WELL program brings youngest students into the Christian school[2:03 PM]
By Harley Benda
Newsroom@DominionPost.com
Many schools in West Virginia require moving from building to building as children grow up. One local school is solving that issue by keeping kids in the same building from birth until high school graduation.
Trinity Christian School, which already offers preschool, has added an infant and toddler program, called WELL — Warrior Early Learning Lab.
“We’re basically offering birth through adulthood Christian education for families that desire that in the Morgantown area,” said Michelle Stellato, Trinity Christian School superintendent. “[This new program] is going to add infants and toddlers to the education program here.”
WELL is part of Trinity’s mission of “educating for life.”
“One of the big reasons why we wanted to do this is because there are not a lot of places where families can choose a Christian education right from the start,” Stellato said. “Part of our mission is educating for life. With the WELL program, it’s going to be educating for life right from the start.”
Stellato said parents should expect a great education for children who enroll in the program.
“It’s going to eventually encompass all of the pre-kindergarten education programs at the school.”
“We believe in being really hands-on, while meeting and exceeding all milestones and standards,” said Kendra Sainato, director of Early Childhood. “So, that looks different at every age group, and I also think it’s important we are starting biblical education even in the baby room and infant room.”
Stellato also said it’s convenient for families whose children have to attend different schools with different times.
“This is going to be often better for families, because if you have multiple-aged children, basically they’re all under one roof, under one organization, one institution with the education of all of your children.”
Stellato said their early education and elementary-aged children have the option of attending in person under the school’s Critical Care License. Secondary students are attending classes virtually until the county color coding allows their return to campus. She added that parents shouldn’t be worried to send their children to Trinity, as they have been operating with the guidelines for childcare.
“We had to modify our services that we kept children in smaller groupings, and we instituted wearing masks, and hand-washing and social distancing. But actually, this isn’t a change for us. We have very small class sizes at Trinity, and that’s always been part of our design. We have 37 acres here and a ton of square footage, so our kids are naturally able to social distance and be away from each other.”
Stellato is hoping people will take advantage of their services.
“We know that kids need to be kids and they need a place to go, and families need the ability to go to work.”
Families can submit an application for their child to participate in WELL by visiting their website, www.tcswv.org/prospective-families/the-well-early-ed/. Space is limited.
“We’ve been blessed so far with the ability to keep everyone very safe.”
Tweet @DominionPostWV
