By Terri Hardeman
Special to The PREVIEW
On April 24, enthusiastic moms, dads, older siblings and grandparents rolled up their sleeves and dug into deep cleaning at Seeds of Learning. After a pizza supper, families worked alongside the teachers from each of Seeds’ four classrooms. Tall dads perched on ladders to clear cobwebs from the rafters and determined moms scooped fish from the tanks before cleaning them.
All the while, teachers explained the importance of play in the children’s everyday learning and the subtle skills gained by pouring and measuring in the water table.
According to Lyndsey Lucero, teacher in the Dragonfly class, “The parents get to see the classrooms and really give us extra help. We can visit and get to know them better.”
The annual event was sponsored by the Family Involvement Committee in an effort to keep the Seeds center clean, safe and healthy for its students, as well as to provide opportunities for building strong relationships between Seeds’ teachers and families.
Alyssa Forest is a parent of two children at Seeds of Learning. She commented about the event, “Whether or not teachers need our help, it shows our support.”
Seeds of Learning has an active Family Involvement Committee. Monthly meetings include planning and conducting events such as Winter Festival, the annual Back to School BarBQ, making Made with Love art cards, staff appreciation activities and children’s visits to the Senior Center during the Christmas season.
Seeds of Learning is a nonprofit, high-quality early care and preschool education center in Pagosa Springs. Its staff and programs are accredited by the National Association for the Education of Young Children. Less than 10 percent of the nation’s preschools earn this rigorous accreditation.
Seeds serves the needs of 70-75 families who require quality child care in order to work in Pagosa every day. More than half of the students at Seeds are at risk due to household income.
If you are interested in learning more about Seeds of Learning or how you can contribute to the success of its young children, please call 264-5513 for more information and a tour of the center.
