New program prepares low-income kids, parents for school

By: TANYA RODRIGUES - Staff Writer | Friday, April 2, 2004 11:15 PM PST ∞

ESCONDIDO ---- Four-year-old Alexis Avila is discovering that the world is his campus.

He asks his mother, Norma Venegas, to tell him the color of cars he sees on the street, gets excited about books, and is learning to share with his 15-month-old sister, Samantha, as well as other kids his age.

The boy's learning was inspired by First 5 Escondido ---- the Escondido Union School District's new state-funded program to prepare children from low-income neighborhoods for kindergarten.

But the lessons are not limited to him.

The First 5 program has shown his mother that she is Alexis and Samantha's first teacher, and she must give them most primary of lessons, such as shapes and colors, progressing to the alphabet and counting, Venegas said. She said she is learning to sometimes set aside cleaning, grocery shopping, and other day-filling chores to make time to read to her kids.

And she now understands how important it is to have fun with them, Venegas said.

At 442 S. Escondido Blvd., the local First 5 program aims to show Venegas and other parents their rightful role in their child's education and the difference their involvement can make.

"The more that parents see the schools as a place where they can get help, it will help the parents feel empowered to be involved in their child's education when they enter kindergarten," said Jan Zelasko, who coordinates the program.

Information central

Although the center held its official grand opening just last month, families of more than 100 children had already started using First 5 Escondido's classes, services and drop-in sessions. The center's services were so needed that visitors began pouring in as long ago as last fall, when the place was still being set up.

The First 5 program provides free assistance for families whose children will eventually attend elementary schools with traditionally low standardized test scores ---- Lincoln Primary, Lincoln Intermediate, Pioneer, Rose, Oak Hill, Central, Juniper and Felicita.

Zelasko, who also runs the elementary school district's preschool programs out of the new center, has high hopes for First 5 to become a clearinghouse of information about education and health.

Parents seek information

The First 5 program is funded by a four-year, $3 million state grant that comes from Proposition 10, a state measure passed in 1998 that levied a 50-cent tax on cigarette packs to fund early childhood education programs.

The tax has raised $3.2 billion. The money, spread out over four years and programs in 58 counties, offers the Escondido program an annual budget of $750,000, which mostly goes toward salaries.

The First 5 program staffers offer a variety of services: They have preschool activities for kids and parenting classes for adults; refer families to community preschools and child-care providers; help families to get free or reduced-cost health insurance; and assist parents getting their children's health records in shape. A full-time nurse also checks children's vision, hearing and teeth.

The center itself is open for several hours each week ---- a schedule is still being developed ---- when families can bring their children to play with other youngsters. The facility has a playroom filled with toys, puzzles and other playthings and instructions on how to use them in a stimulating way. The center also has a mini-library with pamphlets on social services and booklets and tapes on parenting issues, such as nutrition and constructive play activities.

The center has an outdoor area and garden, with room to ride bikes and use other outdoor toys that improve motor skills.

Teaching parents to teach

No wallflowers are allowed during the play sessions. On Thursday, staffers saw a new mother watching her toddler play, and approached her to show her that she needed to work with her child and encourage the tot to communicate.

Zelasko, who says she hopes to expand First 5 Escondido and have a second learning center on the Lincoln campus, on the north side of downtown, said parents are hungry for information about preparing kids for school.

"Certainly, the level of involvement will vary from parent to parent," she said. "Some parents may be more motivated to learn how to help their children. My experience, especially since starting the program, is that parents are interested ... they do want to know."

An eye-opener

The opportunity to prepare his children for school brought Tony Peralta to the center.

Peralta recently quit his day job and began working nights so he and his wife could save on day care for their growing family. He said he also wanted to spend more daytime hours with his kids.

Peralta first came to the First 5 center three weeks ago, concerned about how his 5-year-old daughter Andrea would do when she entered kindergarten in August. He couldn't afford to send her to a private preschool and there was no room, he said, in any state-run programs.

"I didn't want to send her to school unprepared," Peralta said, "but my resources are limited."

Since coming to the First 5 program, he has also realized how much he could do for his 2-year-old son Esteban, nicknamed "Stevie," and his 2-year-old niece Laura, who lives with the family. He works with them to recite the alphabet and identify shapes and colors, Peralta said. He says the children think of it as play, not learning, but he now knows better.

"It's kind of an eye-opener on what they can learn," said Peralta, who has also found out about stimulation activities for his baby daughter, Angelina.

Andrea came running up to show her dad an orangy-red painting depicting a rainbow. Peralta told her it was beautiful, and gave the little girl a hug and kiss.

As she skipped away, Peralta said she is pleased to see his daughter interested in so many things.

"I want her to learn as much as she can," he said. "I want her to have the opportunities I didn't have. You always want something better for your kids."

Contact staff writer Tanya Rodrigues at (760) 740-5420 or trodrigues@nctimes.com.