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Success Story
Dear Bal Swan staff, parents and potential new families:
When I started researching preschools for our daughter, Sydney, I inquired into six preschools in our area. I conducted my search by talking with parents, visiting schools, talking with school personnel and contacting the State of Colorado’s licensing agent for preschools. Ultimately, we chose Bal Swan.
Notably, Bal Swan has the lowest teacher to student ratio compared to any other preschool in the area. Bal Swan lowers their ratios between adults to students further by utilizing volunteers and encouraging parental involvement. The lower ratios are true for lunch bunch as well, with Patti, the Director of Education, eating lunch with the children. As a result, teachers at Bal Swan know the developmental needs of each of their students extremely well because they spend so much one-on-one time with each student every time the child attends school. On several of my visits to Bal Swan, I observed adults reading to children. I did not observe this at any other preschool visited. Bal Swan is able to achieve a child specific curriculum due to their low ratios of students to teachers and adults. The one-on-one time is integral to the child-specific curriculum.
I have observed an excellent, committed staff at Bal Swan who work well together. All of the classrooms at Bal Swan have teachers with a minimum of a bachelors degree and many have their masters degrees. Also, some staff members have been with Bal Swan for more than a decade which shows their commitment to the school and the children. Bal Swan had more longevity among their staff than any other preschool in the area. Moreover, Bal Swan being a non-profit speaks clearly of its efforts and commitment to children, including children with special needs.
Unlike many preschools, Bal Swan offers a great variety of amenities and services. Bal Swan is the only preschool I observed in which each classroom is its own play room well stocked with good/new toys. The newer classrooms have child size toilets and sinks in the classrooms which is helpful for children who are potty training. Unlike many other preschools, the staff at Bal Swan will help in potty training. Also unlike other preschools I visited, Bal Swan has an on-site psychologist, Dr. Bob, who’s services are free to Bal Swan parents and staff. Dr. Bob has been with the School for about 25 years and is an integral part of the Bal Swan team. Dr. Bob makes classroom observations and meets with teachers, staff and parents one-on-one for the benefit of the children. The children swim once per month in the warm-water therapy pool as part of the curriculum. It was important to us that swimming was a part of the curriculum to further Sydney’s ability to swim, a life-saving skill.
Bal Swan provides a safe environment for children to flourish. I contacted the State of Colorado to learn of any complaints or violations against area preschools. I was informed that the only preschools that did not have complaints or violations were Bal Swan and the newer preschools. This is remarkable in light of the fact that Bal Swan has been in existence for forty-plus years.
Many parents comment on how the children with disabilities really benefit from the typical children attending Bal Swan. But, children without disabilities can learn a great deal from children with disabilities as well. For example, one child in Sydney’s class is autistic and can add and subtract double digits in his head. An important lesson is that everyone can work together as a team, those with and without disabilities.
In closing, Bal Swan has been an excellent learning and nurturing environment for Sydney. Thank you Bal Swan for your continued efforts in educating our whole community.
Sincerely,
Tien T. Cai, Bal Swan parent
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