PreK classroom spots available at Children's Enrichment Center

November 12, 2024 (Volume 48, Number 6)
Article by Julianna Schrier

two small kids hugging a female student on a playground

young kids in child care raising their hands

Rylee Richards, a GVSU student and teacher at the Children's Enrichment Center, is hugged by students at the Allendale Campus center.

Photo Credit: Kendra Stanley-Mills

GVSU’s Children’s Enrichment Center (CEC) has open spots for children who turn 4 by December 1. Director Daphnea Sutherland said children who enroll would be eligible for free preschool under Michigan’s Great Start Readiness Program, PreK for All.

Sutherland encouraged the Grand Valley community to consider the CEC for child care. The center is more than day care, she said, adding it offers a combination of education and child care.

"Within the day's schedule, we also implement a preschool curriculum," Sutherland said. "The classrooms have morning circle time where they talk about what they're learning. Teachers are making lesson plans, they have parent-teacher conferences, they’re assessing where each child is developmentally and then how to support them for their learning.”

The majority of the staff at the CEC are Grand Valley students and most are earning degrees in fields relevant to early childhood education.

“The wonderful thing I always say about us, in comparison to other schools, is that we have the whole university at our disposal,” said Sutherland.

From visiting the Rec Center and the Barbara Kindschi Greenhouse to performing experiments in science labs during the summer, Sutherland said the CEC offers its young students a chance to understand higher education and the importance of education at a young age.

“We care about higher ed and we should care about early education because this is where the foundations are built,” said Sutherland. “I believe in early childhood and the importance of those beginning foundations.”

The Children’s Enrichment Center currently has several spots open in its 4-5 year old classroom. Children who enroll in that classroom are eligible for PreK for All. Contact Sutherland at [email protected] or (616) 331-5437 for more information.