06.07.2012 - Idyllwild Town Crier

Preschool graduation takes place after all
Idyllwild Town Crier, June 7, 2012 - Page 13
By Marshall Smith
Staff Reporter
Even though an anonymous
report forced Town
Hall’s preschool to close
on Thursday, May 24, a
scheduled graduation for
the students took place on
Thursday, May 31. County
Economic Development
Agency staff worked through
the weekend of May 25 to
ensure the program’s reopening,
according to EDA’s
Bill Brown, who, along with
county staff, was on hand for
the May 31 ceremony.
County staff turned out
in force to provide a festive
celebration for the graduating
toddlers — jumpees,
music, graduation cake,
barbeque, gifts and graduation
certificates made for a
memorable morning for attending
families and friends
of the graduates. Teacher
Rebecca Odum addressed
the young graduates turned
out in cowboy and cowgirl
finery, saying, “Thank you
for all that you are and all
you’ll be.”
On Tuesday, May 29 the
Graduates assemble at the beginning of the preschool ceremony (not all are pictured)
from left Sari Anne Muir, Mikayla Gooch, Joshua Stepien, Quintin
Hoggan, Brynnley Meter, Aidan McLean, Zane Booth, Nathan Fisher,
Logan Wilkerson and Harley Johnston.
Photo by Marshall Smith
state accepted EDA’s plan to
reduce program hours to 12
or fewer each week and run
the program in sessions that
are each under 12 weeks in
duration. With these parameters,
no licensing is required
under governing state code.
The complaint filed with the
state alleged the preschool
had been operating without
a required license.
This particular exemption
applies only to programs
run as part of a government
agency recreation program.
The Town Hall is operated
under the aegis of Riverside
County EDA.
“If the intent [of the complainant]
was to disrupt the
lives of these children and
their parents, then they won
for two days [the number
of days the report forced
closure]. But, at the end
of the day, the community
won,” Brown said about the
closure.
According to a handbook
given to parents at the graduation
ceremony, the mission
of the program, now called
Adventures in Learning, is
“to provide children the opportunity
to learn, grow and
interact with other children
in a supervised setting that
is both warm and nurturing.”
The new session began on
Monday, June 4, for children
3 to 5 years old. This is a
fee-based program, with fees
being slightly less than had
been charged under the old
program. Idyllwild County
Recreation is also providing
its free summer camp
through its Mobile Activities
Recreation Service (MARS)
for children 7 to 13 and a Jr.
with Florist in the Forest
MARS program for children
5 to 6. There will be many
off-Hill recreational field
trips offered throughout the
summer.
M a r s h a l l S m i t h
c a n b e r e a c h e d a t
marshall@towncrier.com.
Happy graduate Samantha
Hoggan with her certificate
and swag.
Photo by Marshall Smith
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