Special preschool class teaches students of different abilities
By Sylvie Belmond belmond@theacorn.com

SYLVIE BELMOND/Acorn Newspapers READY FOR FUN- Four-year-old Manjari enjoys playtime after lunch break at preschool. The girl is one of six students who are in a new program offered by the Moorpark Unified School District that integrates children with special needs with typical students.

A new preschool combination class offered by Moorpark Unified School District integrates typical students with peers who have special needs.

The six youngsters enrolled in the class still possess the innocence of early childhood- labels and categories don't matter to them. They played and learned together in class this week, with everyone displaying inquisitive minds and big smiles.

"It's truly heartwarming to see typically developing and exceptional children learning from each other to their mutual benefit," said Ellen Smith, district superintendent.

The program is conducted at the district's early childhood center, next to Flory Academy in downtown Moorpark.

The class includes three children with special needs. It is taught by child development specialist Marilu Smith, special education teacher Gina Casagrande and instructional aide Denise Nile. The three work one-on-one with the youngsters, coaching them to navigate the classroom and work together on various activities in preparation for kindergarten.

SYLVIE BELMOND/Acorn Newspapers REACHING YOUNG MINDS- Educators Marilu Smith and Gina Casagrande, along with instructional aide Denise Nile, present a lesson to a preschool class that contains both typical students and those with special needs. The program was started this year by the Moorpark Unified School District and school officals hope to continually increase enrollment in upcoming years.

They also use positive reinforcement to encourage good behavior and promote academic success at an early age.

"The program helps kids to interact and learn the classroom routine in a supportive and casual environment," Casagrande said. Typical students model appropriate behavior while they learn to be accepting of differences, she said.

The young children also learn to build vocabulary and develop communication skills.

"The program was like a godsend for me," said Sylvia Trick, mother of a child who has special needs. Brandan, 5, required more time to acclimate to the classroom environment before entering kindergarten. "The staff is very caring and they look out for what's best for the kids," Trick said.

The program came about as a result of the work of special education director Richard Jenkins and a talented group of teachers who took the idea and made it into a classroom reality, Smith said.

Early intervention for exceptional children has been shown to result in a reduced need for special education and other rehabilitative services later in life, Jenkins said. Grade level retention rates are reduced and, in some cases, the exceptional children are indistinguishable from nonhandicapped classmates after early intervention.

"This program is highly likely to pay special dividends for our young participants," Smith said.

Language delay and autism affect more children than ever, said Casagrande, noting the school district and Jenkins created the combination class in recognition of a need in the community.

The program is not for every child, Jenkins said. Special needs students must be able to interact with others and follow the curriculum to some degree in order to qualify, he said. School officials expect to have 12 children in the program next year.

"This is a great way for the district to provide affordable childcare and preschool instruction for the community while it gives attendees an opportunity to understand and accept differences among children," said school trustee Ron LaGuardia.

The hours of the full-time program are 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. for typical students and 9:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. for kids with special needs. It costs $400 per month. Before and afterschool childcare costs an additional $100 per month.