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Households are already lining as much as put their kids on a wait checklist for participation within the Festus R-6 Early Childhood Schooling Program, though it received’t kick off till August 2023.
This system is strictly for households residing throughout the Festus R-6 College District. Providers are for kids ages 3-5.
Samantha Mouser, who serves as this system’s coordinator however is slated to turn out to be its director when it opens, mentioned there already is an extended wait checklist. She expects this system, which might be housed at 821 American Legion Drive (previously the Wee Care Studying Middle), to accommodate a bit of greater than 100 kids.
“As of as we speak (Oct. 7), now we have 252 youngsters on our wait checklist,” Mouser mentioned. “We haven’t began providing enrollment but.”
She mentioned that step will most likely happen in late March 2023.
Even with the already lengthy checklist, Mouser mentioned she tells those that inquire to place their kids’s names on the wait checklist.
“If spots open (forward of them), we’ll get them in this system,” she mentioned.
Festus R-6 is beginning its ECE program from scratch, by no means having had one earlier than.
The district purchased the Wee Care facility in December 2021 for $3.4 million from Wee 5, LLC. The acquisition included the corporate’s 5-acre property, current 20,460-square-foot constructing and all furnishings, together with tables, desks and playground gear.
The Festus R-6 Board of Schooling authorised Mouser because the district’s ECE coordinator/director in February and she or he has been overseeing preparations for this system.
“The aim proper now’s to have six to eight lecturers for this system,” she mentioned. “We’re nonetheless deciding. Based mostly on the numbers (of scholars in this system), we’ll resolve what number of lecturers we’ll want. Board of Schooling members will resolve.
“After we begin, we won’t be at capability. We might be greater than 100 – that’s assured. We’ll proceed to construct this system yearly.”
Kevin Pope, R-6 coordinator of communications and particular tasks, mentioned district officers are specializing in assembly the necessity.
“We’re going to attempt to serve probably the most college students we presumably can,” Pope mentioned.
Households pays a price, though the quantity has not been set.
“There might be a value, nevertheless it has not but been decided,” Pope mentioned. “Will probably be affected by state funding and the variety of college students.”
Along with making ready the constructing, the district is testing potential college students, Mouser mentioned.
“We’ve began screening college students on our wait checklist,” she mentioned. “Mother and father as Academics are doing the screenings, that are held right here (on the program facility).”
She mentioned she has been finding out current ECE packages within the area.
“I’ve been going round to space Early Childhood Schooling facilities and touring to see what will work for our group,” Mouser mentioned.
Pope mentioned facility renovations are persevering with.
“There’s nonetheless extra work to be finished,” he mentioned. “No main renovations.”
The ECE program is for kids within the years main as much as kindergarten, ages 3-5, however with restrictions.
“(For the category beginning in August 2023), they need to be 3 by July 31, 2023,” Mouser mentioned. “That might be an element on the wait checklist. In the event that they (flip 5 on Aug. 1, 2023, or after) they are going to be eligible for this as a result of they might be ineligible for kindergarten.”
The Festus R-6 program will provide morning and afternoon classes Monday via Friday, with morning classes from 8:30-11:30 a.m. and afternoon classes from 12:30-3:30 p.m. This system might be provided in the course of the college 12 months, following the college calendar.
An ECE program is completely different from day care in that it’s extra education-oriented, Mouser mentioned.
“Will probably be early childhood training and early childhood particular training,” she mentioned. “We’re requiring the lecturers to be dually licensed. The curriculum will comply with Missouri early childhood studying requirements, known as MELS.
“There might be a structured curriculum taught by licensed lecturers to make sure that college students are kindergarten prepared,” Mouser mentioned.
For extra data or to put a toddler on the wait checklist, name the R-6 Early Childhood Middle at 636-465-0395 or go to the district web site at festus.k12.mo.us.
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