Parents will soon have the opportunity to enroll their children in Ohio County Schools’ excellent Pre-K program, which is extremely important for a child’s early development.
Elm Grove Elementary School Pre-K teacher Summer Kinser is a well-respected educator, and she is proud to be a part of the school system’s Pre-K program. She said the program offers students a safe and nurturing environment that allows them to learn and grow.
Kinser said the program provides students with opportunities to engage in play activities throughout the day that help students develop their social, emotional, physical and cognitive skills. She said students engage in hands-on, real-life experiences, and she added that connecting new information to prior knowledge makes learning meaningful to them.
“I love being a Pre-K teacher and being able to watch the growth from the moment they walk through the door that first time until they are ready to move on to Kindergarten,” Kinser said. “It’s wonderful to see their pride and excitement when they make a discovery or master a new skill. This program provides a safe place for students to feel supported when they try something new or when they make a mistake. It is through these experiences that learning happens.”
Ohio County Schools Student Services Director Raquel McLeod said the school system’s UPK or Pre-K program has been in place for more than 20 years, and it is important because it establishes the foundation of a child’s education. She said the program truly does prepare its students for a lifetime of learning.
“Pre-K prepares young children for the expectations of the classroom,” McLeod said. “It is a child’s first experience in a school setting, and it gives them an early opportunity to interact with peers in a social environment. Pre-K is also important for a child’s social and emotional development because it involves early literacy and health and physical development. The focus is on academics, but Pre-K also includes other important areas such as self-regulation and social relationships.”
In Ohio County Schools, UPK students receive the finest in early childhood education from the most highly-qualified teachers. The program provides the quality education all parents want for their children in a joyful environment. The program establishes the fundamentals of reading, writing, math, science and social studies. McLeod said Ohio County Schools is proud to offer such a wonderful program to the children and parents of Ohio County.
Nineteen Ohio County sites offer 4-year-old students a flourishing program that meets their social, cognitive, linguistic, emotional, cultural and physical needs. Ohio County Schools also offers supplemental services including speech-and-language, occupational, and physical therapy to students deemed eligible to receive it.
Registration for the school system’s Universal Pre-K program will begin at 8 a.m. on Feb. 7. Parents or guardians can register children by calling 304-243-0333 or online at http://boe.ohio.k12.wv.us. Pre-K students must be four years old on or before June 30, 2022.