Typically when one thinks of late summer, one thinks of harvest-time--spring is widely acknowledged as the time of year for rebirth, for growth.

But as we all know in South Florida things are a little different; our growing seasons are envied by many because you can essentially raise anything year-round in our tropical climate.

So it shouldn't come as too big a surprise that last August the preschool located at 9709 NW 41 Street #105 in Doral Plaza underwent a rebirth of its own, becoming the Tree of Life Learning Center.
"The other day care center had been here about six years," explained Owner/Director Ruth Arroyo of the Tree of Life Learning Center, "until we took it over last year--I actually came here and started renovating and redoing things until we officially took it over April 10. We're trying to get the word out that things are different now."

She continued, "I've been doing this my whole life. I took six years off to work for the police department, but I came back to what I knew and I loved."

Tree of Life takes children aged three months to five years and is not just a day care center--it is a full-fledged preschool.

Arroyo said, "Before we took over they only used the Beka Book. But since we've been here we've started our own curriculum that includes the Head Start material for three, four, and five year olds. Also, teachers are responsible for preparing lesson plans and posting them every day."

The five teachers are fully certified as are Arroyo and Martinez, having received the 40 hours required by HRS, their Child Development Associate degree from the state of Florida, and the required 12 hours a year of 'in-service' which can be any sort of training such as seminars, classes, etc. All the teachers are also trained in performing CPR and administering first-aid as well.

Currently the center is open from 7:00 AM to 6:30 PM, Monday through Friday, although Arroyo would like to expand that in the near future.

"By the end of June," she said, "we're looking to open nights and weekends as well. We just want to see whether the demand is out there for those kinds of services."

They even have a full service kitchen which prepares breakfast, lunch, and snacks for the children daily.

The center has an enrollment of about 45 students right now, but Arroyo would optimally like to see that number increase to 55. And during the summer, Arroyo said, it's even more likely that they'll be openings if you want to register your child.

She explained, "During the summer when so many children are going away on vacations with their families, spaces will open up."

She also said that business had been very good and that they were looking to expand the school in the near future.

"We are looking into the bay next to the site adjacent to us (two doors down)," she explained. "We'd like to expand the school into that space."

To contact the Tree of Life Learning Center about hours or availability, you can contact them at 305 477 8160.