20 Fredericksburg Parent and Family • February 2017
Smart Beginnings' Virginia Quality
program is kicking off a full schedule
of events this Spring to make sure
every child is ready for kindergarten
by 5. Programs include a "Step Up to
Quality" early childhood and childcare
conference on March 4 at Germanna
Community College, story times at childcare
centers during the Week of the Young Child in
April, and several kindergarten registration pro-
grams in April and May.
Every child deserves access to high-quality early learning
experiences, says Virginia Quality regional coordinator
Janine Sewell. "One in 7 children arrive in kindergarten
without the basic skills to succeed. We believe that sup-
porting early childhood education is a smart investment
with a proven return."
Virginia
Quality Steps Up
Sherilyn Preston, long-time owner of
Minnieland at Salem Fields agrees.
"Virginia Quality is one of the tools we
use to continually improve our educa-
tional quality so all of our children are
ready to go to school."
More than 90 childcare programs in the
city of Fredericksburg and the counties
of Caroline, Culpeper, Fauquier, King
George, Rappahannock, Spotsylvania
and Stafford participate.
For a complete list of events and of
childcares participating in accredited pro-
grams, including Virginia Quality, NAEYC,
NAC and Montessori, signup for the spe-
cial edition Now Enrolling in Quality elet-
ter at bit.ly/fp-enews. Be sure to select
the Education eletter option.
WRITTEN BY
LEIGH ANNE VAN DOREN
Sponsored by Minnieland
