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Oregon Road Conditions & Cams Email Story to a Friend February 9, 2006 Gold Hill joins in preschool plan The city will cover the preschool under its workers’ compensation insurance and its handle payroll By SANNE SPECHT Mail Tribune GOLD HILL — A partnership between the city and Patrick Elementary School will pave the way for a new preschool program on campus. The City Council on Monday agreed to cover the proposed Little Cubs Preschool under its workers compensation insurance and run the school’s small payroll through the city. The proposal was submitted by Patrick kindergarten teacher Candy Lee. She said the preschool will accommodate about a dozen students with one teacher and an assistant. It will operate 3½ hours on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays. Lee told the council the preschool program will offer its students a careful balance of academic and social skills. Emphasis will be on school preparation. But children also will be given an opportunity to develop social skills which will lead to better friendships with their peers, said Lee. Advertisement The goal is for every child to feel and be successful, she said. "Every 3- and 4-year-old deserves to feel like a million bucks at the end of their day," said Lee. The city’s assistance will not cost it any money, said Patrick Principal Bruce Fauble. The city will disburse anticipated tuition ($94 per month) to cover the school’s payroll and workers’ compensation expenses. "It’s the same setup we have for our after-school program," Fauble said Tuesday. Councilman Gus Wolf said parents and children in the community will benefit from the new program. "It will help the kids transition from preschool to kindergarten, and it will also help working parents," said Wolf. Fauble said a waiting list for 3- and 4-year-olds at the Gold Hill Community Preschool — a private cooperative school on Sardine Creek — demonstrated a need for the second preschool. Fauble praised the private, cooperative preschool his children once attended. Gold Hill Community Preschool students will continue to be included in assemblies and activities at Patrick, Fauble stressed. "We want to keep that school really strong," he said. Scholastic requirements under the Oregon Department of Education "Ready for School Initiative" and ongoing research indicate pre-reading skills need to be taught earlier, Fauble said. Preschool is an excellent opportunity to learn letter-sounding and alphabet skills, he said. "Kindergarten is much more like first grade used to be," said Fauble. "We need to accelerate learning to get kids to our benchmark standards." Reach reporter Sanne Specht at 776-4497 or e-mail Gold Hill joins in preschool plan ">[email protected] . Mail Tribune Home | Local News | Sports | Business | Obituaries | Life | Opinion AP News | Archives | Site Map | Community | Classified Copyright © 1997-2006 Mail Tribune, Inc. All rights reserved. Privacy Policy | Terms & Conditions | Website Feedback www.bingo.com Home Security Systems Trunks, Footlocker Custom Build Computers Computer Security Discount Hotel Reservations Casinos Canada dvd-r Generic Viagra Myspace Windermere Van Vleet Deep Muscle Stimulator Sports Equipment Online Casino Reviews Online Bingo Entertainment Guide Online Casino Fundraisers Student Loans Sudoku Online Advertisement s Advertisement