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Spring Valley School Receives First 5 Grant

O’NEALS – Spring Valley School is the recipient of a $2,500 grant to cover much-needed supplies for the school’s transitional kindergarten (TK) and kindergarten, awarded by First 5 of Madera County.

TK was created by a California law, passed in 2010, called the Kindergarten Readiness Act.

TK offers children with birthdays between September and December a developmentally appropriate curriculum in line with state standards, taught by credentialed teachers.(Photo – Row 1- Taylor Bigelow, Ella Cohlan. Row 2- Carson Wimer, Cora Greer, Linden McDougald. Row 3- Cade Fullmer, Waylon Smith, Violet Kelly, Layla Capuchino. Row 4- Gabrielle Prock, Travis Henderson)

Intended to give younger kids a start and transition into education in a more formal school setting, TK was required to begin in the 2012 academic year. Already strapped for funds, Chawanakee District’s Spring Valley school lacked certain supplies for the TK age group and plan.

TK/Kindergarten Teacher Shandon Allen recognized the need and submitted a grant request to First 5 of Madera County, a nonprofit organization whose mission is to enhance early childhood development through advocacy and support. Allen explains that bridging TK and Kindergarten is a challenge.

“This TK group has different educational needs and expectations,” Allen says, “as they transition into kindergarten. The grant funds will help Spring Valley with specific number and alphabet recognition supplies and other necessary materials that we don’t normally stock for our kinder kids.”

Principal Kelli Bryant notes that TK is a “completely different focus.”

“We are honored that First 5 Madera considered the needs of our program and school,” says Bryant. “All our teachers are doing an amazing job with very little supplies and the TK grant will support this class and provide every student with immediate learning resources.”

Spring Valley School is located on Road 200 just east of Highway 41 in O’Neals. Phone (559) 877-6209

http://www.preschoolcalifornia.org/our-issues/transitional-kindergarten/

To learn more about First 5, visit http://www.first5madera.net/

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