The shifting clouds threatened an afternoon rain as nine students exited the small classroom trailer that has been their learning center since last fall.  Parents, friends, and local dignitaries waited patiently for the children to settle into folding chairs in the shade of a large tree.

It was certainly a special day for the children and staff, at the first graduation ceremony from the permanent facility of  Primeros Pasos First Steps, on Savannah Road in Georgetown. 

Three students from the class enter kindergarten at public schools this coming fall, and other students graduated to the next learning level. 

“We value diversity and we welcome all children in our community.  One of our goals is to ensure that every Hispanic student entering kindergarten speaks both English and Spanish fluently,” said program director Trudy Cole.  “Some of the students who entered the program last fall only spoke Spanish.  These 3- and 4-year-old graduates can count at least to 20, know their ABCs, their shapes and their colors."

Through grants and donations from government, local churches, civic organizations and businesses, Primeros Pasos First Steps opened the modular classroom in September 2007.  Board president Rev. Earl Beshears, of St. Paul’s Episcopal Church in Georgetown, who also cooked hot dogs for the participants, said: “With continuing successful fundraising, we will build a larger facility.  Our next phase will expand to thirty or forty children and perhaps add two year olds to our student body.  Our prayer for the near future is that we can offer a state-of-the-art early care and education facility for 100 children in Sussex County. With the ongoing support of the community and parents our dream can become a reality.”

“Our facility is more than a day-care center,” said Cole.  “Research tells us that lack of vocabulary and pre-reading language skills impact success in early school years. Our culturally-sensitive early learning program includes teaching both the English language and the Spanish language to all our students. 

"Additionally, we believe children learn better through play, games and singing.  We use components of The Creative Curriculum that includes but is not limited to implementing blocks, dramatic play, toys and games, art, library, discovery, sand and water, music and movement, cooking, computers, and outdoor programs.  Our student to teacher ratio is one [instructor] to five [student], so we can offer almost individual attention for our children.  Parents are notified of their child’s mid-year and year-end assessments.  By the time students graduate from our program, they are fully ready to enter kindergarten."

For more information or to volunteer at Primeros Pasos First Steps, contact Mrs. Trudy Cole, Program Director, at 856-7406 or by email at mrstrudycole@yahoo.com.