Photo credit: Belleville School District - The official ribbon cutting for the Hornblower Early Childhood Center was held Saturday. Superintendent of Schools Dr. Richard Tomko was joined by State Senator Teresa Ruiz, Assistant State Education Commissioner Cary Booker, Essex County Executive Superintendent Joseph Zarra and others for the event.

Center to be the Crown Jewel in the District’s “Belleville Beginners” Program

Building blocks stood ready to be assembled into skyscrapers. Plastic dinosaurs packed in buckets held back their prodigious roars. Crayons and paper dutifully waited to be turned into refrigerator-ready masterpieces.

The Hornblower Early Childhood Center on Main Street looked light, bright, and inviting to children of all ages as officials from the local, county and state levels participated in its official ribbon-cutting ceremony Saturday.

The five-classroom facility is the crown jewel in the district’s Belleville Beginners program, which believes it’s never too early to cultivate critical thinkers and creative minds.

Superintendent of Schools Dr. Richard Tomko was joined by State Senator Teresa Ruiz, Assistant State Education Commissioner Cary Booker, Essex County Executive Superintendent (and Belleville native) Joseph Zarra and others for the big event.

“What a great thing for the kids and families of Belleville – for generations of families to come,” Tomko said. “We are giving our youngest learners, ages 3 and 4, a critical head start in their education and in their lives. This is a phenomenal opportunity for the entire Belleville community.”

The Hornblower Center was funded with state Preschool Expansion Aid. The township is able to provide early childhood education at no cost to families”

Photo credit: Belleville School District - The school district is hoping to quite literally provide the building blocks for a successful future inside the classrooms at the Hornblower Early Childhood Center.

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