There are basic things that we all need for a good life: a quality education that leads to a stable job, income that can support a family through retirement, and good health. Thanks to you, United Way is making lasting changes in people’s lives right here where you live.
Sunshine Corner Preschool
I would like to tell you about a little friend of mine, her name is Amy, she started at Sunshine Corner in the fall of 2008. Within one month we met with Amy’s family to let them know our concerns. Her speech was hard to understand, she had a hard time sitting for any length of time and her social, fine motor, and cognitive skills were all delayed. After a referral to Colvill Early Childhood center and preschool screening and IEP (Individual Education Plan) was put in place. A list of goals were set for Amy based on her IEP, things we could help her with at preschool like interacting with her peers, cutting, coloring, painting and learning to identify colors, numbers, shapes and directional concepts. Colvill sends an aide to assist Amy when needed, a speech clinician also comes to work with her while she is at school. In November of 2009, Amy was re-evaluated ---she no longer needs a speech clinician working with her, she enjoys having friends to interact with, she can write her own name, identify most shapes and colors and is beginning to enjoy “project time” because her abilities and confidence in her fine motor skills have greatly improved. She will be ready to move on to kindergarten in the fall!! Without this preschool experience Amy may have entered school without the skills she needs to be a successful, confident, eager to learn kindergartner. A preschool experience allows children to experiment with their growing competence and independence. We provide opportunities for children’s exposure to a wide variety of materials and experiences. They are able to practice listening and talking to others. They learn structure, rules and the importance of working together. All of these experiences are detrimental to the successful transition into Kindergarten!