Celebrating Ten Years of La Escuelita

Fully 34% of all children enrolled in CMS are Hispanic.  These families come to the U.S. with hopes of a safe and prosperous future.  But they are starting over, with no community and a different language. It is so isolating to have young children with no extended family or friends to go to for advice and help. La Escuelita Bilingual Preschool provides a caring transition to school that makes for a confident child who is ready to learn.  Area kindergarten teachers tell us they wish ALL Spanish-speaking children could go to La Escuelita. Our Family Programming help parents navigate barriers while inviting them into a supportive community that includes speech, vision, cognitive, and occupational therapies for their children.

Teri Brooks, favored kindergarten teacher at Davidson K-8, tells us:

“Children from La Escuelita Bilingual Preschool are so well-prepared. I am impressed with their skills and command of English.  They have nice attention spans and are ready and eager to learn. As a teacher, I have always been concerned with the hurdles Spanish-speaking children face when kindergarten is their first school experience. The ability of the La Escuelita students to learn new concepts, socialize and make new friends is above average for typical kindergarteners!”

Our English-speaking students benefit from learning to speak Spanish in a culturally diverse environment. Their tuition helps subsidize those who cannot afford it.

Your investment in our children not only prepares Spanish-speaking children for elementary school, but also helps their families navigate their new lives in a meaningful way. Thank you for being a part of our community and thank you for your gifts to La Escuelita Bilingual Preschool.  We are excited for the road that lies ahead.

 

No science preschool is complete without a productive hands-on garden and our garden is PRODUCING!  Thank you to volunteers Jake Jacobsen with Storyhill Church and Steve Popelka who have already cleared the beds and put in new topsoil. The children have planted lettuce and onions and radishes and are SO excited to water the tiny sprouts.  Soon we will have a class salad!  “Mr. Jake” and “Mr. Steve” have big plans to include cucumbers and tomatoes.  We can hardly wait for pumpkins in the fall!

 

We are graced with the most amazing volunteers who come each week and enrich the children of La Escuelita Bilingual Preschool.  They inspire our teachers.  They give of their time, their knowledge, their stories, and their kindness. How do we thank our beautiful volunteers?  We invite them back, of course! Thank you Michelle, Beverly, Karen, Isabella, Tootsie, Berea, Jan, Sadie, Melany, Linda, Jane, Darlene, Mea, Gennine, Newt, Adelle, Cindy, and all who have made us better and who are inspired to join our family.