Cloud Pre School Opens House

Kids giggle and run from classroom to classroom pulling their parents and grandparents along, impatient with their elders' slow speed.

"Come over here. No here," yelled a group of pre-schoolers as they entered the campus of Cloud Pre-School.

This was the school's open house, a time for parents to see all the exciting things their little ones have been learning. It was also a time for those pre-schoolers to catch up with their fellow students and compare what room had the best snacks.

The school is part of Glendale Unified School District's pre-school program.

"We use desired results and creative curriculum teaching programs," head teacher Jo Burns said. "They learn science, math and literacy."

The students range in age from three to five years old. The school was established in the 1970s. For years the school was all state-funded but recently it added self supporting programs. For the state-funded program a family must show a need for pre-school by either being employed or in the process of looking for employment. Families must also meet the lower income qualifications. For the self-supporting programs, a family only has to want pre-school and then pay for it. They offer full time, Monday through Friday, which is from 6:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. at a cost of $650 a month. Or a family can chose part time, Monday through Friday, at four and a half hours per day for $325 a month.

Pre-school offers children a way to prepare for their elementary school life, Burns said.

"They learn kindergarten readiness and are able to socialize," she added.

Five and six year olds who enter kindergarten for the first time can be overwhelmed. When they have had preschool they learn pre-literacy and listening skills that add a comfort value to those first days of school, Burns said.

The open house was exciting for the students, as well as informative for parents. Firefighters from Los Angeles County Fire Station 63 were on hand to answer questions on fire safety and of course give the kids a chance to set in a real fire truck.

Also on hand were representatives from the La Crescenta Library with a "Wheel of Fortune" type game that handed out pencils and bookmarks as prices.

Burns asked the library to be there so parents knew that reading opportunity were available throughout the summer. Parents and kids were given fliers on the library's pre-school story times that are at 10:30 a.m on Fridays throughout May and June.