Mokena Elementary Offers Early Start Screening August 12

Mokena Elementary School will host an Early Start screening on Tuesday, August 12 from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Early Start at Mokena Elementary School is a fee-based half-day pre-kindergarten program for eligible three year-old and four year-old at-risk children.  The program encourages children to make choices and interact in various learning centers throughout the classroom, as well as greatly encouraging and supporting parent participation.  Two daily sessions are offered: a morning session and an afternoon session.

Members of the Early Start team conduct screenings of children who then may be eligible for the program based on a number of qualifiers such as low family income, multiple or premature birth, English language skills, or some other home or community factor which places the child in an at-risk situation.  If the child has been found "at risk" as a result of the screening and if space is available, students may be admitted into the Early Start program.  The screening services are provided at no cost to parents as an early intervention service.  Children must also be either 3 or 4 years old before the first day of school for each of the respective sessions and Mokena residents.

During the screening, the team will assess the development of a young child in the following areas:

• Gross/Fine motor skills                               
• Speech/Language skills                              
• Cognitive skills

• Basic health/physical needs     
• Socio-economic factors
• Safety needs                                  
• Love, belonging, and self-esteem needs

After the screening, members of the Early Start team will share with parents/guardians the information acquired from the screening about their child’s development.

Call MES office at 708-342-4852 to schedule an appointment.  Registration fee for the Early Start program, which is a full school year, is $607.50.  A wait list will be started should the number of qualified children in either session exceed 20.