Wednesday, February 12, 2003
|
Wednesday, February 12, 2003 |
|
High school offers program for preschoolers Imagine being three or four years old and attending high school. That is exactly what 16 preschoolers are doing three days a week at Starr's Mill High. They are participating in the preschool program offered through the school's Child Development Center. Operating under the direction of Gay Godbois, the center is unique in that it provides high school students the opportunity to practice skills they have learned in a two-semester course in child development. Students who have successfully completed the course and elect to take the next one, early childhood education, work with the children in the center and receive weekly instruction in developmentally appropriate practices for children. Currently, about 80 students are involved in working with the preschoolers and another 70 are taking the prerequisite to be eligible for the program in the future. Godbois, who has a valid teaching certificate and a master's degree in early childhood education, oversees all aspects of the program. She says the goal of the center is to ensure that each child has the opportunity to grow and develop in an atmosphere that is safe, healthy and sensitive to that child's unique personality and learning style. "The combination of skilled workers and one-on-one attention creates a learning environment where every child can succeed," said Godbois. Children are assessed according to their own strengths and weaknesses and given opportunities and materials to challenge and celebrate their strengths while building skills in all areas. The program uses learning centers to meet its goals and to assist the children with learning specific skills. The high school students are responsible for preparing the centers with age appropriate materials and helping each child work through them. Godbois says the preschool program has been in existence for about 30 years. It started at Fayette County High School and was moved to Starr's Mill when it opened nine years ago. In fact, she says a teacher at Starr's Mill was a child in the program when it first started in Fayette. "I have been told that our program is the best kept secret in Fayette County. Not only does it allow us to serve the needs of preschool aged children, but it also gives our students who are thinking about a career in early childhood education an opportunity to get hands-on experience," Godbois added. The preschool program is open to any child in Fayette who is three to four years old and has been potty trained. The center operates Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday during regular school days from 8-11:30 a.m. During the second semester, the center offers a "lunch bunch" twice a week where children stay until 3:15 p.m. Tuition is $150 per semester. Anyone interested in registering a child for the program can contact Godbois at Starr's Mill, 770-486-2710, ext. 151, or go to the school's Web site at www.starsmillhighschool.com/faculty/childdev/index.htm to download an application.
|
||