Registration for fall enrollment at the Kiva Children’s House preschool is open, with limited spots, and they aren’t closing, despite rumors.
Head of School Lurleen McCormick told The Journal that the Kiva Charter School, serving kindergarten through eighth grade, and the Children’s House never planned to close.
The schools, combined since 1987 under Children’s Kiva In., split into separate entities after the 2014 charter approval. Now, a shared school leader will oversee both schools, with plans for joint events, shared tables at community events and more collaboration. However, they will maintain their own school identities.
“We’re so excited to increase our partnership with the preschool,” McCormick said, adding that she was forgoing pay to serve as the executive director for the preschool.
“I want them to use every penny to support the children. I agreed that we could look at that again at the end of the year” McCormick said. “I feel like this is God‘s calling for me to help support them for our community, and since I don’t have money to give to support their progress, I’m going to give my time, service and experience to help them instead.”
McCormick noted that the preschool embraces a Montessori approach, with a focus on hands-on learning, fine motor skills and life skills.
“We’re are hoping to keep things running just as smoothly as it has in the past. We still want to honor the Montessori approach to learning,” McCormick said. “I may not be able to find certified Montessori teachers in the area … but we can provide intensive training to get them acclimated before the school year starts.”
The preschool serves children age 18 months to four years, with one toddler room for kids under 3 years old and two preschool rooms for kids 3 to 4 years old. The preschool aims for a maximum of about 35 students.
“It’s hands on,” McCormick said. “It’s learning graces and courtesies, fine motor skills with dexterity, lots of pouring (we poured tea in different types of containers) and practicing little daily like things like that. That is actually life skills that they’re learning.”
Three toddlers have enrolled, but the room, which supports seven toddlers and two adults, still needs five to open. Each preschool room targets 15 students with lead teachers and assistants.
The state provides free funding for 4-year-old students to have free preschool time for a half day. Full-day funding is also available for households under a certain economic level.
“I remember as a single mom when I was young, I would have loved to have had a few hours free a day to be able to do grocery shopping and medical appointments for myself, but a lot of people don’t,” McCormick said.
Those who wish to register for the free funding can go to the state’s pre-K program’s website at www.cdec.colorado.gov/universal-preschool-colorado.
McCormick emphasized that the Children’s House cultivates a love for learning, preparing students for kindergarten by tying curiosity-driven activities to academic standards. The preschool also holds a Colorado Shines 4-star rating.
The Children’s House provides unique opportunities for children to learn from each other.
“The multiage group is really fantastic, because if you have one child that might be a little less mature emotionally or socially, might be stronger with academics or being able to perform better with simple tasks, they have a tendency to mentor each other and support each other’s weaknesses with their strengths,” McCormick said.
McCormick credited former director Alexia Hudson and the board for their work.
“I would love to honor the legacy of people that have made it such a fantastic resource for this community, and I am thrilled to find out just how beloved it truly is, and from the people who started it in 1987 to now, I would just want to thank the community members that really put their heart into making it such a beautiful place,” McCormick said.
Parents can contact McCormick at director@childrenskiva.org or visit the website at www.childrenskiva.org.
