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Fauquier Times | October 31, 2018
FAMILY TIME WWW.FAUQUIER.COM
Preschoolers get a boost to early learning Fourth Annual Gobble, Gobble, Run or Wobble 5K set for Nov. 17 Staff Reports According to Learning Starts Early, a preschool initiative started at St. James’ Episcopal Church and School, last year in Fauquier County, nearly one in five children entering kindergarten did not meet the reading readiness benchmarks established by the state. Often, they never catch up. PHOTO BY CHRIS BONNER Additionally, 166 children (22 The Annual Gobble, Gobble, Run or Wobble 5K starts on Main Street in Warrenton. Participants have the option of dresspercent) entering kindergarten in ing like turkeys to add to the fun. Fauquier County Public Schools last year did not attend any formal er County children, thanks to the er Preschool Coalition. The goal is to education in VPI classrooms to or institutional pre-kindergarten efforts of Fauquier County Public ensure that children of at-risk famithose students for whom English program or were in the care of School’s expanding Virginia Pre- lies in Fauquier County are successis a second language. an unlicensed childcare provider. school Initiative and the efforts of ful in kindergarten and beyond. A substantial body of research the Fauquier Preschool Coalition. The Learning Starts Early Fund Gobble Gobble logistics spanning decades proves that highThe fourth annual Gobble, Gobble In 2017, this public-private group will donate all of the proceeds from quality preschool education can Run or Wobble 5K and kids’ dash will substantially improve the learning known as the Fauquier Preschool the Gobble, Gobble, Run or Wobble be Saturday, Nov. 17, starting on Main and development of all young Coalition applied for and received 5K and Kids Run to meet one or Street in Warrenton. Registration is children, and especially children a $250,000 grant to explore ways more of the following needs: $35 (kids’ run is $15). Sign up at www. from low-income families, children to expand opportunities in Fauquier • Increase the number of classrooms runsignup.com/Race/VA/Warrenton/ County to access highquality pre• Parent resource programs whose parents lack high school • Classroom materials, including GobbleGobbleRunorWobble. diplomas, or children without homes. school programs. The 5K starts at 8 a.m. and the Eileen Burgwyn, the co-chair of educational technology to enhance The Fauquier Preschool Coalition kids run begins at 9 a.m. Race-day traditional instruction is a group of community members, Learning Starts Early along with registration is $40. Packet pick-up educators and parents dedicated to Bob Dart, commented, “Coming • Before- and after-school day care is Friday, Nov. 16, from 4-7 p.m. at for working families making a difference in the lives of together with other community agencies and preschool providers • Field trips and other important Saint James’ Episcopal Church, 73 young children in Fauquier CounCulpeper St., Warrenton. For more special learning experiences ty. Its leadership team supports the to form the Preschool Coalition has allowed us to increase When Learning Starts Early be- information, visit facebook.com/ efforts of Learning Starts Early to ensure “Coming together outreach to families gan in 2015, 45 students were be- gobblegobblerunorwobble. Gobble, Gobble Run or Wobble who may not be able ing served through Fauquier Public that every child in the with other draws more than 200 runners, some to afford preschool for Schools Preschool Initiative. Today, county has access to community of them dressed as turkeys. Approtheir children. Work84 students are enrolled in the Fauall of the opportuniagencies and priately, turkeys from Whiffletree ing with the Books quier Preschool Initiative. ties necessary to be Farm in Warrenton will be awarded on the Bus project has Due to the Fauquier community’s ready for kindergar- preschool providers spread the message of generous support of Learning Starts to first-place male and female overten and to succeed to form the the importance of earEarly through Gobble, Gobble Run all finishers. There also will be agein school and in the Preschool Coalition ly childhood literacy or Wobble and Give Local Piedgroup prizes. workforce. Race organizers are asking for Locally, programs has allowed us to throughout Fauquier mont, over the last four years: • Seven students have received donations of new or gently used chilin Fauquier County increase outreach County.” The biggest chalscholarships to Saint James’ award- dren’s books. There will be a dropthat help at-risk chilto families who lenge to the Coalition winning preschool program, off bin at the race starting line. dren of preschool age may not be able to is how to continue representing an investment of are Fauquier County to support children $25,782. Public School’s Virafford preschool and families once the • More than 15 volunteers from ginia Preschool Ini- for their children.” grant expires. Saint James’ spent 100 hours tiative and Fauquier Your competition. – EILEEN BURGWYN Learning Starts reading to boys and girls at Head Community Action Early, a fund of the Start. Committee’s Head Northern Piedmont Community • Head Start received $6,250 from Start programs. Learning Starts Early to purchase Head Start and the Virginia Pre- Foundation and member of the Faueasels, books and a digital white school Initiative work together to co- quier Preschool Coalition, sponsors board. LSE won a grant from the ordinate services to best serve their an annual family event called the PATH Foundation for Head Start students and families. Both have Gobble, Gobble, Run or Wobble 5K and Kids Run to meet the needs of performances by noted music substantial funding needs in order educator Peter McCory. to provide the highest quality pre- children who may not have access to high-quality preschool programs. • Learning Starts Early hosted a school education. It’s time to take a run or walk or series of forums for parents of atThe Learning Starts Early Prorisk preschoolers, alerting them to gram supports these programs and wobble to help with their efforts. Prothe Virginia Preschool Initiative, provides additional benefits for at- ceeds from the upcoming Gobble, Call us today to reserve this spot. Gobble, Run or Wobble 5K support the state and county program for risk preschool children. 540-347-4222 • Fauquier.com Access to high-quality preschool the Learning Starts Early program preschool education. education is becoming a reality developed by Saint James’ Episcopal • LSE bought a $3,150 translation for increasing numbers of Fauqui- Church and embraced by the Fauquisystem to bring preschool
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