The Full Story
ACCESS TO EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCTATION
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Scholarships for 3-old- children to attend one of five partnering preschools.
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Serving the Angwin, Calistoga, and St. Helena communities.
St. Helena Preschool For All (SHPFA) provides scholarships for three-year-old children from low-income families in the Angwin, Calistoga, and St. Helena communities to attend one of five participating local preschools. Scholarships remove financial barriers that might otherwise prevent children from accessing quality preschool during this important first year of their educational journey.
For many children, preschool is their first experience in a structured setting with teachers and groups of children. These early experiences are critical in helping children develop the physical, emotional, social, communication, and early learning skills they need to become confident and capable learners. With the expansion of Universal Transitional Kindergarten (UTK), SHPFA's focus is on giving children a strong preschool foundation so they are prepared to make a successful transition into TK at age four.
SHPFA directly supports low-income families, many of whom are English Language Learners, by making quality preschool accessible regardless of their ability to pay. Since the program began in 2010, SHPFA has provided more than 300 scholarships to children and families in our community.
What We Do
PARENT EDUCATION OPPORTUNITIES
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Providing parent education classes in English and Spanish.
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Empowering parents with new strategies and tools to actively engage in their child's learning journey.
St. Helena Preschool For All also provides parent education programs. The parents benefit from their participation in the program as we strongly believe that the family needs additional tools to support their children at home. Our program works with the parents of participating families to involve them in the process and educate them in enriching their children's educational experience. Parents can either attend monthly meetings with educational speakers in collaboration with the St. Helena Unified School District or can participate in the Positive Parenting Program(TRIPLE P), presented by the UpValley Family Center in Spanish. The Triple P program focuses on giving parents simple and practical strategies to help them build strong and healthy relationships that will help them confidently manage their children's behavior.
In addition, as members of a preschool community parents develop a better relationship and understanding of their wider community, participate in new activities with their preschool-aged children, and meet other families preparing for Kindergarten. The preschools also provide parents with valuable information and strategies for supporting their children's learning and development at home.
LEARNING
OPPORTUNITIES
