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Research tells us children learn a majority of what they will learn between the ages of infancy and 5 years. A rich and loving home setting with an abundance of stories, reading, and language experiences is an ideal setting for young children to flourish. What happens when this home setting is anything but loving and language rich? Unfortunately, in northwest New Mexico, the need for quality early childhood nurturing and development is an obvious need.
Rehoboth Christian School is excited and energized about a God given challenge of beginning a new Pre K program, children who are 4 years of age, to help fill the gap which is so evident in this area. Suzanne Breithaupt, the newly hired Pre K teacher and director, states it this way:
“I have worked in preschool and in this school district for 7 years and for 25 years in other states and have observed the quality of preschools here in Gallup are all over the map, with frequent changes in staff which can affect a program’s quality. Rehoboth intends to start this Pre-K with the highest standards and to pursue an accreditation from the National Association for the Education of Young Children, a coveted title that goes only to the best of the best.
Elementary Schools now are expecting children to enter Kindergarten with some preschool experience, and we intend to provide a quality experience that looks to educate the whole child - body, mind and spirit. Behavior difficulties leading to learning difficulties in Kindergarten can stem from an undisciplined Pre-K experience. We will use consistent and appropriate discipline in the classroom that will help a child understand how to approach education and be ready to attend to a teacher with positive behaviors. This will set the child and the future Kindergarten teacher up for success, not failure.
As to why we need a Christian pre-K, children are watching and learning right from infancy. Being in an atmosphere where the name of Jesus is not a swear word, and they can watch how others outside of their family deal with life counting on Christ will go a long ways towards their practicing that lifestyle right from the beginning. So much of our behavior is learned habit; why not start with a good one, not having to unlearn a bad one.”
Jesus said, “Let the little children come onto me and forbid them not.” Please join Rehoboth in this new endeavor of supporting families raise children who know Jesus at the very youngest of ages and desire to help them get off to a healthy and loving start.
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