Carlin, NV Graduates Its First Preschool Class

ELKO, Nev., June 11 /PRNewswire/ -- On Thursday, May 27, 2010, Communities In Schools of Northeastern Nevada's Little Red Caboose Preschool located in Carlin held a graduation for its first 20 preschool-age kids. The class of 20 preschoolers walked in to the graduation ceremony as their parents, teacher and community members cheered them on.  The children proudly wore their blue caps and gowns in celebration of their year-long accomplishments learning basic skills to prepare them for elementary school.

The Little Red Caboose Preschool in Carlin, NV opened in September 2009, offering the only early childhood education program in the community. The Little Red Caboose is a literacy-based preschool program funded through grants and community partnerships led by Communities In Schools of Northeastern Nevada. Through a collaboration with Great Basin College Mark H. Dawson Child and Family Center, Elko County School District and Stepping Stones Consulting and funding from Barrick Gold of North America, Rotary Club of Elko, and United Way of the Great Basin, the preschool prepares the students by working on early developmental skills they will need for kindergarten such as language, fine motor, gross motor and literacy skills.

Research shows that quality early childhood education among 4-5 year olds increases their chances of succeeding in school and reduces their chances of dropping out. They are much better prepared for the transition into elementary school academically, socially and emotionally. Prior to the opening of the school, toddlers in Carlin did not have access to any formalized preschool program within their community. The children who graduated the Little Red Caboose Preschool showed significant improvement in assessment of their developmental and early academic skills.

"We are so proud of our graduates," said Terri Clark, Executive Director of Communities In Schools of Northeastern Nevada.  "When a community does not have access to quality preschool services, the children don't have an equal chance at academic success.  We know that these children will now have the basic academic and behavioral skills they will need to succeed in school this fall," she added citing the 22.75 point average increase during the year on the Brigance kindergarten readiness test.

Clark gave a special thanks to Connie Zeller, the Mark. H. Dawson Child and Family Center director who spent countless hours working with parents, the school district, local community leaders and other partners to make the first year an outstanding success.  The Carlin Elementary School principal and staff were also commended for their support of the program which is housed on their campus.

For more information about the Little Red Caboose Preschool and Communities In Schools of Northeastern Nevada's mission to empower students to stay in school and achieve in life, please email us at [email protected] or visit our website www.cisnevada.org.

About Communities In Schools of Nevada: Communities In Schools surrounds students with a community of support, empowering them to stay in school and achieve in life. Through a school-based coordinator, Communities in Schools connects students and their families to critical community resources, tailored to local needs.  Working in more than 3,200 schools, in the most challenged communities, in 26 states, and the District of Columbia, Communities in Schools serves nearly 1.4 million young people and their families every year. Communities in Schools has become the nation's leading dropout prevention organization, and the only one proven to both decrease dropout rates and increase graduation rates.

SOURCE Communities In Schools of Nevada