Schools

Learning Takes Driver's Seat During El Jardín Busride

The family-centered preschool builds community and makes 'lifelong friends.'

The wheels on the bus went round and round Tuesday, hopefully making the gears in the minds of preschoolers turn also.

About 20 3- and 4-year-olds, many of their parents and siblings, and the teacher at boarded a Metro bus for a morning adventure that culminated their lessons about transportation.

"It helps them connect what they're learning with what they see in the community," El Jardín teacher Tammy McCroskey. "We've been learning all the diffferent transportation modes."

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The chatter and squeals of excited toddlers filled the bus as the group traveled north up East Lake Avenue to College Drive, then through the neighborhoods. At bus stops, a handful of other riders boarded the bus and smiled at the children, who got to take a picture with Pete, the bus driver, when the got off. 

El Jardín is a cooperative, bilingual preschool housed in the Presbyterian Church on East Lake Avenue. It's the only bilingual preschool co-op in the county that also has a program for the younger siblings of the preschoolers so they can attend while their parents work.

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"It totally builds community and introduces you to new concepts," said Breeze Medina, whose in her fourth year as an El Jardín parent. Her a daughter is in preschool and son graduated from the program.

The preschool involves the entire family. Parents take classes that touch on topics like positive discipline and nutrition, and are required to volunteer a set number of hours per month. Younger siblings can attend daycare while their big brothers and sisters are at preschool.

"It's a great way to get involved with other parents," said Serena Federman, whose daughter is an El Jardín preschooler.

Federman and other parents said they discovered the preschool through friends who had sent their children to El Jardín. The bilingual aspect is another strong point for the program, parents said.

"We always knew we wanted to do a bilingual education with our kids," said parent Jen Salinas-Holz, mother of sons, Desiderio, 4, and Celso, 18 months. Both boys were on the field trip Tuesday.

McCroskey became fluent in Spanish when her family lived in Chile for seven years. She is passionate about empowering parents to help children live in a diverse society.

Back in the courtyard the school shares with the church, parents converse in Spanish while their children race trikes in a circle or play on the swing set. Younger siblings head inside to the nursery where a trained childcare worker is available to watch them.

Medina said the families involved in the preschool have play dates outside of school, enjoy dinners together and go on camping trips.

"Since we've been here, I feel like we've made lifelong friends," Medina said.

Most students at the preschool come from Watsonville and Aptos. Many go on to attend Pajaro Valley Unified School District Schools, including charter schools like or , which is another bilingual program.

for families interested in enrolling their toddlers in the program.


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