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Belfair Co-Op Preschool Expands Library & Playground

Belfair Co-Op Preschool student readers.

2007 was a big year for Belfair Co-Op Preschool, housed in the Belfair Baptist Community Church building on State Route 3. The preschool was thrilled to be the recipient of three grants for two major projects.

The first grant came from the Silverdale Target store for $1,000 to apply toward the school's new library and reading room. Target awards grants to early learning programs in their local store areas. The preschool applied for the grant to help fund an expansion of their library to promote emergent literacy. The area includes child-sized seating with more space for new books and a book wagon for children. Students were excited to look at books in their new seating area! The completed project will include a story listening center with headphones. An indoor preschool climber with a reading nook is also in the works.

"It's exciting to see this project come together," says long-time teacher and Olympic College Parent Educator Karen Logan. "Our preschool parents collaborated to create an inviting environment for children to enjoy books and the Target grant allowed us to really expand our reading area."

The completion of this project will coincide with the upcoming "Week of the Young Child" to be held April 13 - 19, 2008. Sponsored by NAEYC (National Association for the Education of Young Children), the theme for 2008 is "Bring Communities Together for Children." The Belfair Co-Op Preschool looks forward to working with the Belfair Timberland Regional Library to create a fun display at the library for that week.

Two subsequent grants were also received for the Belfair Co-Op Presch0ol playground project. 

A new playground area including a tire swing was recently completed at the school (on the grounds of Belfair Baptist Community Church) with the help of a $5,000 grant from the Puyallup Tribe. The additional playground area completes another phase of the renovation. The preschool is working in conjunction with the church to complete the next phase of the project that includes covered play stations.

The school also received a $5,000 grant from the Muckleshoot Indian Tribe. These additional funds will be used along with school fundraisers to help finish the playground project.

Any community members or organizations interested in becoming partners in this project should contact the school at (360)277-0392. We would greatly appreciate your donations or assistance.

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