Easing students into kindergarten

Preschool children are her passion. Robin Deaton has spent the last 30 plus years in early childcare, first by owning and operating out of her home, but for the past 13 years at the Washington County Family YMCA. “If I can make school fun, it can make a difference for the rest of their lives,” Deaton said. “They’re my kids.”

Deaton has just completed the fast track program to obtain her Child Development Associate (CDA) credential. “I am so proud of Robin and her team and what they have accomplished,” said Kristy Purlee, CEO of the Y.

Deaton was originally signed up to take the course in Bloomington, but COVID-19 changed those plans. So, she applied to a revised program that squeezed into eight weeks, a 14-month course. “I was willing to do whatever it took,” Deaton said. She was denied at first, but after appealing to the committee, they made room for her. She said, “I put in probably 40 to 50 hours a week.”

Purlee said, “Robin has years of experience, but never had a credential to show for her knowledge. The state now recognizes her qualifications.” Deaton’s credentials have allowed the YMCA Pre-K program to be a Level 3 Paths to QUALITY™ program. (Paths to QUALITY™ is Indiana’s statewide rating system for early care and education programs.)

“It’s not just a trophy,” Deaton said. “We have spent three years planning it out.” Getting her credentials was the icing on the cake.

These credentials have enabled Deaton to be a more qualified teacher of young children. With the CDA, Deaton understands the standards and how they help children be more successful as they move from one developmental stage to another. She knows now how to nuture the emotional, physical, intellectual and social development of the children in her care.

The changes at the YMCA preschool started with a grant from the Washington County Community Foundation to fund and prepare classrooms for the Paths to QUALITY™. Prior to COVID-19, the classrooms were set up with 10 interactive stations that allowed each child to choose their table on a daily basis. If there were more than four children per table, the children are tasked with communicating with each other for changes. “It is neat to see the kids work together,” Deaton said.

The classrooms look a little different after COVID-19, but the process is the same. Now, what was available to the students at the tables are now in boxes that they choose each day. “Math, science, reading...everything is in a box,“ Purlee said. “They still do music and get around,” Deaton added.  The students, she said, have adapted well to the changes.

According to the Office of Early Childhood and Out-of-School Learning, “The pre-k program can help your 4-year-old be better prepared to make new friends, play, discover, learn, be curious and ready for kindergarten. Our education includes social skills, number recognition, counting, alphabet recall, motor skills and more.

The pre-k program currently has three classrooms at Bradie Shrum Elementary and one at West Washington Elementary School. The classroom at WWES and one at BSE are full days, five days a week. The other two at BSE are three days a week, one a.m. class and one p.m. class each day. The all day classrooms accomodate parents who work full-time.

Another exciting turn for the YMCA’s pre-k program, that goes along with the Paths to QUALITY™ credentials, is their ability to be a part of On My Way Pre-K program that offers free preschool to families that qualify. “With this program, families who are in need don’t have to rely on donors to supplement early learning that prepares their child for kindergarten,” Purlee said.

Having this program takes the burden off parents who can’t afford preschool.

The Y continues to offer preschool at their facility for children two and a half and three. Those classes are Tuesday and Thursday and offer both a morning class and an afternoon class. “The next goal is to get Paths to QUALITY™ for that age group,” Purlee said.

For parents who are overwhelmed with the changes, Purlee said that parent engagement programs are in the works. They currently assist parents via ZOOM meetings and other avenues. Because parents are not allowed in the classrooms due to COVID, they send videos and pictures to parents to help them stay connected with what their child is doing in pre-k.

Overall, the Paths to QUALITY™ and On My Way to Pre-K programs help take care of the parents’ financial burden, work burden and some transportation barriers. In the city of Salem, there is a bus that will pick up and take home children. The bus is in partnership with the Salem Community Schools, but the Y provides the driver and has equipped the bus with a 3-point harness system for each child. At West Washington, pre-k students can ride the bus (with a 3-point harness installed), if they have a sibling that attends WWES.

If schools would go virtual again, the Y has a contingency plan for that also, with a See-Saw program. “We will not let our kids fall behind,” Purlee said.

Deaton said the schools have been great partners with the pre-k program. “We are included in everything possible,” she said. “The kids feel like they are already in the big school. There is no more, ‘I’m going to the big school,’ because they are already in the big school.”

The On My Way to Pre-K program will help ensure that all kindergarten students that graduate from the Y’s pre-k program will feel that way.