Thank you to Headstart Pre-school

EDITOR: A number of years ago, there was a Mastercard Priceless ad campaign that was very popular and successful for the credit card company. It went something like this:{{more}}

“It’s your 20-year High School reunion –

New designer outfit: $400.00

New lipstick: $35.00

Evening bag: $90.00

The look on your ex-boyfriend’s face when he sees you: Priceless

There are some things money can’t buy. For everything else there’s Mastercard”.

I think that Headstart Pre-school can run a similar ad campaign. My version would go something like this:

“It’s your pre-schooler’s first day of school –

Monthly tuition: $$$.00

Swim classes: $12.00

Unexpected snack bill: $2.00

Field trip: $10.00

Peace of mind when you drop your child off at preschool: Priceless.

As the Mastercard ads say, there are some things money cannot buy. For me, as for many parents, it is that sense of peace you feel when you know that your child is in safe hands. For the past eight years, Headstart Pre-school (“Headstart”) gave me that peace of mind and as my youngest says goodbye to Headstart and enters primary school, the least that I can do is to say a public “thank you” to Mrs Lavinia Francis (Auntie Lavinia) and the pre-school that embraced, nurtured and helped to mould my three young children.

In Headstart, I found a pre-school that catered to every aspect of my children’s development, be it physical, educational, social, spiritual or psychological. The structured learning that characterized the morning sessions at Headstart prepared my little ones for “big school,” but interspersed throughout were fun activities like tennis, swimming, football, dancing, music, singing and of course, playing; and life lessons, like don’t talk to strangers, how to behave in public toilets, bad touches/good touches, what to do if there is a fire or an earthquake and table manners/dining etiquette. Truth be told, the demonstrations at home were often comical, but the lessons were definitely learnt.

Then there were the regular and timely field trips, the learning experience of which was always a plus. One field trip that stands out in my mind is the field trip to the post office at Christmas. Of course, you know when your child is going because you sign the permission form. However, days later, after you’ve forgotten about the field trip, you are given that unexpected and heart-warming treat of receiving in the mail a Christmas card made by your child.

Auntie Lavinia’s genuine concern for the young children in her care is manifested in the policies of her school and complemented by her staff of equally caring teachers, each taking the time to do the small things that make a big difference, like the telephone call to inform me that my crying pre-schooler had settled down and stopped crying; or the video sent to me by whatsapp showing my three-year old at the dentist or hitting the ball over the net at tennis; or the personal conferences about my children’s development and/or challenges. To have the love and support your child feels at home seamlessly continued at school is indeed a blessing.

I can say so much more, but I’ll end with a simple, heart-felt “thank you” to Auntie Lavinia for founding an exemplary preschool and for setting the benchmark for quality in early childhood education.

Zhinga Horne Edwards