Great Start Readiness Program
200 Smalley Street
PO Box 98
Twining, MI 48766
(989) 867-4234 Ext. 5
Cindy Nichols B.A. Elementary Education M.A. Early Childhood Education
Email: nicholsc@arenaceastern.org
Jean Cook C.D.A.(Child Development Associates)
Program Philosophy
We offer a well rounded, organized, consistent program to families. The High Scope educational approach (a set of guiding principles and practices) is used in the classroom. Active learning is an important part of the High Scope approach. Children learn through active experiences. Children are encouraged to make choices about materials and activities throughout the day. Children engage in "key experiences", activities that foster developmentally important skills and abilities. The "key experiences" are grouped into 10 categories: creative representation, language and literacy, initiative and social relations, movement, music, classification, number, space and time. These experiences will be centered around themes and will include social, emotional, physical, and intellectual stimulation for your child. Parent involvement is encouraged through visits to the classroom, parent/child activities, home activities for parent/child interaction, field trip participation, or volunteering to prepare classroom materials.
Registration
The Just 4's Great Start Readiness Program is a preschool program that is open to any child who lives in the Arenac Eastern or AuGres School District and will be 4 years old, but not 5, by December 1st of the school year.
To qualify for the program slots, the child must meet two or more of the criteria selected by the state as putting your child at-risk. Children are selected by assessing the need using the risk factors. More than 75% of the slots must be filled by students who meet the low income criteria provided by the Department of Education. Registration forms must be filled out by parents.
Children entering the program must have a legal birth certificate, record of immunization, and proof of residency. Proof of a comprehensive health appraisal must be on file within 30 days of the start of the program. Registration is scheduled for spring and after school starts.