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Festival Prepares Children for New School Year

8/1/2022

For many kids, getting new school supplies is a fact of life, but others may not be so lucky. That's why the Montelores Early Childhood Council gives away more than 300 backpacks filled with supplies before school starts in August. This story is sponsored by the LOR Foundation and Big-O Tires

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More than 300 kids in Montezuma and Dolores counties will be headed back to school in August with backpacks stuffed with school supplies thanks to the Montelores Early Childhood Council's backpack giveaway. You're watching the Local News Network brought to you by the Lor Foundation and Big O Tire, I'm Wendy Graham Settle. They came for free Osprey backpacks but stayed for games and giveaways. The annual children's festival held at the Beech Street Preschool in late July attracted hundreds of kids and their families whose children participated in a number of school readiness screenings before school starts in August.

We're able to give free screenings, there's vision, dental, hearing, developmental zero to three, and three to five, as well as social emotional screenings, and height and weight checks. So we're able to give all of those free for parents with young children and help them with their school readiness. You find out earlier whether or not there are red flags with children's development and the earlier you can intervene, the better their chances for being successful.

The Montelores Early Childhood Council has offered the festival in screenings for 12 years. This year the council combined its fifth annual backpack giveaway with the festival to attract more families. The free Osprey packs were filled with pencils, paper, highlighters, and two pairs of Bombas socks, all donated. The Montelores Early Childhood Council started as the Montezuma County Family Childhood Council in 1984 and later morphed into the organization it is today. It provides family support services and professional development opportunities for early care and education professionals. To learn more visit Monteloresecc.org. Thanks for watching this edition of the Local News Network. I'm Wendy Graham Settle.

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