LIGHTBRIDGE ACADEMY KICKS OFF NATIONWIDE LITERACY CELEBRATION FOR YOUNG LEARNERS

The Thematic Curriculum Fosters a Love of Books, Helping Children Meet Literacy Milestones

Iselin, N.J. (April 16, 2025) – Lightbridge Academy, The Solution for Working Families® and one of the fastest-growing early childhood education franchises, is launching a national week-long Literacy in Bloom curriculum event to inspire a love of reading and help children meet literacy milestones in their learning. The event will culminate on Friday, May 2nd at all Lightbridge Academy centers nationwide to end the brand’s April Open House Week.

“Early literacy is the foundation for a lifetime of learning, and our Literacy in Bloom curriculum event is designed to spark a love for reading in every child,” said Gigi Schweikert, Chief Executive Officer at Lightbridge Academy. “By engaging in hands-on storytelling and interactive reading activities, we’re helping to build essential language skills that will support their future academic success. When children develop strong literacy skills early on, they gain the confidence to explore, ask questions, and thrive in every subject.”

Inspired by the beloved children’s book A Seed Grows by Antoinette Portis, this dynamic educational event will cultivate a love of reading while immersing young learners in the wonders of nature. Through hands-on, age-appropriate activities, children will explore the fascinating life cycle of a plant, bringing the story to life in a meaningful and engaging way.

The week-long celebration begins with a Book and Flower Mural, where each classroom will design a vibrant display featuring their favorite book covers or cherished story characters intertwined with colorful spring flowers. From there, children will dive into a series of interactive experiences designed to spark curiosity and creativity. This event not only nurtures a love for books but also encourages hands-on learning, critical thinking, and a deeper appreciation for the world around us—one seed, one story, and one discovery at a time.

Throughout the celebration, children will also design and laminate their own books and bookmarks, which will be featured at the Lightbridge Academy Book Fair on May 2nd. Every handcrafted piece will be available for purchase, with all proceeds benefiting the Lightbridge Foundation, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization dedicated to supporting families and communities in need. This immersive event not only fosters a love for reading and creativity but also instills the values of kindness, generosity, and the joy of giving back.

Lightbridge Academy’s proprietary Seedlings Early Childhood Education Curriculum utilizes a “whole” child approach to learning and enrichment including a reading/writing readiness program, music, American Sign Language, Spanish, yoga and mindfulness, and more. Its curriculum has helped the brand achieve an impressive 95% proficiency rate in literacy knowledge and skills, according to a 2023-2024 Vine Assessment of four and five-year-old pre-kindergarteners. The brand also provides full transparency and creates trust with its ParentView® Internet Monitoring System which enables families to see what’s happening in their child’s classroom, a parent e-communication app with pictures, videos, real-time reports, and milestone updates and sets the Gold Standard for health and safety through the Lightbridge Promise.

To schedule a tour and learn more about Lightbridge Academy’s early childhood education programs, visit LightbridgeAcademy.com.

ABOUT LIGHTBRIDGE ACADEMY

Established in 1997, the company was founded as a family business based on core values and a Circle of Care philosophy that places equal importance on the needs of children, their families, teachers, center owners and the community. Lightbridge Academy provides quality early education and child care programs to children aged six weeks through kindergarten. The company currently has over 160 child care centers either open or in development throughout Arizona, Colorado, Florida, Georgia, Maryland, Michigan, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas and Virginia. The Lightbridge Promise also leads the industry as the Gold Standard for health & safety in the child care industry. In 2024, Lightbridge Academy was ranked #210 on Entrepreneur Magazine’s Franchise 500 and #274 on the Franchise Times Top 400. This year, Lightbridge Academy was awarded the Franchise Business Reviews Franchisee Satisfaction Award, ranked #179 on Entrepreneur’s Franchise 500 list, and was featured on Franchise Times Fast & Serious list.