Rain Tarantino works with the YWCA Kangaroo classroom as they prepare for graduation.

YMCA preschoolers ready to graduate

LEWISTON – The YWCA preschool classroom is getting ready for graduation on Friday, June 15. The ceremony will take place at noon at the Knights of Columbus Hall on East Avenue next to the YWCA building.

“This is always an exciting time for the children, as they look forward to entering the school system,” said Rain Tarantino, lead teacher of the Kangaroo preschool classroom.

“We take our job very seriously in getting them ready for that transition,” she said. The graduation ceremony will be followed by a celebration luncheon. The preschool curriculum is focused on getting the children ready for full-day kindergarten in the fall. This year the children had some exciting learning themes to help prepare them.

In the spring they hatched chicks in an incubator and watched them grow. They also had a rodeo week and made stick hobby horses out of broom sticks and felt. One of the teaching assistants was able to arrange to have a full-sized saddle in the classroom for the children to use for the week.

“This classroom has an amazingly creative teaching staff, and the children benefit enormously by learning in this rich environment,” said Pamela Murphy, director of child care.

As part of preparing children for school, the YWCA is participating in the ReadyRead program, which encourages parents to read to their children for 20 minutes a day. The YWCA curriculum has an emphasis on story telling, story reading, circle time and sharing to encourage children to use their imaginations and learn how to express themselves.

To learn more about becoming a member of the YWCA of Central Maine, call 795-4050.