Written By: Kirsten Milloy
Meet your neighbor, Windy Hill resident, Helena Reid. Helena Reid is a working mother of four and certified elderly personal care assistant. She is currently enrolled in a program to become a Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA). Follow along as Helena discusses being a part of the Windy Hill community, working as an elderly caregiver, and the impact a Montessori education has on her children.
Helena Reid and her family have been members of the Windy Hill community since 2020. At the time, Helena was pregnant with her youngest daughter, who is now three years old. Helena has four children, an 11-year-old boy, 5- and 3-year-old girls, and a 1-year-old boy. Helena’s three oldest children attend Montessori School through Windy Hill’s Nest to Wings program. The Nest to Wings program was created to help with the cost of early childhood education for Windy Hill children. Windy Hill Foundation works with Grace Montessori School in The Plains and Middleburg Montessori School to provide a Montessori education and learning opportunities for our community’s children. Follow along as Helena discusses the impact that a Montessori education has had on her children.
Montessori is a method of education based on self‐directed activity, hands‐on learning, and collaborative play. Children make and lead creative choices in Montessori classrooms, while the classroom and the highly trained teachers offer age‐appropriate activities to guide the process. Helena has seen tremendous growth in her children since they began their Montessori education, particularly her younger girls. “My three-year-old started when she was 18 months old, and it was incredible how fast she started learning. They had her potty trained by the time she turned 2 and she’s learning all sorts of life skills.” In addition to developing life skills, Helena raves about the calming techniques her children have mastered from their Montessori Education. “I really like that the girls have learned how to regulate their emotions. When they get upset, they know how to calm themselves down. At that age, they easily become overwhelmed but thanks to the techniques they learn at school, they know to sit down and take a deep breath.” Helena says, “They even do it with me, if they see me getting anxious, they say, ‘Mommy take a deep breath’ so they’re really learning a lot from their new school.”
Not only do her preschoolers thrive in a Montessori environment, but her 11-year-old son has benefited from his new school as well, “He really loves it, they do all sorts of experiments and lots of hands-on learning.” Helena’s oldest son has struggled with traditional learning environments that require sitting at a desk for long periods of time. Helena noticed that “when he started there, I could tell a difference when he came home from school, he was happier.”
Not only is Helena raising her children and taking care of her family, but she also works four 12-hour overnight shifts per week as a personal care assistant. Helena works alongside other CNAs (Certified Nursing Assistant) to provide care to her elderly clients. She spends most of her shifts making sure her clients are clean, bathed, and taken care of. “I try to make it as easy as possible for their families. My main focus when I am working is to do everything I can, so their families don’t have to worry about things like laundry and cleaning.” Helena recently applied for a Windy Hill scholarship to join a CNA program and become a Certified Nursing Assistant. Helena mentioned that “Having the opportunity to work towards a CNA certification through Windy Hill is going to change my life. I will learn the skills I need to continue working and taking care of my family.”
Helena and her family actively participate in the Windy Hill community by attending Windy Hill sponsored events, such as the Seasons after school program run by Director of Resident Services, Michelle Lacaze. “Ever since Michelle has been here, it’s been amazing. She helps me out with so much, I am forever grateful. She has helped my family in many ways, I don’t know what I would have done without Windy Hill. They help me with childcare, clothes for the kids, everything. Michelle even helped me get work scrubs when I started my job. Windy Hill has made such an impact on my family.”
In addition to offering education scholarships to all Windy Hill residents and their children, the Foundation provides emergency financial assistance in times of need. Helena shares “There have been times that I didn’t think I was going to get through and I reached out to Michelle. She has helped me in ways that I am forever grateful for.” Windy Hill’s Resident Services Director, Michelle Lacaze, leads the Foundation’s Resident Services team. The Resident Services team works with residents to respond to emergency requests, identify job opportunities and education support, as well as coordinates with numerous partner organizations to meet the diverse needs of our Windy Hill community. When you donate to the Windy Hill Foundation Education Fund or Emergency Assistance Fund, you are supporting hard working families in our community.
