Happy Independence Day - Let Freedom Ring!! Mrs. Kohut and I are taking June 28 - July 2 off to enjoy summertime fun with our families and then we return for five more awesome weeks of summer camps. If you haven't signed up but would like to join us, call the preschool at 924-9290 to reserve your preschooler's place in the fun! Our weekly themed camps run through August 7th.

On April 16th 2010, we were visited by two assessors for the Look for the Stars, Quality Rating Improvement System. The Look for the Stars QRIS is a comprehensive learning improvement program designed to enhance the quality of child care to ensure positive outcomes for children. This QRIS encourages and recognizes quality services and provides identifiable standards of quality using a 5-star rating system. This assessment program has been active for three years. This is the second year we have been assessed and we do so on a voluntary basis (we do not have subsidized children in attendance and are therefore exempt from the requirement to be assessed by Look for the Stars). Last year we received a 4-Star rating and an extensive report on every component. If you know me (and many of you do!)…..that report became my TO-DO LIST!

Many projects and staff meetings throughout our 2009-2010 had me crossing off each detail until the only thing left to do was have our next assessment visit. There are a total of 50 points + 3 bonus points, for a grand total achievable of 53 points on this environmental rating scale. Little Disciples Preschool received 51.5 points. Can I say that again? LITTLE DISCIPLES PRESCHOOL RECEIVED 51.5 POINTS!!!!!!!!!!! There are only 4 programs in Sarasota County to have achieved 5-Star status. Your staff was together in our end-of-year review meeting when the call came in. Needless to say, there was A LOT of dancing in the halls and hugging going on!

While this is a high mark of achievement for our staff, it is also our gift to each of our preschoolers and their families. We are honored to have reached 5-Star status. The changes we made from last year to this are all physical ones to: provide better safety, better hands-on learning, and better opportunities for our preschoolers. The heartbeat of Little Disciples Preschool remains the same: ours is a learning, laughing, loving approach to prepare your child for life. Your children are the reason we are here, and the reason we continue to reach for the stars!!! Visit www.lookforthestars.org to find out more about this rating system in the coming weeks (new ratings not posted yet…..)

Hope this finds you and yours having tons of fun this month and throughout your summer!