This year a new Department of Education requirement was that we hand over our Kinder 2 class to them. This was not easy for us or for the families of the children wanting to continue at Hope for the Island Preschool.
Compliance is necessary for any school wishing to hold accreditation and permits to operate. With this change, we were able to free up Cristina to focus on helping with Administration. Her college training will be utilized to help with a back log of work in our office. The first day of school for our 23 newly enrolled preschoolers was typical. The kids didn’t know what to expect, some cried, some wouldn’t let go of their mother’s hand, while others jumped from one emotion to the next.
The teachers made the first week of school fun and inviting. Many stickers were given! When in doubt, give stickers! Many of these 3 and 4 year olds have relatives that used to attend our school. It was great to see some of our alumni students now accompany their relatives. It makes us all feel a bit old seeing our former nursery students drive up on a motorcycle. The Preschool staff has a great sense of accomplishment as they witness the dramatic changes that have taken place during the three years these students have spent with us.
A mother named Arlyn testifies: “Most parents will agree with me that we want all our children to have the opportunity to attend Hope for the Island Preschool. We appreciate how the school operates in love, not just teaching. The teachers are concerned about the life of each child and help develop them. I’m really amazed how my daughter lost her shyness and became independent. The confidence our children gained at Hope for the Island helped 99% of them to become top ranking students in elementary. As a parent, I always felt good dropping my daughter off at school knowing she is safe and being taught good things. She also learned more about God and His plan for her. This is important truth because it helps her in her academics. I also like that the school expenses are affordable even for the poor families. The town of Burgos is blessed to have Hope for the Island here.”
