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Church offers option for full-day kindergarten |
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Tuesday, March 04 2008 |
 Post & Mail photo/Chris Meyers
By CHRIS MEYERS
Staff writer
For the fourth year in a row, Stepping Stones Day Care will be offering its full-day kindergarten program, starting in mid-August.
The program, which is accredited by the National Association for the Education of Young Children and taught by licensed teachers, runs from autumn to Memorial Day and also offers child care from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. for parents unable to get off work in time to get students at the regular ending time of 2:15 p.m.
“We have a lot of children who need care either before or after school,” said Deb Gates of Stepping Stones.
Gates and Marla Chapple, one of the instructors of the program, both said they are not trying to compete with the kindergarten being offered in public schools, but that they want to offer another option for parents.
They pointed to the full-day program at Faith Christian Academy as being yet another alternative to the Stepping Stones or school programs.
“There are other options out there in the community,” Chapple said.
The current kindergarten class has 15 students, which is the maximum allowed to keep the 1:15 teacher-student ratio in the program.
“We would never go above 15,” Gates said.
Curriculum in the program covers reading, phonics, writing, math, science, social studies and Bible stories.
“That could be something some parents are interested in, but some may not,” Gates said of the Bible stories being included in the program.
There are also weekly spots for art, music and physical education, which are taught by Kim Weachock, who also helps with the guided reading program and after-school activities.
Chapple said having the same instructor stay with the students for care after school helps the students not have to get accustomed to an assortment of different staff members.
To Gates and Chapple, helping the students get ready for a traditional school setting is one of the more rewarding aspects of the program.
“It helps the kids be a little more confident,” Chapple said.
“Knowing that they’re going to be that much further ahead is nice,” Gates said.
The cost for the program is $108 a week, which includese book fees, breakasts, lunches, two snacks and any before or after school care.
The only additional cost is a $30 registration fee which holds the child’s spot in the program as well as covering some office supply costs.
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Last Updated ( Thursday, March 06 2008 )
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