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Summer pre-K makes the grade

Parents like that the program, which started Thursday, frees up their schedules. Their kids like the dancing.

By ALDO NAHED
Published June 2, 2006

TAMPA - Kareen Caamano figures she'll save $130 a month by enrolling her daughter in the state's free pre-kindergarten program.

Caamano, 26, who works as a supervisor in a medical transcription office, said the extra money will come in handy.

"It works great," she said of the 10 hours a day that Abrianna Lopez, 5, now spends at Francis Bellamy Elementary School. "I go in at 8 a.m., so it gives me time to accomplish more things."

Thursday was the first day of classes in Hillsborough County for nearly 800 children ages 4 and 5 who signed up for the voluntary program ordered up by Florida voters in 2002.

The 300-hour summer program with certified teachers runs from 7:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. weekdays through July 14.

"Sure it sounds like a long day," said Dave McGerald, executive director for the Early Learning Coalition. "But it meets the needs of working parents."

Parents can sign up children throughout the summer, he said.

Fourteen schools participate in the program, which allows parents flexible pick-up and drop-off times.

"Parents can bring their child here, and they don't have to participate in all 10 hours," said Lisa Bellock, a kindergarten supervisor for the Hillsborough County school district.

About 3 p.m. Irma Alvarez picked up her son, James Hernandez, 5, from Bellamy. She said she's unemployed but wants James to interact with other children.

"I want him not to lose sharing time," she said. "He's by himself at home."

At Clair-Mel Elementary School, the rooms were decorated in bright colors, huge numbers and a giant bear whose wardrobe changes to reflect the weather.

"They love it," said John Diehl, 25, a pre-K teacher at Clair-Mel. "They find the magnet clothing for the weather bear and dress him up."

Throughout the district, children arrived with few cries, Bellock said. They scribbled masterpieces on paper, learned to write their names and danced a whole lot.

"We get the wiggles and jiggles out," said Raeena J. Prince, 36, who teaches at Riverview Elementary and will work at Clair-Mel for the summer.

Price shares a classroom of 18 children with fellow teacher Elizabeth Quimette. Classes are limited to 10 students per teacher.

Quimette, 23, taught first-graders last year, but this fall, she'll teach kindergarten.

The younger children seem more dependent, she said.

"These guys look at you like you have 10 heads," she said.

Dana Green, 24, brought her niece, Arianna Lucas, 4, and her son, Mark Johnson, 5, for their first day. While they are at school, she will be able to tend to her 2-week-old and a 20-month-old.

"It's the first time he's going to be away. I'm not sure how he'll react," she said of Mark. "They are used to staying home all day."

To register for the pre-K program, call 813 740-4713 and select "3" to get an up-to-date list of available locations.

Aldo Nahed can be reached at anahed@sptimes.com or (813) 310-0998.

[Last modified June 2, 2006, 08:30:39]