Conestoga Valley townlively.com
JULY 24, 2024
SERVING THE LOCAL COMMUNITIES SINCE 1954
Free program affords CV kids early learning opportunities
Philip Warner is newest Blazer with passion for education BY JEFF FALK
It’s trite but true. It really does take a village to raise a child. Parents, teachers and clergy are among some of the most obvious villagers. But there are others less hands-on who also play a major role in the development of kids. Philip Warner, L ancaster Mennonite School’s (LMS) newest administrator, is one of those behind-the-scenes guys. “Obviously, we have a number of goals for education as a culture,” said Warner. “We want to have an educated society. I want to invest in the formation of skills and students’ character and faith. My goal as an educator is aligned with my personal philosophy and my professional goal is to invest in as many students as possible.” Following a search and an interview process, Warner was
BY JEFF FALK
Philip Warner
hired as LMS’ new assistant superintendent in March and officially took over his new duties on July 1. In his role, Warner will assist and be overseen by LMS superintendent Michael Badriaki, and he will assist and oversee other LMS administrators, provide human See Philip Warner pg 3
HOPE International is golfing for purpose-filled dollars BY JEFF FALK
A participant in last year’s Pennsylvania Pre-K Counts program at Conestoga Valley engages with an educator.
said Harbaugh. “ Three- and 4-year-olds are very much in the curiosity stage. They’re in the process of experimenting. That’s how they learn, trial and error. (The program) is giving them the freedom to make mistakes and
learn from them.” There are guidelines and restrictions associated with Pre-K Counts, which runs concurrently with the school year calendar. Participants’ families must be within 300% of the federal poverty level.
The annual HOPE International Golf Outing isn’t a professional golf tournament. But the players will be playing for money - the kind that can change people’s lives. “Money can be used as a tool, as long as it can be used in the right way,” said Jeff Rutt, founder and chairman of HOPE International. “The power of
See Pre-K Counts pg 2
enterprise is learning to be responsible. It allows charities to be very healthy. There’s power in money being used in the right way.” The 24th edition of the HOPE International Golf Outing will be conducted on Friday, Sept. 13, at three courses: Iron Valley Golf Club, 201 Iron Valley Drive, Lebanon; Wyncote Golf Club, 50 Wyncote Drive, Oxford; and the Woodlands Golf Course, See HOPE International pg 6
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t’s educational. It’s social. It’s developmental. But perhaps the best thing about the Pennsylvania Pre-K Counts program is that it’s free. Currently, there are openings for Conestoga Valley 3- and 4-year-olds to participate in the Pennsylvania Pre-K Counts program being hosted by local nonprofit Steps to Success in conjunction with the Conestoga Valley School District (CVSD). Michele Harbaugh, Steps to Success’ executive director and founder, emphasized that Pre-K Counts is geared toward families experiencing financial hardships. “This is a free program,” she noted. “If you’re paying for child care, you might not have to through this program. If people are out there struggling and not knowing about (the program), this is an opportunity. Conestoga Valley sends out information about the program, but if there are new families who just moved in to the district, they might not know about it. We want to make people aware of the program.” There are currently 10 openings for CVSD 3- and 4-year-olds in Pre-K Counts at Leola Elementary and one at Brownstown Elementary. There are also 10 openings at Smoketown Elementary, where the program is being hosted by Owl Hill Learning Center. Fritz Elementary, Conestoga Valle y ’s four th elementar y school, currently has a waiting list for the program. “Every child’s brain is a sponge,”
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