Gibson, YMCA team for Pre-K program
NORWICH – Forming a community alliance with the local YMCA facility to offer education to children as young as four, the Norwich City School District says the first year of the program is nicely underway.
Dara Lewis, Stanford J. Gibson principal, says each year the state allots funding to the district to form a community collaboration to offer the Pre-K program. “Finding a facility that can meet the same standards as a school district has been hard in the past,” said Lewis. She says for the community organization to receive funding, its curriculum and standards for staff have to meet the same guidelines as the school.
For the first time in roughly eight years, the YMCA, working closely with Lewis, developed a program that meets the required standards. “Jamey Mullen, from the Y, and I spent many hours this summer getting the program designed,” said Lewis.
The program is an extension of the school-based pre-K program, however, whereas the curriculum matches that of the school, the daily routine, scheduling and activities are designed by YMCA Pre-school Director Christine Callea and her staff.
Callea, a certified teacher, took over the nursery school and pre-school classroom at the YMCA before the start of the school year. She explains the YMCA has always had a membership-based nursery school and pre-school classroom, but with the additional funding and the partnership with the school, the pre-school is now a free pre-K program.
“We have offered the nursery and pre-school programs for over 25 years,” said YMCA Executive Director Jamey Mullen. He explained the YMCA and the Norwich school district have worked numerous times together, but never in this capacity. “We saw an opportunity and it made total sense to do it,” he said. “So far it has worked out for everyone involved.”
Callea has a total of 13 students in attendance, with four of them coming from outside the Norwich City School District. “I can have up to 15 Norwich students, so although the year has already started, I am currently taking more children,” she said.
Callea explains she works with the staff at Gibson once a week to align her curriculum and go over lesson planning. She says everything, besides the designed pre-k required subjects, is up to the staff at the Y, including arts, crafts, swimming and fitness lessons as well as what activities are offered in the classroom.
Lewis explains the program at the school and the one at the YMCA go hand-in-hand. “Whereas the YMCA may have more health and fitness resources, the school can offer more literary resources,” said Lewis.
Both Lewis and Callea explain the program has worked wonderfully, and they both are hoping to continue the partnership for years to come.
Dara Lewis, Stanford J. Gibson principal, says each year the state allots funding to the district to form a community collaboration to offer the Pre-K program. “Finding a facility that can meet the same standards as a school district has been hard in the past,” said Lewis. She says for the community organization to receive funding, its curriculum and standards for staff have to meet the same guidelines as the school.
For the first time in roughly eight years, the YMCA, working closely with Lewis, developed a program that meets the required standards. “Jamey Mullen, from the Y, and I spent many hours this summer getting the program designed,” said Lewis.
The program is an extension of the school-based pre-K program, however, whereas the curriculum matches that of the school, the daily routine, scheduling and activities are designed by YMCA Pre-school Director Christine Callea and her staff.
Callea, a certified teacher, took over the nursery school and pre-school classroom at the YMCA before the start of the school year. She explains the YMCA has always had a membership-based nursery school and pre-school classroom, but with the additional funding and the partnership with the school, the pre-school is now a free pre-K program.
“We have offered the nursery and pre-school programs for over 25 years,” said YMCA Executive Director Jamey Mullen. He explained the YMCA and the Norwich school district have worked numerous times together, but never in this capacity. “We saw an opportunity and it made total sense to do it,” he said. “So far it has worked out for everyone involved.”
Callea has a total of 13 students in attendance, with four of them coming from outside the Norwich City School District. “I can have up to 15 Norwich students, so although the year has already started, I am currently taking more children,” she said.
Callea explains she works with the staff at Gibson once a week to align her curriculum and go over lesson planning. She says everything, besides the designed pre-k required subjects, is up to the staff at the Y, including arts, crafts, swimming and fitness lessons as well as what activities are offered in the classroom.
Lewis explains the program at the school and the one at the YMCA go hand-in-hand. “Whereas the YMCA may have more health and fitness resources, the school can offer more literary resources,” said Lewis.
Both Lewis and Callea explain the program has worked wonderfully, and they both are hoping to continue the partnership for years to come.
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