Benevilla is excited to celebrate National Teacher Appreciation Week by recognizing the dedicated educators and their staff working tirelessly in their Wirtzie’s Preschool and Daycare. This is especially important as these teachers continue to come to work every day despite the risks and fears of the Covid-19 pandemic.
“The National Education Association describes National Teacher Week as a time for honoring teachers and recognizing the lasting contributions they make to our lives, but it goes so much further than that” says Kresta Horn, Director of Child Development at Wirtzie’s. “Our teachers become family to these children and these relationships run deep in the community.”
Teachers play a critical role in educating and shaping our children: the future leaders of our country. They are kind, patient, hard-working, selfless and dedicated professionals who help mold our children and guide them in positive directions. We entrust our children to these teachers, they affect their lives daily and when we think about all they are doing for our children, it moves us beyond words.
Wirtzie’s Child Development Center is a uniquely designed facility located on the Benevilla main campus in Surprise offering high quality care and preschool training to children six weeks to five years old. Wirtzie’s stands out from other childcare centers by focusing on the development of the whole child. This program has lower child to adult ratios and higher educated and trained teachers than are required by Arizona State standards. All teachers have two-year or four-year degrees. By having open classroom designs, planned interactive curriculum and child-centered, child-initiated activities Wirtzie’s is distinct when compared to other childcare facilities. Part-time and full-time care programs are available.
The most exciting and unique component to Wirtzie’s is the award winning “Inter-generational” program. Here senior members (many in early stages of dementia) from Lucy Anne’s Place Life Enrichment Center join the children from Wirtzie’s, several times a day to do art projects, read books, cook, garden, play games and music, and enjoy snacks. This is the only program of its kind in Arizona where children and elders interact daily in a specifically designated area.
Wirtzie’s Preschool and Daycare has chosen to support our community by staying open during the pandemic. Their hours are Monday through Friday from 6:30 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. For more information on the programs at Wirtzie’s or future enrollment opportunities call (623) 207-6022.