KidWorks welcomed the Class of 2034 to our center on September 3rd.
While our after school and college-prep programs remain virtual, our caring preschool staff have gone way above and beyond to care for the needs of each family by providing customized learning accommodations.
“We’re offering our parents a range of ways and learning models for their preschoolers to be part of our program,” says Idalia Galdamez, our Preschool Director. “This includes on-premises classes that take place five day a week with three hour sessions, a hybrid where students come to the center on some days and do distance learning the other days and a third model that is distance learning only.”
KidWorks philosophy of supporting the entire family and engaging parents in the educational process is what is unique about KidWorks and starts our littlest learners on their path towards college success.
“We conducted an online parent orientation in early September, which was an excellent opportunity for parents to learn about our programs for the new school year and discuss their safety concerns with our staff,” Parent Engagement Coordinator, Sonia Rios Guzman says. “They appreciate knowing their students are well cared for and safe.”
The digital divide has been an issue for many KidWorks families. “One concern that consistently arises is the parents’ difficulty accessing technology since so many can’t afford laptops and Internet access. We work very diligently with the parents to figure out the best solutions to their lack of technology, whether that’s referring them to an Internet service provider that may offer services for free or at a low-cost and helping them access laptops for their children,” Sonia remarked.
To ensure our student’s safety, over $160,000 has been spent on health and safety measures to retrofit our centers to adhere to safety protocols.
“A significant challenge because of the budget shortfall is having the funds to purchase adequate cleaning supplies and personal protective equipment,” Idalia says. “Another major challenge is ensuring each student has a tablet and reliable internet to access online learning since so many of our families live below the poverty line and cannot afford equipment and services.”
Yet, Idalia and her team remain optimistic.
“For the preschool team, it has been a significant challenge to adjust to three simultaneous learning platforms” Idalia says. “However, I’m blessed to have a very creative and dedicated team who work tirelessly to support our students.”