Meet the VPK graduates at Creative Coast Preschool
Graduating its first Voluntary Pre-Kindergarten class, Creative Coast Pre-school successfully promoted all 14 of its enrolled students last week.
“We are very proud of all of our kids. They have all come a long way since they began at the beginning of the year,” said instructor Elaine Smith. “A couple of the kids didn’t even speak English and most of them didn’t know how to spell their names, but now all of them communicate very well and can write their first and last names.”
Other VKP instructors at Creative Coast are director Tina Riehm and instructor Kate Swafford.
All of the Creative Coast VPK graduates will start kindergarten at Pine Island Elementary School in the fall.
“I am really excited about going to the big school,” said Elizabeth Ramming, 4.
The children attending VKP all shared the variety of activities they learned and mastered during the course of the year.
“I really like drawing pictures about the books we read,” said Ramming.
Emily Garcia, 5, is among the students who spoke very little English when she was enrolled in the program, but according to Smith, Emily is doing very well.
“I like learning my numbers,” she said.
Heidi Hason, 5, said she like learning her ABCs and Alexandra Beltron, 4, also improved her language skills and enjoyed learning her letters. Mauro “JR” Belton also improved his English skills and was very proud of the fact that he can now write his name.
Darren Pfister, 5, has learned to tell time and Michaela Dodig, 5, also has learned to write her name.
According to Smith, much of the children’s focus was number and letter recognition.
“I learned my ABCs and 123s,” said Caitlyn Turner, 4.
Kansas Sacks also has learned her numbers and alphabet and Jacob Bollen, 5, said he liked learning new songs. Zachary Mills, 5, is pleased that he can now count to 100 and write his full name and Trevor Lovelace has learned to read.
The children also said they had fun learning and playing new games, painting and learning how to spell the names of colors, Instructor Kate Swafford said. The children also learn some yoga positions and sign language.
Creative Coast Pre-school offers classes and day care for children 12 months to 5 years old, as well as before and after school programs for elementary school age children.
Creative Coast Pre-school is now accepting application for fall VKP classes and for more information, visit the school located at 10731 Stringfellow Road, just north of the center in Bokeelia. The school is open from 6:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. and can be reached by calling 283-3423.