Welches Elementary School first grader Jeb Payne frequently writes his mom
notes, is an advanced reader and enjoys going to school every day. And while
part of that enthusiasm may be due to the fact that his mother, Kendra, is the
school’s principal, she also credits the Little Steps to School Success, a
program that introduces children to the school experience before they reach
school age, as contributing toward where he is as a student today.

"He loves coming to school, he’s excited about coming to school; it’s a special
thing," said Kendra, noting her son remains friends with children he met in
Little Steps, while she has also continued friendships with other parents.

The program, offered at Welches every year for the past 15 years, is free and
open to children who turned 3 by Aug. 31, 2012. Four times a school year,
during the course of an hour, a kindergarten teacher reads the children a
story, kids and parents take part in activities, every kid gets a free book and
parents are also offered strategies to take home to enhance their child’s
reading experience.

Becky Fortune, Welches’ Little Steps program coordinator, noted that the
kindergarten experience has changed since she was a child, and today,
schools want kids to know letters, letter sounds, count to 10 and be able to
write their name when they first arrive.

"When we went to school, kindergarten was all about socialization; learning to
play, share, sit and listen," said Fortune, adding that new statewide standards
"moved things down" as graduating high school seniors have new
expectations, too.

Approximately 200 students have passed through the program at Welches
since it started, including approximately 30 each year in recent years,
according to Fortune. And Fortune hopes to find families who do not have
children enrolled in the school yet to get them introduced to other families.

"It’s just a great way to get involved in the community and meet people from
your neighborhood," Fortune said.

The first Little Steps evening was held in October, while future evenings will
be held from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. Wednesday, Dec. 12, Wednesday, Feb. 27
and Wednesday, May 8 at Welches Elementary School. Free childcare will be
available for siblings.

Registration forms are available at Welches Elementary School, 24901 Salmon
River Road, or via email at becky.fortune@ortrail.k12.or.us.
For more information, call 503-622-3165.