Finding the other end of our Red Thread: The Pre-school Graduate

Thursday, August 1, 2013

The Pre-school Graduate

My baby has graduated!

From pre-school, that is.

But that doesn't make it any easier.

My girl is growing up way too fast.

Maura is now the 3rd CDP graduate in our family. Both Riley and Aidan also graduated from the same pre-school. This school has been perfect for our family...our whole family!

I remember, many years ago, when Riley was only 2 1/2 years old and I was agonizing over the decision of which pre-school to enroll him in. This pre-school was highly recommended by all his early intervention therapists. It was a unique program...an integrated school...with special needs children and their typical peers sharing a classroom.

Children with physical needs (walkers, wheelchairs)

Children with medical needs (trachs, seizures, feeding tubes)

Children with developmental needs (Down syndrome, Autism)

But inside the classroom they were all just curious little three years, eager to learn and explore.

Side by side...completely unaware of their differences.

My initial hesitation...the physical building itself. It was old, and a bit dark. But once I had made my decision to enroll Riley there I was soon very pleased. The staff are amazing, all of them. Every teacher knows every child by name, and which parent they belong to. Even the 5 year old teachers know the 3 year old children. Speech, occupation and physical therapy happen seamlessly. Even the typical children benefit from their knowledge and skill. I quickly learned that the backbone of a school (the staff and the program) is so much more important than the physical setting.

Kind of like the old saying...

"Don't judge a book by it's cover"

When it came time for Maura to start pre-school we got a bonus...

the school moved to a new building!

Now this school really does have the best of everything:

amazing staff

a unique, diverse, inclusive program

AND a beautiful new building...with an awesome playground!