Northwest Center Kids Head Back to School in Greenwood
(PRWEB) September 03, 2014 -- Northwest Center Kids started classes today in its new home at the Greenwood Early Learning Center. In January of this year, Northwest Center Kids faced a future without a home for the school following notification to vacate their 30-year location in Queen Anne. A relentless search for a facility suitable to accommodate Northwest Center Kids’ unique programming uncovered the Greenwood Early Learning Center, which previously housed a pre-school owned and run by The Salvation Army. This solution untangles the difficult situation in which both Northwest Center and Seattle Public Schools were snarled for several months. The District will renovate the Queen Anne facility to help reduce the shortage of elementary schools in Seattle.
“The commitment and resilience of Northwest Center Kids families and a strong community empowered a fresh start today,” said Tom Everill, President and CEO of Northwest Center. “Our focus is firmly on the horizon and securing a permanent home for this program so that future generations of children can flourish in an environment that prepares them for school and for life.”
A newly equipped, fenced playground and seven freshly painted classrooms welcomed the children, infants to 5 years, into their new environment today. The professional staffs at the two Northwest Center early learning programs, Greenwood and Chinook, recognize each child as a unique individual. In integrated classrooms, children of all abilities play and learn side by side, with each one contributing to the learning environment.
“The beginning of every school year is always exciting but this year, we are also rewarded by knowing we overcame a challenging situation and came out better than before,” continued Everill. “Momentum is building toward a capital campaign that will invest energy and dollars in Northwest Center Kids’ enduring place in this community and a facility that will sustain and grow the award-winning programs we offer.”
In 2015 Northwest Center will celebrate its 50th anniversary of serving children of all abilities with inclusive and excellent early learning opportunities. Northwest Center invites the community to join with us in celebrating our next 50 years, by investing in the future of children of all abilities in Seattle.
ABOUT NORTHWEST CENTER
Northwest Center’s mission is to promote the growth, development and independence of people with developmental disabilities through programs of education, rehabilitation and work opportunity. Northwest Center was founded in 1965 by pioneering families who refused to institutionalize their children with developmental disabilities or accept the prevailing notion that their children couldn't be taught.
Today Northwest Center is a leading social enterprise organization whose fundamental purpose is to work for inclusion and justice for people with developmental disabilities.
Each program and business we operate not only provides world class education, training and services, but also demonstrates the powerful benefits of people of all abilities learning and working together.
Jean Kantu, Northwest Center, http://www.nwcenter.org, +1 (206) 963-1083, [email protected]
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