ABOUT US
We Know That Leaving Your Child in Someone Else’s Care Takes Trust.
We don’t take that lightly.
At Spanish Lab and Learning Center, everything we do begins with the child in front of us — their curiosity, their emotions, their readiness, and their potential.
Our Four Philosophies
At Spanish Lab and Learning Center, everything we do is guided by four core values.
Together they shape how we think about early childhood development, how we apply our state-approved curriculum, and how we prepare every child — academically, socially, and emotionally — for kindergarten and beyond.
1. An Intentional Environment.
Walk into the Spanish Lab and Learning Center and you'll notice something right away: it feels calm. Our classrooms are warm, minimalistic, and intentionally designed with natural materials, tidy spaces, and accessible materials that invite children to explore independently. Every element serves a purpose.
2. Play-Based Learning.
When you see a child at work here — building, sorting, painting, experimenting — you are watching them build the architecture of their developing brain through hands-on experience. Play is not a break from learning. It is the learning.
3. Social-Emotional Development.
Show a connector line between each icon, changes its color and style to fit your unique design. We teach children that emotions are not "bad." Children learn that while they might not be able to control how they feel (angry, sad, overwhelmed), they can absolutely control what they do with those feelings. This builds a foundation of emotional intelligence that lasts a lifetime.
4. Full Spanish Immersion.
Every story, every song, every friendship unfolds in Spanish. This is not a language class. It is a complete immersive environment designed to leverage the most powerful window for language acquisition in a child's life.
A Child Who Can Regulate Themselves Can Do Anything.
Research shows self-regulation is a stronger predictor of academic success than IQ.
Before we ask children to focus, we make sure they feel safe enough to try.
We actively teach self-regulation (the ability to return to calm after feeling overwhelmed.)
It is not about discipline. It is about giving children the emotional foundation that makes everything else possible.
Children who can self-regulate can:
- Filter out distractions and focus on a task
- Negotiate and problem-solve with peers
- Bounce back after disappointment
- Manage big emotions without being controlled by them
- Engage more fully in learning
Meet Our Directors
Mariela Formiconi - Program Director
Celeste Diaz - Assistant Program Director
Mariela brings more than thirty years of experience in education to Spanish Lab and Learning Center, including over a decade in early childhood and years as a Dual Language teacher in Harrisonburg City Public Schools. She is a native Spanish speaker whose deep knowledge of language acquisition and child development shapes every aspect of our program.
Mariela is in and out of the classroom every day — not just as an administrator, but as an educator who genuinely loves what she does and the children she serves.
Celeste brings over fifteen years of formal childcare experience and holds multiple certifications in the Early Childhood Education field. She is a native Spanish speaker and a warm, consistent daily presence at the center — known by families for her care, her calm, and her genuine investment in every child.
Together, Mariela and Celeste have built more than a preschool. They have built a community.
Interested in Joining the Team?
Our Community
Our Mission
We believe children thrive when their families are connected — to the center, to each other, and to the cultures represented in our classrooms.
Each fall, we celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month with an art gallery at the center, where families share the traditions and stories that make our community rich.
In the spring, our May picnic brings together children, parents, grandparents, and extended families.
When a child sees their heritage celebrated, they stand taller. When they sit alongside a child whose family looks different from their own, their world gets bigger.
That is what we are building here.
To provide a safe and inclusive environment that values the Spanish language and culture, where children from different backgrounds develop social skills and Spanish language through play.
We are committed to:
- Creating a nurturing environment where every child is cared for and valued
- Providing opportunities for children to develop the social skills they need to communicate, cooperate, and manage their emotions
- Fostering cultural competence by engaging children with authentic Spanish content that reflects the rich heritage of its speakers
Credentials & Licensure
- Licensed by the State of Virginia
- State-approved curriculum
- Child Care Subsidy vendor
- Directors hold degrees and certifications in Early Childhood Education
- Native Spanish-speaking leadership
- Serving Harrisonburg, Rockingham County, and surrounding communities including Bridgewater, Dayton, Elkton and beyond
We'd Love to Meet Your Family
Come see what makes the Spanish Lab and Learning Center so special for yourself. Get in touch and we can schedule a tour.