Pooh Corner Grads Complete First Step On Lifelong Journey

More than 100 little learners walked the span of the at this week, signifying their graduation from preschool.

The majority of the 101 Pooh Corner graduates will attend kindergarten in Saline Area Schools next year. Some will return for a second year of pre-school.

Tuesday afternoon’s graduation, one of six ceremonies held this week, was bittersweet teachers and parent.

“It’s sad because we have developed strong relationships with the parents and grown to now each child. Yet at the same time, we are so proud because of how ready these children are to begin kindergarten,” said Su Fen Lin, Director of Pooh Corner, which is offered through .

Michelle Engelhardt watched her five-year-old daughter, Gabriella, walk the bridge.

“It’s a great day. We’re so happy for all of the students. But I feel sad because this is my last child going through Pooh Corner and we’ll miss the teachers. They are awesome,” Engelhardt said.

Pooh Corner is designed to foster children’s competency in all areas of development with a well-balanced curriculum that promotes cognitive, physical, emotional and social development—plus kindergarten readiness.

Engelhardt said the program works. Her older daughter, Brooke, is now in third grade.

“When she entered kindergarten, she was reading at a high level,” Engelhardt said. “I would recommend Pooh Corner to any parent looking at a preschool.”

The program is offered to students ages 3-5. Lin said she sees great development in the children they teach.

“For a lot of our children, this is their first experience away from their parents. Pooh Corner teaches children to say goodbye, to learn in the classroom, to follow directions and learn to play with other kids,” Lin said. “We try to provide children a loving, fun and challenging learning environment so they become lifelong learners.”

Pooh Corner also offers pre-math and pre-reading curriculum.

For more information call 734-429-8024 or visit  http://www.salinecommunityed.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=category&id=26&Itemid=34.