KAPA‘A — An early childhood developmental program caught the eye of an Oregon foundation. Elvrine Chow, assistant director of the Kaua‘i Independent Daycare Services, said the preschool in Kapa‘a was recently awarded a grant of $20,000 for its “Time for
KAPA‘A — An early childhood developmental program caught the eye of an Oregon foundation.
Elvrine Chow, assistant director of the Kaua‘i Independent Daycare Services, said the preschool in Kapa‘a was recently awarded a grant of $20,000 for its “Time for Me” program that is celebrating its 10th anniversary this year. The grant was made by the Billy Healy Foundation of Oregon.
“Time for Me” is a special program at the K.I.D.S. Preschool geared to assist children who require more time to develop cognitively, physically, emotionally, or socially, according to a release from the preschool.
The program requires a coordinator who works directly with the children as well as mentors the teachers and conferences with parents, said Phyllis Kunimura, director of K.I.D.S. Preschool and co-founder of the “Time for Me” program.
“When we started the program 10 years ago, it was decided that we would hire a teacher who did nothing but work with students that were identified at the start of the school year, conference with parents, and record the progress,” Kunimura said.
Kunimura said the conferences involve trying to get to the root of the developmental problem and sometimes, tracking history of the family to as far back as the child’s time in the womb.
“The goal is to help each child have success and for the children to be ready for kindergarten,” said Chow in the release.
John Akana, president of the board for K.I.D.S. Preschool and co-founder of the “Time for Me” program, said the success rate of students leaving the preschool has been high.
On the other side of the coin, Kunimura said a study done by Yale University states that kids getting kicked out of preschools is higher than any grade between kindergarten through grade 12, a testament for the need for a program to help children with development.
“As far as we know, it is the only program of its type in Hawai‘i,” Kunimura said. “Because of the need for such a program, we are so appreciative of the generosity of The Bill Healy Foundation.”
Kunimura said when the “Time for Me” program started, it was shared between three Hawai‘i-based foundations for the first four years. It was followed by three years of being shared with other foundations.
“There was no funding for this kind of program when we started,” Kunimura said. “We had to write grants to help get it off the ground.”
Kunimura said in addition to the “Time for Me” program, K.I.D.S. Preschool has been fortunate to get help from other organizations to help maintain its building which houses a student population of 82 students.
Grants from the Atherton Family Foundation and the Goodale Family Foundation has helped fund the school’s Capital Improvements window replacements and sidings due to deterioration from salt air and winds.
Kunimura said Parrish Melendez, president of Bella Pacific Construction as well as a parent of a K.I.D.S. student, will be installing the new Hardie Cementitious pre-painted siding.
“Even with the slow economy, it was a great year for K.I.D.S. School … thanks to the generosity of these foundations,” Kunimura said. “As a non-profit, K.I.D.S. is so very grateful.”
Akana said the interest being shown by Mainland foundations indicate the interest being shown by other organizations for the need for the developmental program.
“The key is never give up on a child,” Akana said. “We don’t.”
• Dennis Fujimoto, photographer and staff writer, can be reached at 245-3681 (ext. 253) or dfujimoto@kauaipubco.com
