Holy Cross School Readiness Program in Park City doubles in size to serve at-risk students

Holy Cross Ministries

+ Enlarge

Students in the Holy Cross School Readiness Program in Park City take a field trip to the zoo. Courtesy photo/Holy Cross Ministries

PARK CITY — Holy Cross Ministries School Readiness Program in Park City has increased from 40 to more than 80 students this year and from one to two levels.

Level 1 is for 4-year-old children; level 2 is for those 4-year-old children who have been in level 1, and for 5-year-olds.

Since beginning as a home education program in 2009, the Holy Cross School Readiness program has served low-income, minority children in Park City, said Holy Cross Sister Mary Ann Pajakowski.

"Many at-risk children are unable to attend early education, and they often start school far behind their peers. The HCM bilingual teachers help the children learn fundamental pre-literacy skills, classroom behavior and positive self-esteem; they help parents learn about the school system, gang prevention, community resources, and how they can best help their child learn," she said.

The program is an integral part of helping to close the statewide achievement gap between at-risk Latino students and their more affluent peers, said Sr. Mary Ann.

"We want the children to have every opportunity to be school ready when they enter kindergarten. We are in conversation with the kindergarten teachers in the school district and we build on whatever they are working on to make the students more secure and successful in kindergarten," she said.

Father Stan Herba, Saint Mary of the Assumption Parish pastor, is an important component in the School Readiness program, said Sr. Mary Ann. "He is an advocate and is very generous with resources to help support the program."

The School Readiness staff encourages families to enroll their children one-half day in the School Readiness program and one-half day with the school district so they get a full day of education, Sr. Mary Ann continued. "This allows parents to work without worrying about daycare and all that it involves."

The School Readiness program is set up so the students succeed academically, socially, emotionally and physically, said Leonel Nieto, HCM outcome manager.

"We make sure the students have public or private health insurance or somewhere they can go for dental and medical issues," said Nieto. "The program makes an effort to stay connected with the families by providing volunteer opportunities for parents and monthly meetings with them to discuss what is going on in the classroom and how they can replicate them at home. If we see a need beyond that, we connect them with our promotora community resources such as food supplements or Workforce Services, who provide one-on-one services."

There is a $100 monthly fee to attend the School Readiness program, but scholarships are available and transportation is provided.

"If parents volunteer, they receive fee credits," said Nieto. "The past three years have been very successful because students are ready to enter school and parents have been happy with the program."

Karina Palestina, a level 2 pre-school teacher, helps students become ready for kindergarten by increasing their English, reading and counting skills, she said.

"By the time the students begin kindergarten, they have learned letters, numbers, shapes, colors and how to write their own names," said Shelby Cornett, a first-year level 1 teacher who came to Utah this summer from Indiana. "We also teach them social skills and how to follow a routine."

Hilda Marquez is a parent educator who works with both levels 1 and 2 as a bus driver, as well as interacts with the parents to meet their needs or issues they may have at home such as the need for a doctor or to remind them of upcoming activities.

The students also take field trips, swim, hike and do crafts.