Letter: A light at the end of the tunnel

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To the editor,

My husband and I both work full-time and have a 5-year-old son. If you’re like us, full-time kindergarten isn’t an option, it’s a necessity. Unfortunately, Region 16 is one of the few school districts left in the state without a full-time program, even though it’s been widely noted that children attending full-time kindergarten programs tend to excel better academically and socially than their part-time counterparts. (Strategiesforchildren.org is a great website to visit to learn more about the benefits of full-time kindergarten programs.)

Fortunately, for us, there’s a light at the end of the tunnel. Our son started attending Kokopelli Preschool in Seymour this year, and next year, they will be opening up a full-time kindergarten for eight students. (The kindergarten even has an afterschool care option until 5:30 p.m.) The teacher, Miss Vicki, has a master’s in education with a focus on literacy and 14 plus years of experience teaching in both public and private schools for pre-K, kindergarten and first grade. 

Also, since she is our son’s preschool teacher this year, we can vouch for her being one of the sweetest, most patient and creative teachers. Her curriculum, which fosters creative play, music, and the arts, makes learning fun for Lewie, and I have seen an impressive improvement in his math and reading skills over this past year. (He’s also become a jazz enthusiast.)

Finally, after doing research on private elementary schools in the area, I’ve been disgusted to learn that some kindergarten tuitions actually range from $15,000 to $19,000 per year. Who can afford that?  Kokopelli, in my mind, offers a private education experience with a highly-affordable price (similar to the cost of most daycare programs).  For the cost, children get an experienced teacher, a vibrant curriculum enriched in the arts (there’s even a dance/yoga studio on site), and a student/teacher ratio of 8 to 1. The school also goes on multiple field trips throughout the year to provide enhanced experiential learning opportunities.

If you’re like us and either need a full-time kindergarten option for your child or just want your child to benefit from a full-time, private school education, then look no further than Kokopelli. My son has learned so much from his Kokopelli pre-school education, and I am most certain that his full-time kindergarten experience at Kokopelli will place him at a wonderful advantage in terms of his academics and self-confidence as he moves onto first grade and beyond.

Annette Bosley-Boyce

Beacon Falls