To help Capistrano Unified families navigate the world of preschool — and particularly why the community’s youngest can benefit from such educational environments — school officials recently hosted a webinar touting preschool’s various benefits.
Led by Ryan Burris, the district’s chief communications and public engagement officer, the webinar highlighted how preschool — which is available to children who turn 3 by Dec. 1 — helps students excel academically, socially, and even physically.
Preschool provides an essential foundation into pre-kindergarten (pre-K) and kindergarten, as well as all the grades beyond. Capistrano Unified currently has 1,100 preschoolers across 49 classrooms, both for general education and special education.
The district offers full-day and half-day programs (ranging from three to seven hours), and morning and afternoon sessions. There are state-funded programs, as well as Spanish and Mandarin immersion options.
Parents can even choose from two-, three- and five-day programs. Students are required to be potty trained. Exclusions are made for those with a medical condition or disability, in which case accommodations will be made.
What each child needs depends very much on the personal preferences of families, said Dr. Lauren Pattullo, director of early childhood programs, services and SPED.
“No matter the classroom, we believe in providing a high-quality, supportive, inclusive and nurturing environment where all children can thrive,” Burris said.
Capistrano Unified’s preschool curriculum is aligned with California standards, providing a foundation of all eight domains of learning and development toward school readiness. This “whole child” focus includes cognitive language and communication skills, motor skills, and social and emotional development.
Superintendent Kirsten Vital Brulte noted that the daily activities will include outdoor play, free play, and practicing ever-important social skills and self-care habits (like hand washing). Academically, preschools also engage in arts, math, science, language, and literacy programs.
Together, these activities help “our youngest ones to be successful and get ready for kindergarten … all these activities are provided each and every day for our youngest ones,” Vital Brulte said.
Preschool enrollment also helps families connect to campuses and the families that attend them — a home-to-school connection, Vital Brulte said.
“We believe in fostering these really important relationships with our families,” she added.
On a related note, Pattullo said children who enroll in preschool, where they benefit from being around many children their own age, are more likely to foster good relationships throughout their young lives.
“By attending preschool, children learn how to engage with adults and peers, follow instructions and how to become part of the school community,” she said.
Natalie Hayes, a preschool teacher at Don Juan Avila Elementary, also explained a typical day, which includes name-recognition activities, free choice, group learning, outdoor play, restroom breaks (both as a group and individually as needed), cleaning up play areas, and nap time.
Dr. Cary Johnson, assistant superintendent for curriculum and instruction, education and support services, stressed the campuses’ health and safety measures amid the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. These include face coverings worn at all times by students and staff — except when outside and actively drinking or eating. Vaccinations are also encouraged for all eligible people.
When asked by a parent how to know if a child is ready for preschool, Pattullo said it can be difficult to gauge that, but it’s a very personal decision for parents.
Still, she added, “I would just encourage you to think forward and think about those opportunities that you can provide your child at a young age, those experiences.”
Pattullo said those can include taking young children to the library, playgrounds, and even restaurants and grocery stores.
“The experience of going out in public, seeing others, will help prepare them for seeing others in school,” she added.
Capistrano Unified’s preschool readiness webinar is available anytime for viewing on YouTube. It was also translated in Spanish.