Preschool graduates take bows

With their first diplomas in hand, the 25 graduates of the Boys & Girls Club preschool are credited with the highest English proficiency scores in the school's history.

Dressed in their Sunday best, they celebrated their first graduation with cake.

Predominantly from Spanish-speaking households, the 3- and 4-year-olds come from qualifying low-income families in and around Laguna.

The goal of the program is to is to give underserved children an even start when they enter the public school system, Kim Maxwell, executive director of the program, said.

In taking the California EnglishLanguage Development Tests, the majority of the school's graduates scored in the intermediate or above levels.

The tests are administered to second-language learners to determine appropriate English-language placement for the following school year, district Assistant Superintendent Steven Keller said.

Mastery of the alphabet and counting are expected to put them on the same level as other students as they enter the El Morro and Top of the World schools next school year.

"The scores continue to improve for the Boys & Girls Club. We credit this to the Boys & Girls Club staff, parental support and expectations," he added.

A member of the preschool's first class, Cindy Ronses, addressed the graduates.

"My family and this community have given me much strong and ambitious instigation for success, which can be rooted back to these tremendous programs," Ronses said.

Ronses will be a sophomore this year at Southern New Hampshire University.

Next stop for the graduates ? kindergarten. Graduates of the Boys & Girls Club preschool program enjoy their cake. cpt.30-schoolbrfs-CPhotoInfoLL1SF0OG20060630j1lgd2nc(LA)Graduates of the Boys & Girls Club preschool program enjoy their cake.