LETTER: Collaboration ended badly, but private school will carry on 4-K

To Ozaukee Press:

As the former 4-K teacher at Port Catholic (now St. John XXIII), having played an integral part in the inception of the collaboration with the Port Washington-Saukville School District, I would like to thank all of the people involved over the many years this program existed.

The collaboration began with great respect and cooperation between all of the 4-K sites and the public school district. It provided our community with wonderful places for our youngest learners to develop the skills necessary to become excited lifelong learners.

From the beginning, it was understood that the 4-K classes would be moved from the sites that hosted them to public schools when space in the district became available. This move should have happened with better communication as to the timeline so the sites would have been forewarned and better prepared for the loss of their programs and staff.

The site directors found out about the Port Washington-Saukville School Board’s decision to take over 4-K classes from parents and an Ozaukee Press reporter. It is unfortunate that the end of the collaboration wasn’t done with the same respect and cooperation that it began with.

Being a current St. John XXIII Commission member, I would like the community to know that the long-established and successful St. John XXIII K4 program will continue with even more to offer our families. The children will experience a comprehensive child centered program with the addition of faith development and a new SNAP (science, nature, adventure, play) component based on STEM concepts. This is in addition to the enrichment classes of gym, music, library, art, Spanish, social and emotional counseling and wrap-around child care.

I am personally excited that St. John XXIII will continue to provide the 4-K program that began when I taught at Port Catholic.

Cindy Becker
Grafton