Ballet
fundraiser for SAU's Children's Campus
by:
katie
voelliger
News Editor
There
is a unique fundraiser approaching for St. Ambrose University Children's Campus
(SAUCC) and it doesn’t involve a bake sale, selling wrapping paper or soup
containers.
RiverPointBallet’s
classic “Alice in Wonderland” will be performed at the Capital Theater in
Davenport, on November 10-13. It will benefit the Children’s Campus and WQPT,
which is the Quad Cities PBS.
“Our
goal is to become an accredited program: The National Association for the
Education of Young Children,” Debra Hahn, SAUCC director, said. “In
order to become accredited we must meet standards such as (providing) a
comprehensive ordination for all staff (prior to entering the classroom),
monthly staff meetings, in-service days, teacher resources, technology, etc.”
Hahn
went on to say that all of the accreditation criteria come with a price tag and
having fundraisers, such as the ballet, help to off set the costs associated
with accreditation.
“This
ballet is a wonderful opportunity for the SAUCC to become a bigger part of the
community, and help to gain larger recognition on the St. Ambrose campus as
well,” student Rachael Wagner said.
“The
reason we are working so hard is to keep the money coming in for these
children,” student Andromahi Korovilas said. The children deserve the
best care as they are growing up. We want to insure that these children and
their families are getting the best care and support.”
The
children’s campus was started in 1993 and it teaches children between the ages
of six weeks old to five years old. The student’s tuition alone can not cover
all of the campuses’ needs and expensives.
“The
ballet has the potential of generating $10,000,” Hahn said. “We hope to sell
out the show (which would be) 1500 people.”
“We
are trying to hold several fundraisers in order to help our reconstruction plan
at the Children’s Campus,” Korovilas said. “That's our 60-20-20 plan. We
have been having many fundraisers. Also, there is a trivia night coming up on
Nov. 19.”
SAU
Professor Jim Elias has a son, Tommy, who attended the Children’s Campus two
years prior to Kindergarten, which was a year ago. He says it’s a wonderful
school for children and a tremendous asset for SAU.
“The
teachers and staff at SAUCC had a tremendous impact on Tommy's readiness for the
public school,” Elias said. “Because of his delays, transitions have always
been difficult for him.”
Tommy
is now in first grade and continues making successful strides in school.
“I
believe the continuity of education and care provided by Tommy's teachers at
SAUCC is one of the biggest factors to his successful transition into
Kindergarten,” Elias said. “I really believe his love for school is due in
large part to the passion for learning he experienced at SAUCC.”