Free summer VPK program available at the Creative Coast Preschool
Creative Coast Pre-school is offering island parents an opportunity to give their youngsters a head start on education as they are offering a free Voluntary Pre School program with summer. VPK is provided for 4- and 5-year-old children to introduce them to classroom instruction and to prepare them for a smoother transition to elementary school.
“Everyone wants what is best for his or her children and a quality education is no exception to this rule,” said Creative Coast Director Tina Riehm. “VPK is one of the best ways you can give your child an advantage in helping them lay a foundation for the rest of their education.”
According to Riehm, studies have shown that high-quality early education programs like VPK help children develop more advanced language skills, math skills and social skills.
“The children who participate in the Creative Coast Preschool VPK program will be able to carry these skills with them into kindergarten and will continue to build upon them for the rest of their lives,” Riehm said. “When children are ages 4 and 5, they are most ready to begin learning and retaining information and developing new habits in a structured environment. It is important to enroll them in a high-quality, effective VPK program like our school has to offer.”
Utilizing well trained and experienced teachers, the VPK program at Creative Coast provides a positive interaction between the students and the teachers through communication in a way that helps children learn by encouraging them to use reasoning and problem solving skills to accomplish tasks they are presented. The essential skills are provided in small teacher-to-child ratios as the groups of children are designed to allow for more interaction between the teacher and the child. Some of the essential skills taught by the staff at Creative Coast Preschool are language, reasoning, science, math, block play, dramatic play, art and music in an effort to help in developing a well-rounded student.
“All of these curriculum activities helped our VPK children develop their mental, emotional and social skills,” Riehm said. “Our VPK graduates are ready to enter kindergarten with educational skills that will help them to be successful in school.”
Volunteer Pre Kindergarten is offered free to children throughout Lee County and Creative Coast Preschool brought the program to Pine Island four years ago. The island preschool offers two VPK session each summer. The 2011 session will begin on Aug. 8, with two classes. The first class will take place from 8 to 11 a.m. followed by the second class from 12:15 p.m. to 3:15 p.m.
“All of our VPK programs are absolutely free for children to participate in as long as they are 4 or 5 year olds,” Riehm said. “I highly encourage parents to take advantage of this opportunity and that is why we are offering both morning and afternoon sessions to help accommodate busy schedules.”
Creative Coast Preschool can also offer free transportation as well for any children who my need a ride to participate in the VPK programs.
For more information about Creative Coast Preschool or the VPK program, call Tina Riehm at 283-3423 Monday through Friday from 6:30 a.m. to 6 p.m.