DeKalb County Promise Program Now Includes Pre-K
(photo courtesy of Community Foundation DeKalb County)
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As a subscriber you can listen to articles at work, in the car, or while you work out. Subscribe NowDeKalb County Promise, an initiative of the Community Foundation DeKalb County, has opened its Promise in a Bag program to Pre-K students. The nonprofit says the program aims to bring the post-high school college and career experience to the county’s elementary and Pre-K students.
“As a principal, I greatly appreciate how the Promise Committee was able to provide Promise in a Bag to our teachers and students,” said JR Watson Principal Pam Shoemaker. “What a creative, user-friendly way to share this learning opportunity with our schools.”
The program provided nearly 500 bags to local preschools and child care centers, filled with age-appropriate activities such as play-doh, markers and crayons, and activity pages, among other items. Additionally, the organization says the 2020-21 school year was the first year the program included activities students could do either at home or in the classroom.
“Promise in a Bag was a fun activity with my 1st grader on a snowy day,” said parent Nora Schwartz. “We got to talk about different jobs in our community and what job he would like to do someday.”
The program also includes a college and career savings promise that provides information and opportunities for students to earn up to $30 in deposits made into a student’s account deposited by the Community Foundation of DeKalb County.
With the addition of the nearly 500 bags, the nonprofit says it has created and distributed over 3,600 bags to local students.