By Daily Press staff
Call them the young graduates. Nine preschoolers last week graduated from St.Joseph Center’s Early Learning Center (ELC). With caps on and gowns flowing, the 5-year-olds treated their families to three songs before they received their certificates, and April Wright, ELC’s site supervisor, read aloud what each child wanted to be when they grew up.
“They have learned so much,” said Wright after the graduation ceremony.“Every child who is graduating is a success.” Graduation is always slightly bittersweet for ELC’s staff, who were sad to see their preschoolers leave, but happy the children are ready and able to take the big step forward.
The ELC, located in Santa Monica, is an all-day childcare program for homeless, formerly homeless and low-income children ages 18 months to 5 years old. In ELC’s preschool classroom, children receive the emotional and mental support they need to overcome life stresses and gain basic academic skills that will help them do well in kindergarten. For more information about ELC, visit www.stjosephctr.org.
Originally published in the Santa Monica Daily Press print edition on September 1, 2006. Read the original PDF.