For most of the 260 students at Southview Preschool, several elements of their early educational experience are mapped out for them before they even set foot in a classroom.
The preschool was established in 2013. According to school administrators, about 42% of the students this year have special needs.
“The little ones are where my heart is,” said Marisa Muir, the preschool’s director. “I really love preschool age. They are just full of joy. It is a really joyous place to be.”
Southview is the only preschool in Madison County that will have an assessment coordinator go out to families who have a child with special needs and have an initial face-to-face visit.
A second visit with the family occurs at the school. That meeting includes an evaluation of the child involving a physical therapist, a speech therapist, an occupational therapist, a school psychologist and a special education teacher. The evaluation, Muir said, is designed to better understand the child’s needs.
A conference is then held with the family to build an education plan for the child.
“I am very passionate about early childhood education,” Southview teacher Trisha Rios said. “I just want to teach them to love school and to love coming to school.
“Building relationships is the most important thing,” she continued. “I always try to make sure they feel loved and safe, and then we can start on all the educational things. There is so much learning that goes here and so much growth.”
All the teachers at Southview are licensed and many of them have a special education degree. There is also a part-time licensed social worker who leads nurture groups with the children and a paraeducator in each classroom to help students with special needs.
“It is an amazing opportunity and a huge responsibility to know this is their preschool experience,” Southview teacher Colleen Murphy-Prange said. “This is their moment, and to be able to be here and support them is something that is phenomenal and a responsibility that I feel fortunate to have.”
There are two Developmental Delay classrooms that include children with severe special needs. Five inclusion classrooms have a combination of students with special needs and students without special needs. For children going to kindergarten the next year, four Title I classrooms also include those with special needs and without. One classroom is all day, every day instead of a half-day for families qualified through On My Way Pre-K.
“Those first few days are always a huge transition for the kiddos,” Murphy-Prange said. “Some of them have never left home, some of them have been to day care, so it is a huge mass of experiences for the kids. Remembering back to those first few days and getting to see all the growth they make is incredibly fulfilling.”
Southview partners with Plainsong Music Therapy once a week for every child. A Plainsong representative comes a second time to work either one-on-one or in small groups with students in the Developmental Delay classrooms.
Southview also partners with Second Harvest Food Bank to host a monthly food drive called the Big Idea. Representatives with the Anderson Public Library visit Southview once a month to do a story time for all the students.
Southview has started a new partnership with Main Street Church of God to host a trunk or treat event. At Fall Frenzy, the school has activities for families to learn with the students. The school also gives away books and has a bonfire and s’mores.
“The kids are what make it the most special,” Muir said. “They are so fun and full of energy and ready to learn. That is the best part of Southview. The staff’s commitment and dedication to making this the best preschool, it makes it super special. The families are awesome. They love it here and are what allows us to be here.”
This article appeared in The Herald Bulletin.