A newly open and private Distance Learning Center is starting up in Boulder City to help parents who must work, but now have to sort out the unpopular but mandated public online school year. Christ Lutheran’s Little Lambs Preschool has teamed up with Bethany Baptist and the center is located on the Bethany campus at 210 Wyoming.
Meet Jessica Stetson (left, above) who is the Director of Little Lambs Preschool at Christ Lutheran Church. She has been running Little Lambs since she and her husband, Pastor Adam Stetson arrived in Boulder City 3 years ago. She has a Bachelors Degree in Christian Education Leadership, and many of you already know them and have used their daycare and early learning services there.
But as with all things ‘2020’, this fall is different, and Jessica quickly saw a huge need in the community created by the decision from CCSD that all public schools move to an online only learning platform for this fall.
She quickly went looking for solutions, and found a whole bunch of help from a variety of sources. First, of course they needed space, and Bethany Baptist stepped up to allow them to lease existing classroom space. Check.
Next, she needed credentialed teachers, and apparently there is an abundance of retired teachers or those who are looking to work but in new environments. Check again.
Jessica says they will have 1 teacher for every 12 kids. The learning is following the same curriculum created by CCSD and they use the kids Chrome books. Hours are a normal school day, from 8am to 3pm. Kids bring their own lunches and there are recess breaks, just like ‘normal’.
Currently, she says she can take up to 36 children, and has 18 booked so far. She says she does have the capacity for more, but will need to hire to fulfill that should it be needed. Most startling is the cost. The fees are $25/day/child or $125 for a week per child. Yes, you can utilize their services part-time or full-time depending on your work schedule, skill-set, sanity or whatever a family’s needs are.
Jessica tells us, “people who can afford private schools are doing that, but I deliberately wanted to keep the costs down so that families can more readily afford this opportunity. No one should have to choose between their need to make a living and their child’s education.”
Even better has been the AMAZING support the program has received from local businesses! Sponsorships are available and businesses have raised their hands all over town, see them HERE. Also, ALL of the initial school supply materials were provided by Dawn Lee Farmer’s Insurance and Kelly Ann Boghian of Signmasters. WAY TO GO FOLKS!
Businesses have chipped in to sponsor families who need some help and the community support has been huge. But more support is surely needed and welcome! You can learn more about the program on their web site and be sure to help spread the word about this worthy idea to help families and kids still enjoy the school year and keep their learning on track this fall.
