Briefly In Education

Preschoolers graduate

Twenty-five families celebrated their graduating preschoolers June 12 at the Boys & Girls Club of Laguna Beach’s Even Start Club Preschool graduation ceremony.

The program, which replaced the Head Start program when it closed a decade ago, is a free preschool for 3- and 4-year old children from qualifying low-income families living in Laguna Beach and surrounding communities.

The kids dressed in their Sunday best and family members beamed with pride as each preschooler was formally presented with their very first diploma.

“This exceptional program is definitely one that our whole community should be very proud of,” said Pamela Estes, executive director of the Boys & Girls Club. “It really is like a pebble in a pond and the impact that is created by those who support and work with the children in the club preschool program ripples out beyond the young ones in the classroom, to their parents and then throughout the community.

“It costs our club around $5,500 per child to operate this high-quality program, which is only possible because our community understands that everyone benefits from the investment made in these young lives.”

The goal of the Even Start program is to give underserved children an “even start” when they enter the public school system. Predominantly from Spanish-speaking households, by the time they graduate from the program, they know the alphabet, can count, have developed a love of books and they have learned the social skills needed to thrive in a classroom setting.

“The Even Start preschoolers enter their schooling at a similar level to other, more advantaged students,” said preschool Director Terry Anne Barman. “Teachers are able to get right to teaching the whole group instead of spending valuable class time bringing less prepared young ones up to the level of the rest of the class.”

Seven of this year’s graduates will attend El Morro Elementary School in the fall and one will enter Top of the World Elementary School.

For more information about the program, call Barman at (949) 494-2535, ext. 107.

Summer at Crystal Cove State Park

Crystal Cove State Park will hold weekly Junior Ranger programs throughout the summer, giving kids ages 7 to 12 a fun introduction to the ecology of the park and allowing them to earn a badge.

Junior Rangers meet from 9 to 10 a.m. Aug. 4, 11, 18 and 25. Meet at Pelican Point lot No. 4. $10 day-use parking fee.

For more information, contact Winter Bonnin at (949) 497-7647 or [email protected].

ACT/SAT practice test Saturday

An ACT/SAT practice test will be administered from 10:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Saturday at the Laguna Beach Library.

College-bound teens can use the opportunity to experience each ACT and SAT section, receive a detailed analysis of performance, and improve scores with Kaplan’s strategies.

A follow up parent/student workshop will also be from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. Wednesday.

To enroll, call (800) KAP-TEST or visit www.kaptest.com.