11 minute read
Education
PVSCHOOLS OFFERS AN ARRAY OF PRESCHOOL OPTIONS
There are many preschool options are taught by teachers who are Early grams for three and four-year-olds. garten. All students must be screened available to parents throughout Childhood Certified and hold a Gifted The Mini Scholars Preschool and prior to placement in the program, and the Valley. At PVSchools, Endorsement. Little Scholars Pre-Kindergarten use screening appointments are available we offer a variety of early learning the Core Knowledge® curriculum year-round. SUN Kids Preschool proprograms that will fit your child’s MONTESSORI PRESCHOOL that has been adopted by many of our vides experiences to enhance learning learning style and needs. Our youngest Our Montessori Preschool program is elementary schools. The Core Knowl- in all developmental areas with an learners receive the foundation and offered at three locations - Desert Shad- edge sequence guides academic suc- emphasis on meeting each student’s building blocks needed to prepare them ow Elementary with Suzuki Strings cess through hands-on and engaging individual needs. This language-based for success in elementary school. (violin) enrichment, Mercury Mine activities that prepare students for program provides a foundation for Elementary, and Whispering Wind academic success. The program is support of future literacy skills. These GIFTED PRESCHOOL Academy with Mandarin enrichment. offered at the following elementary foundations teach preschoolers the PVSchools is one of the few public- Our Montessori Preschool programs schools - Boulder Creek, Copper “ready to learn” skills necessary to school districts in the nation to of- are based on the principles of Dr. Maria Canyon, Desert Springs Preparatory, acquire future academic concepts. fer Gifted Preschool programs. This Montessori. Three and four-year-olds Desert Trails, Fireside, Grayhawk, program is offered at four locations will flourish in this multi-age classroom Pinnacle Peak Preparatory, Sandpiper Our preschool and pre-kindergarten - Desert Trails Elementary, Desert environment designed to promote criti- (with Spanish Immersion), and Wild- programs are open to students across Cove Elementary, Fireside Elementary, cal thinking, discovery, creative inven- fire. Both the Mini Scholars and the the Valley, not just to students residing and North Ranch Elementary. Our tion, and thoughtful analysis. Classes Little Scholars classes are taught by within our district boundaries. established Gifted Preschool programs are taught by experienced Montessori- certified teachers. ensure that advanced learners can ex- certified teachers. Learn more about our preschool perience a challenging curriculum and SPECIAL EDUCATION programs at the Preschool Universe innovative instruction. The program MINI SCHOLARS PRESCHOOL PRESCHOOL Parent Information Open House on provides accelerated learning oppor- AND LITTLE SCHOLARS SUN Kids Preschool provides special January 21 from 5:30-7 p.m. at Fireside tunities, embeds critical and creative PRE-KINDERGARTEN education services for three to five- Elementary, 3725 E. Lone Cactus Dr. thinking processes and integrates tech- PVSchools offers both traditional year-olds with special/unique needs Phoenix 85050 or visit www.pvschools. nology into daily instruction. Classes preschool and pre-kindergarten pro- who are not yet eligible for kinder- net/prek.
For every child at every grade, PVSchools will help unwrap your child’s gifts.
• Award-winning Fine Arts programs • Language Immersion (Spanish and Mandarin) • Preschool to 12th grade gifted services • District-wide STEM/STEAM programs • K-12 International Baccalaureate programmes • Suzuki Strings, a violin program • Career and Technical Education programs
PVSchools
CITY OF PHOENIX YOUTH AND EDUCATION OFFICE NOW ACCEPTING APPLICATIONS FOR THE 2020 OUTSTANDING YOUNG MAN/YOUNG WOMAN OF THE YEAR AWARDS
The OYMYW of the Year program recognizes will be announced, and each will receive an addi- interviewed by members of the community. District and honors the outstanding achievements of tional cash award. award winners will be invited to a luncheon sponsored young people, enhances the perception of youth by Rotary 100, Arizona Public Service (APS), and and raises community awareness of the positive con- Winners from each council district, and the citywide Salt River Project (SRP) where the citywide award tributions of youth. Young Man and Young Woman of the Year, will be winners will be announced. Each year, 16 high school students are selected as District winners also will have an opportunity to par- Eligible students can apply through the online applicouncil district winners and recognized at an event, ticipate in citywide programs and special appearances cation form at phoenix.gov/education before 5 p.m. along with the teacher who inspired them the most. to promote youth issues. Friday, February 28, 2020. Each of the district winners will receive a cash award. recognized at an event and in city publicity materials. From the district winners, the two overall winners To be considered for the program, you must meet the The city of Phoenix goal is to build connections befollowing criteria: tween city services, community resources, and public • Be a current high school student (or home-schooled) schools to ensure Phoenix students succeed in school, in grades 9 through 12 in Phoenix or live within Phoe- life and career. While the city of Phoenix does not nix city limits deliver K-12 education services, the support it pro• Be a U.S. citizen or provide evidence of lawful pres- vides to students and families can make the difference ence in the United States between academic failure and success. A primary duty • Complete and submit a scholarship application of the Youth and Education Office is to staff the Youth online and send required supporting documentation to and Education Commission which consists of comthe Review Committee within the provided deadline munity members dedicated to improving education • Finalist must be available for in-person interviews in the Phoenix community. The commission provides policy guidance, develops educational initiatives, and Students interested in applying will need to write an identifies resources for school readiness, high school essay, submit a recommendation letter and proof of transition to post-secondary education, career readilegal residence in the United States. Finalists will be ness, and governs the education access channel.
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COVER STORY Enchanted Chapters: PROVIDING COMFORT FOR YOUNG READERS
By Molly Cerreta Smith
Enchanted Chapters bookstore at 10880 North 32nd Street has only been open for a few months but it has been a dream of owner Andrea Montepagano’s that grew out of a need and a desire to create something that really didn’t exist — a bookstore designed and geared toward children with autism and specific sensory needs.
“As a mom of two kids with autism, I didn’t really have a lot of options for places to take them that were sensory friendly, where they could go and just hang out and feel comfortable,” she says, admitting that while many locations offer sensory-friendly days or events, she felt there needed to be a place specifically designed to meet these needs. So she made one.
Montepagano says they added on a specific area in the bookstore that serves as the sensory room. “We designed this room to be a place of relief for kids when they are feeling overstimulated or just have a place to relax,” she says. “There is not a lot of stimuli in there, no noise, the walls are bare and there is not a lot of bright color. It’s fairly muted, offers dim lighting and there are just a few curated toys that are educational and engaging. We want kids to know they can go in there anytime, stay as long as they want and just have a place where they feel comfortable.”
Part of this grew out of her own experience with her children when out at mainstream bookstores or shops. “For many kids, they end up feeling trapped in a store, and in most cases there is no respite from the overstimulation for those with sensory issues,” she says. “We just wanted to give these kids an inclusive opportunity, where they feel equal.”
Montepagano chose the location for Enchanted Chapters after moving to the 32nd Street and Shea area. Within a month of moving there, she started looking for a nearby location for the bookstore. “Our life is centered in this community,” she explains. “Our kids go to school here, and it just felt right. We like that we’re centrally located in the valley and there are a lot of other independently owned stores around us too. We didn’t want to be next to a Walmart. We like to support the local community and we enjoy getting to know our customers.”
COVER STORY
Only open for a short time, she says they already have repeat customers and she is happy to offer them so much more than just a shopping experience. “We offer something they wouldn’t get at a big box store. There is no interaction there, there are no relationships there,” she adds. “I think people are starting to realize the effects of shopping at big box stores and becoming more aware of the toll that not supporting local businesses directly has on the community. I think it’s getting better… but it could still be better.”
Outside of owning and operating Enchanted Chapters, Montepagano says she works at a regular job where 99 percent of her clients are independently owned businesses. “To me, it is so important to sustain that by shopping local and independent and putting money directly back into our community for the people that live and work here.”
In addition to offering books and a variety of educational and parenting tools for those on the spectrum, Enchanted Chapters also offers a variety of story times for kids of all ages, family trivia nights, homeschoolcentric social groups and more that are inclusive to readers of all ages. The store offers events geared towards those with special needs as well as the whole family.
REGULAR EVENTS INCLUDE:
Children’s Book Club: Meeting twice a month, this book club is geared for children in first grade through third grade. Enchanted Chapters choses popular and newly released titles along with corresponding projects that relate to the book that we work on as a group for each meeting.
Sensitive Story Time: This 45-minute event begins with a story board explaining the events throughout the session as well as a story, a sensory friendly craft, bubbles, and free play! Taking place before the store opens to the public, children are free to get up, play with the sensory toys available and leave the room/come back as many times as needed.
Nerds and Words: A weekly group event for teens, Nerds and Words offers time for teens to discuss new releases, classic favorites, and everything in between — including gaming, manga, graphic novels, and comics.
Middle School Book Club: This club offers a space designed for children aged 9 to 13 to get together and discuss the monthly book pick. This is safe space for children who would like to share opinions, alternate endings, suggestions and more.
Wednesday Home School Connec-
tion: Home School Connection is a social group hosted by Enchanted Chapters every Wednesday at 1:00 p.m. that offers homeschooling families an opportunity to meet and socialize with other homeschoolers and parents.
Early Reader Saturdays: Each Saturday morning, this early reader book club brings together children ages five to eight years old for story time featuring a new book and craft every week. Family Trivia Night: On the third Friday of each month, families are invited to join in on family game night with prizes.
There are also multiple Toddler Time story times each week that offer a story reading, craft, open play/social groups, and more.
Of these events (and more), Montepagano says they try to keep it interesting, and to engage all age groups. Enchanted Chapters also hosts special events and are hoping to introduce a summer reading program, as well as sessions where parents can drop off their children to read, do crafts and more. “Maintaining reading comprehension over the summer is crucial — there are statistics that show students lose reading ability from May to August when they haven’t done any reading in between.” She hopes to help students retain their reading levels with fun summer programs.
Montepagano has so many wonderful goals for her store, but ultimately, she says, “I want to encourage inclusivity of everyone! My goal is to bring awareness to autism, educate people about what it really is, and encourage other stores to be more aware of people that are different. And as a parent, it would be nice to have more stores where children can go and not be inundated with sensory overload.” Enchanted Chapters is certainly setting the example.
For more, follow them on Facebook at Facebook.com/EnchantedChaptersBooks or visit www.enchantedchapters.com
Upcoming Events
Toddler Story Time & Craft Tuesday, Thursday & Saturday Mornings 10:30 a.m.
Adult and YA Book Clubs Several meetings monthly. Check our calendar to find the best meeting for you!
Early Reader Saturdays 12:30 p.m. Sensory Story Time Sundays at 11:15 p.m.
Check Our Calendar For a Full List of Events: enchantedchapters.com
10880 N 32nd St., Suite 11 Phoenix, AZ 85028 480-687-0582 info@enchantedchapters.com
PHOTO BY FLYING ROBOT @FRAERIALS
PHOTO BY FLYING ROBOT @FRAERIALS
