CALDWELL- The first year of the Caldwell Preschool Program is coming to a close, and that was cause for celebration Friday afternoon.
The program is a collaboration between Head Start, United Way of Treasure Valley and the Caldwell School District. They joined forces to combine three separate preschool programs into one, allowing for more opportunities for the students to work together and share resources.
The preschoolers are in four of the Caldwell School District's elementary schools with a total of eight inclusive classrooms.
"We see children more prepared for elementary school," said Dr. Shalene French, who is the Caldwell School District superintendent. "They have social opportunities, they become more familiar with their school, just that interaction and the chance to boost their literacy skills."
"The program creates a situation where students start early enough in order to be successful when they graduate and then they become parents of the next generation and we can continue the cycle," said Julie Mead, who is the Caldwell School District's director of special services.
There were 228 preschoolers in the Caldwell Preschool Program this first year. The celebration on Friday was a sort of "rite of passage" for the little ones involved. They registered for kindergarten in the fall, and the next class of preschoolers, and their parents, could learn more and sign up.
The Caldwell Preschool Program operates on a sliding scale for parents. It's meant to be a low- to no-cost option for early childhood learning. If you're interested in the program you can reach out to Head Start, United Way of Treasure Valley or the Caldwell School District.