will be up and running and ready to serve
240 young learners on the westside,” said Ginn.
Like so many others, Hilltop Partnership Director
Paula Neal said she is counting down the days until
they can welcome in their first pre-kindergarten class.
“I have spent so much time in this building throughout
the construction process and the end result is
absolutely beautiful but it needs to be awakened,” she
said. “Having the children here is going to do that, as
will all of the families that this center will serve.”
To see more information on the Hilltop Early
Learning Center, including how to enroll your child at
the facility or how to access its other services, visit hilltopearlylearning.org.