Perry Township Schools is excited to announce that our Perry Township Preschool has received the 2018 Family Engagement Prize from Early Learning Indiana on December 12, 2018. The organization gifted a total of $90,000 from Lilly Endowment, Inc. to 15 early care and education providers in Indiana. Our preschool was one of only three facilities in the state to be awarded $10,000 – the largest prize – to bolster engagement efforts.
According to Early Learning Indiana, prize winners were selected for their innovative practices that engage families. Perry Township Preschool takes a unique approach to relationship building; each month teachers plan a fun family engagement event. So far, the preschool has hosted a “Planting Day” in its garden and a “Pastries with Parents” event before school. Educators also invited families to attend a picnic, social-emotional training, and an event to connect families with community resources.
“Parent and caretaker involvement is a critical component of student success at every grade level,” said Ann Holtzman, principal of Perry Township Preschool. “When parents take an active role in monitoring their child’s performance, activities, and attendance, students tend to take more responsibility for their learning and classroom behavior.”
The grant money will allow Perry Township Preschool to support learning at home. They plan to institute a program that will allow students to check out books so they can read them at home with their families. Students will also be allowed to take home simple games related to children’s book to help them work on literacy with their families.
Perry Township Preschool also plans to provide extensive training to parents so they can become more involved in the decision making process. The goal is to build a partnership with parents so they can make informed decisions about the preschool’s approach to education and assessments.
Perry Township Preschool is ranked as a Level 3 provider by Paths to QUALITY™, Indiana’s statewide rating system for early care and education programs. We take incredible pride in the education our preschool staff provides. Our teachers are licensed and held to the same standards as the elementary and secondary teachers across the district. They receive professional development training and regular teacher evaluations.
For more information about Perry Township Preschool, click here or call 317.789.3900. For more information about the award,click here.