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Washington Early Childhood School Looks to Exciting School Year

Building improvements include wireless Internet access

The 2008-09 school year is well underway at Washington Early Childhood School in Urbana, and the school’s principal, Crystal Vowels, is excited about the opportunities for the school community this year.

Washington Early Childhood School provides school services for kids ages 3-5 who are identified as at-risk for future academic struggles. School personnel are working hard to finish the final screenings for students. “We have our family social workers and coordinators really working on contacting families who have missed appointments or are having difficulty filing the proper paperwork, and they are really supporting the families and helping them out so we can get the kids in here in a timely manner,” Washington Early Childhood Principal Crystal Vowels says. She adds that the school should be at capacity very soon once the final screenings are completed.

“They (the students) are so excited to start school,” Vowels adds.

Vowels says the students, families, teachers, and staff were greeted with a good looking and improved building this year. “We did all kinds of work this summer facility-wise. So, the hallways are cleaner, brighter, and just more colorful. We also have some new, young staff-persons who always add a spark of life to the school along with the veteran staff who are familiar with our programs,” Vowels comments.

However, Vowels says one of the most exciting developments at Washington Early Childhood School this fall is a technology upgrade. The school building itself is old and workers had a hard time wiring the facility for the Internet, so district technology staff have found a solution. Vowels now says Washington is wired to the World Wide Web. “We are now accessible to wireless technology,” Vowels explains. “The (school) district has made a commitment to not only making us wireless accessible but giving us the actual computers, wireless cards, and printers to make use of that technology. So, for the first time in Washington’s history, we will be Internet accessible.” Vowels says the school will be using this technology to upgrade the school website and communicate better with parents and members of the community. “The staff is excited. They are excited to have the tools and to look at how we can make it work at the early childhood level,” Vowels adds.

• A quality, individualized program to teach preschoolers.
• We focus on the child's total development including communication, cognitive, physical and emotional development.
• Children grow through play and interacting with each other.
• We encourage children to take the initiative and learn independently.
• Activities and classrooms reflect the children’s developmental levels and natural interests.
• Ages: For children ages 3-5.
• Hours:
  • Half-day sessions: 9-11:30 a.m. or 1-3:30 p.m. (2 1/2 hours a day)
  • Full- day classes: 9 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. (6 1/2 hours)