Time to Pick a Preschool

By Sara Bristol

More than any other subject, this is the story Playdate readers have asked for: help choosing a preschool.

It would be easier if I could just point you toward the best one, but that’s not the way this story goes. There are too many variables, and plenty of good choices.

Instead, I’ve culled some advice and information about the different types of preschools we have in the Yakima area and what kind of questions parents should ask. I’m pretty sure this decision isn’t going to be crucial to your child’s future at Harvard, but you’ll want to choose a preschool that’s safe and suits your family’s expectations, choose a school that you feel good about. Asking other parents for recommendations is a great way to start.

• First order of business: Yes, the time to sign up for preschool is now. Maybe I’m a little thick, but it didn’t occur to me in February that I should be enrolling my knee-high child in school for the fall. Was this in that “All I Really Need To Know I Learned in Kindergarten” book? Must have missed that chapter.

Anyway, if you’re thinking about registering for school in the fall, get it done in the spring. Call right away to see if the schools on your interest list are hosting an open house.

• Plan to visit more than one school, and go when the kids are there. Yakima mother “Pete” Jacobson scheduled visits with several schools before enrolling her 5-year-old son, Luke, in a blended preschool-kindergarten class at the Montessori School of Yakima.

“The kids looked so happy,” says Pete, who didn’t know much about the Montessori method. “We couldn’t help it. The kids were just so happy there.”

• Consider schedule and location. Preschool programs typically meet two to five days a week for about three hours. You’ll want to consider your child’s ability to adapt to the schedule, as well as what you’re going to do in that brief window between the car pools.

• Do you want to be involved? For Sandra Simmons, there was no other option: “I just really wanted to participate,” says Sandra, whose 4-year-old daughter, Lily, attends Children’s Center Preschool, a parent cooperative in Zillah. “It’s really fun.”
At the Zillah co-op, as well as the Central Lutheran and Learning Together cooperative preschools in Yakima, parents are required to volunteer several days in the classroom each month and also attend parent meetings.

“You get to be very involved in your child’s day,” says Annette Courcy, teacher at Central Lutheran Preschool. Also, she adds, “the families that you meet and are together with in preschool remain very close family friends throughout your child’s entire school years.”

Many traditional preschools encourage parents to volunteer in the classroom. At others, parents are welcome to observe but may be seen as a distraction in the classroom.

Of course, working parents may not be able to participate and may need a program that offers before- and after-school care. Be sure to ask what options are available at the schools you’re considering.

• How old is your child? In Yakima, Oakridge Montessori School accepts children as young as 18 months and Central Lutheran Preschool offers a Monday morning toddler program for 2-year-olds. Many schools offer preschool programs for both 3- and 4-year-olds, often in separate classrooms. Some schools also offer a “prekindergarten” program for older 4-year-olds and 5-year-olds who will start kindergarten the following year.

A few programs, including the Montessori schools, offer mixed-age classrooms that allow children to stay in the same room for several years. Mixed-age classrooms are designed to let children learn at their own pace, and also encourage older students to help their younger cohorts.

• How much can you afford? Low-income families may qualify to attend federal- or state-funded preschools, including Head Start and ECEAP programs. These schools are free to students who meet the eligibility requirements; call your local school district or EPIC (509-248-3950) for more information.

Cooperative preschools are generally one of the less-expensive options. Be sure to consider volunteer hours and snack contributions when calculating your true costs.
Also, keep in mind that fees are typically proportionate to the number of days a child attends, i.e. daily programs tend to cost more than twice-weekly programs.

• Does your child have special needs? From food allergies to physical disabilities, you’ll want to make sure the school you choose is well-equipped to handle your child’s needs.

Elise Cardenas, a former preschool teacher, has been very happy with her son’s developmental preschool for children with speech and hearing problems at Yakima’s Whitney Elementary.

Gabe, now 4, suffered seizures as an infant that led to delays with his speech and language comprehension.

“I really felt like he needed some sort of preschool, but I didn’t feel like there would be very many teachers who could handle somebody like him,” says Elise, who learned about the Whitney class through Children’s Village.

• What are your expectations? “We are helping the child learn to love school more than anything else,” says Central Lutheran’s teacher Annette. Her program is designed to familiarize children with classroom routines, learn to get along with their peers and have fun.

“We throw a little bit of academics in there, too, but we feel the socialization and desire to learn are the most important.”

A couple years ago, Danielle Polage pulled her son Kyle from one preschool because she felt there was too much work.

“A big, big no for me is worksheets,” says Danielle, a cognitive psychologist and professor at Central Washington University. “If people tell me worksheets are coming home, that’s not the school for me.”

Look at the art, she suggests. “If I see my kid’s project coming home perfect, I know they didn’t do it.”

Danielle’s daughter Elyse attends Mt. Olive Lutheran Preschool. She likes the school’s balance of fun and learning, which includes hands-on science projects as well as Bible stories and songs.

“The No. 1 thing for me is to make sure the kids are having fun,” says Danielle. “Some people like complete structure and that their kids walk in complete silence and straight lines.

“I’m not like that,” she says. “Silly and messy are my No. 1 priorities for preschool. At some point, school becomes boring. And I want to prevent that from happening as long as possible.”

For more information about Yakima-area preschools, visit click here.

WV co-op preschool registration set for Tuesday

Learning Together Preschool, a parent cooperative, is hosting an open house and registration meeting from 3-6 p.m. Sept. 8. Parents can drop in anytime during the session to register and tour the classroom.

Learning Together Preschool, formerly affiliated with the YVCC Parent Education Program, is located in Mountainview Chistian Fellowship, 7105 Alpine Way, the corner of Summitview and 72nd avenues in Yakima. Mountainview donates classroom space to the independent program; the preschool formerly was located in the Church of Christ across the street.

Enrollment for the 2009-10 school year is open to students ages 3-5. Class meets from 9-11:30 a.m. Monday through Thursday. Three- or four-day programs are offered.

The program offers a developmentally appropriate curriculum that promotes the physical, social, emotional and intellectual development of young children. The program supports parents in their role as primary caregivers and teachers of their children.

As a parent cooperative preschool, parent involvement is required and includes assisting in the classroom three times a month, attending parent meetings and committee work.

For more information, call 966-0733.

Selah offers state-funded preschool

Selah School District is registering students who will be eligible to attend a state-funded preschool program this fall. The Washington state Early Childhood Education and Assistance Program (ECEAP) offers free preschools at both Robert Lince and John Campbell elementary schools for children who live in the district and will be 4 years old by Aug. 31, and who meet eligibilty guidelines.

Morning and afternoon classes are offered Monday through Thursday during the school year. For more information, call 697-0693 or 697-0731 (Spanish).

Similar programs are offered through Yakima School District (573-2885) and West Valley School District (452-0212).

It’s time to sign up for kindergarten

When you think of sending your little guy to school in the fall, you might not think of registering him in the spring. However, if your child turns 5 by Aug. 31, take note: Many schools begin kindergarten registration in March.

When you go to register, be sure to a copy of your child’s birth certification and immunization records, along with proof of address, such as a utility bill or rental agreement.

Here’s a round-up of kindergarten registration information for Yakima-area school districts:

PUBLIC SCHOOLS

East Valley School District | Full-day kindergarten. New this fall, East Valley Intermediate will become East Valley Elementary. Registration at East Valley (573-7600), Terrace Heights (573-7800) and Moxee (573-7700) elementary schools will begin the week of March 23-27. To determine your school boundary, call the district office at 575-7300.

Selah School District | Half-day kindergarten. Parents may request enrollment at either John Campbell or Robert Lince elementary schools. A kindergarten orientation meeting will be at 7 p.m. May 4 at John Campbell Elementary’s Sunset Gym; registration begins May 6. For more information, call 697-0728.

Union Gap School District | Full-day kindergarten. Register at Union Gap School in April. For more information, call 248-3966.

West Valley School District | Full-day kindergarten. A district-wide informational meeting will be held at 6:30 p.m. March 19 at Cottonwood Elementary. Registration begins March 23-27 at your home school; to determine your school boundary, call the district’s transportation department at 966-2403

Yakima School District | Full-day kindergarten. Registration begins March 2-6 at your neighborhood school. Students are required to attend their boundary school; to determine which boundary you live in, call Central Registration at 573-7024 or see the map at yakimaschools.org.

PRIVATE SCHOOLS

Agapeland Preschool & Kindergarten | Preschool (3 years) through kindergarten. Location: 560 McGonagle Road, Selah. 697-6116. Online: selahcov.com

Grace Lutheran School | Preschool (4 years) through grade 8. Location: 1207 S. Seventh Ave., Yakima; 457-6611. Online: gracelutheranyakima.org
An open house for new students will be from 1-5 p.m. March 22. Or, call to arrange a tour anytime.

Montessori School of Yakima | Preschool (3 years) through kindergarten. Location: 511 N. 44th Ave., Yakima. 966-0680. Online: msofy.org

One mama shares why she loves Montessori

By Debbie Vuillemot

We are the parents of 4 children: Orion,7; Anais, 5; Elias, 3; and Akira, 1.

When Orion was 3, we were overwhelmed with how many choices there were for preschool. We started off in a twice-weekly church preschool and quickly realized he needed more stimulation. One of my co-workers told me about Montessori School of Yakima (MSY) where her child attended.

Read more….

Oakridge Montessori School | Preschool (2 years) through grade 8. Location: 6403 Summitview Ave., Yakima; 966-1080. Online: oakridgemontessorischool.com

Riverside Christian School | Preschool through grade 12. Location: 721 Keys Road, Yakima; 965-2602. Online: riversidechristianschool.com

St. Joseph Marquette Catholic School | Pre-K through grade 8. Location: 202 N. Fourth St., Yakima; 575-5557. Online: sjmms.org
An open house for prospective students will be from 5-6:30 p.m. Feb. 5. Or, call to arrange a tour anytime. Add your name to the school’s waiting list now; admission for new students will begin in late February.

St. Paul Cathedral School | Preschool (4 years) through grade 8. Location: 1214 W. Chestnut Ave., Yakima; 575-5604.

Westpark Christian Academy | Preschool (3 years) through grade 12. Location: 3902 Summitview Ave., Yakima; 966-1632. Online: diversityexcels.org

Yakima Adventist Christian School | Kindergarten through grade 10. Location: 1200 City Reservoir Road, Yakima. 966-1933. Online: www.yacsschool.org
Education Day will be April 9; preregistration is required. Prospective students will spend the day in a classroom and take assessment tests.

One mama shares why she loves Montessori

By Debbie Vuillemot

We are the parents of 4 children: Orion,7; Anais, 5; Elias, 3; and Akira, 1.

When Orion was 3, we were overwhelmed with how many choices there were for preschool. We started off in a twice-weekly church preschool and quickly realized he needed more stimulation. One of my co-workers told me about Montessori School of Yakima (MSY) where her child attended.

The focus is hands-on, concrete learning by the child and child-driven choices from activities made available by the teacher. Teachers are trained to observe the child and provide what the child needs at any given time, changing as the child changes. This education technique was developed by Maria Montessori, an Italian physician, who became interested in the plight of children and changed her career focus to understanding the true nature of the child. She was also active in the women’s rights movement in the early 1900s and was an advocate for peace.

The classes are set up in three-year age spans (3-6 yrs and 6-9yrs) so children can learn from each other as well as from an adult. The adult serves as a guide to help children learn to do tasks by themselves. In preschool and kindergarten, lessons are given individually to the child and then the child can choose which “work” to engage with during the day. There is also music, circle time (or triangle or square time), books and games. In the elementary class, the children learn in a more social setting and lessons are usually in small groups. The child self directs but does have requirements in standard academic areas.

The great thing about the Montessori way is the spill over to our home. We hear the way the older children teach the younger ones when we listen to their play. In recent conversations between our 5 year old and 3 year old: “Let’s count our fruit snacks. Now eat one and let’s count again.” “I say a word, now you rhyme it.” “Elias, did you have a lesson today?”

The other thing we love is community. We’ve developed friendships with other families and their children who are all learning in the same way.

MSY is non-profit and has been in operation for more than 40 years. All of the teachers are Montessori certified — and wonderful! Before- and after-school care is available. There are four preschool/K classrooms and one first-through-third grade classroom. Parents are part of the board. Visitors are always welcome by appointment. Call 966-0680. We’re located in Englewood Christian Church at 511 N 44th Ave in Yakima. Website: www.msofy.org

Debbie Vuillemot is a mother of four, professional midwife and serves on the board of the Montessori School of Yakima.