GRAVETTE -- Once again the big yellow school buses are coming by every morning. School has been in session a few weeks now and students are busy in the classroom during the day. But what about those hours in the morning when mom and dad need to go on to their job but it's not yet time for the bus to run? Or in the evenings when the class day is over but the parents' work day hasn't ended? A popular Gravette location provides an answer to that dilemma.
Imagine Before and After School Care, located at 206 Birmingham S.E., is open 6 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday through Friday to provide care for youngsters age 5 and up. A preschool program for children age 3 and 4 is available from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. Doors are open all day during parent-teacher conference days, teacher in-service days, snow days, spring break and summer vacation.
The facility is a state-licensed daycare authorized to handle 51 clients and is subject to quarterly monitoring visits from Benton County Department of Human Services. It is operated by Chris and Tina Crose and son Devin, 21. They employ three other staff members. Chris had eight years working with the younger generation as director of the Gravette Boys and Girls Club, where he was in charge of programming for about 160 youngsters. He and Tina say they must play a variety of roles -- teacher, caregiver, disciplinarian and child advocate.
Students are required to work on their homework for the first 30 minutes after they come in from school. Homework comes before play time and students who have no homework are provided learning activities such as word search puzzles to keep them occupied during this time. Students are separated according to their age group, especially during homework time. Staff members work with the students one on one and deal with any problem areas they may have.
Tutors are available on Tuesdays and Thursdays to help students who have any learning difficulties. They test the students and assess their skill levels, talk to parents about testing results, develop a learning plan, set goals and help the students reach them. Instruction is given in math and reading, and special resource persons are brought in with programs for learning enrichment.
An etiquette course was offered last year in which students learned how to speak politely, how to sit at a table and eat properly, how to RSVP to invitations and address envelopes. Plans are to repeat those classes this year. Other popular programs have included learning sign language and visiting the wildlife trail at Pop Allum Park where children heard from a woman who does rehab work with injured birds.
A photography club from Bella Vista held photography lessons every Friday during the summer. Other extracurricular activities have been the Great Lego Build-off, a Mommy 'n Me spa day for girls and their mothers and a parents' night out on a Saturday night.
Snacks are provided each afternoon, and children bring their lunch if they are attending an all-day program. The Gravette Lions Club provides free eye testing and referrals. Chris has built or bought bicycles for children who have none, so each youngster will have a bike.
A field trip is held once a month for students who have completed all their homework and shown good behavior at school. Parents must sign a consent form before students can go on the trip. Field trips have featured fishing, bowling, trips to the Native American Museum in Bentonville, Cherry Berry Yogurt and a nail salon for girls. The most recent field trip was to Fun City in Springdale.
The Croses are working on obtaining nonprofit status for the Imagine Center but they have not been able to save the $800 needed for the application. If they could accomplish this goal, they say they could offer free child care and expenses would be paid through grants.
They are currently conducting a "Mile of Pennies" fundraiser. A mile of pennies is a little more than $840 and that would give them the money for the application fee. They are inviting everyone to empty their pockets and change purses, bring their pennies to the Imagine Center and help in their effort to provide free daycare for area children.
Community on 09/10/2014