The Merced City School District still has space available for more children between the ages of three and five to join our preschool program. We have a total of 18 preschool classes at 13 of our elementary school campuses, and we accept applications all year long because we often have openings that come up during the year as students move with their families.
We are a State Preschool Program, so families must meet eligibility requirements. Eligibility is based on a family’s size and the gross monthly income. Our program provides three hour sessions, one in the morning and one in the afternoon. Class sizes range from 16-24 students, but we always maintain a 1 to 8 ratio of adults to children.
Preschool is important for many reasons. For many children, it is their first experience in a structured setting with teachers and groups of children. It’s a chance to learn to share, follow instructions, and begin the foundation for learning that will occur in elementary school. Preschool also promotes social and emotional development. It allows children to spend time away from parents and build trusting relationships with adults outside the family. Children learn to take care of themselves and others in preschool, which boosts their sense of competence and self-worth. It also helps prepare them to be successful in group settings once they enter kindergarten. Preschool promotes language and cognitive skills. Teachers help stretch their language by asking questions and introducing new vocabulary during science, art, snack time, and other activities. Preschool nurtures a child’s curiosity. Teachers use children’s interests and ideas to create activities. They also have access to play areas designed to support their imagination with costumes, props, household items, and more. Preschool activities boost pre-math and literacy skills. This is done through games and activities. For example, singing the alphabet song while following along in a picture book helps build the connection between letters and word sounds.
It is important to realize that there are differences in the types of preschool programs. We are a state preschool so we are different than Head Start, which is a federal program. There are also private preschools that are different as well. One thing that makes our district unique is that we two family specialists who help support families by providing workshops and making referrals to other agencies that can provide support that the district cannot. The family specialists will also help with individual assistance to children and families when needed. We have a Positive Behavior Support Teacher who also works with children and parents. She provides support for children who may have challenging behaviors. We also have a Preschool Special Education Team that includes a psychologist, a speech therapist, a resource teacher, and a nurse. We have a special day class for children who have IEP’s (Individualized Education Programs).
In a state-wide quality rating system, all of our sites scored “High Quality,” and some of our sites scored a “High Quality Plus.” It is very similar to a rating system that restaurants and hotels have. Some are 3 stars, and some are 5 stars. Our program is rated like a 5 star because we have highly qualified staff, we score high on environment or classroom ratings, we provide high ratios for supervision and engagement, and we monitor children’s development and provide support as needed.
Parents who are interested in enrolling their children or learning more can come by the office at Galen Clark Preschool, which is located at 211 E. 11th Street in Merced. Or they can call 209-385-6619.
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