PRESCHOOL ENRICHMENT HAS HUGE BENEFITS

A recent study of Georgia’s Pre-K program by the Southeastern Education Foundation shows that the number of students having to repeat grades is declining. The study also credits the program for beginning to have a positive effect on drop-out rates and special education enrollment. Of course all of these improvements in student performance are having a positive impact on the state budget.

A savings of $212.9 million in the next six years is predicted as fewer students who enrolled in Pre-K are being required to repeat a grade. The foundation’s vice president said “There is no other program in Georgia that can match it — no other program that is as effective and efficient for taxpayers.” (And let’s not forget the effect on the lives of the students!)

Earlier today I went with a donor to visit a Head Start class and a Pre-K class where The Craddock Center’s Ms. Amanda was teaching music. Twenty little three and four year olds were mesmerized by the singing of songs with funny words and practicing spelling, counting and using stuffed animals to act out the songs. As I watched the joy that participation in this music class produced, I wished that everyone of you could visit these classes and see the Children’s Enrichment Program in action. An increasing body of research shows that more than 85% of a child’s brain is developed by age five, forming the foundation for literacy, critical thinking and communication. I am thankful through your scholarships and other donations all of us can participate in preparing these children not only for kindergarten but for life. — TLS

SCHOOL TALES                     

Recently the Craddock Center visited our school.  They brought boggans, the Story Express, wooden toys, and of course the Arts Specialist.  Our Specialist was just returning after medical leave and the kids were so excited to get to have music again.  They missed her so much and asked every day when she would be back.  When she returned she came with surprises.  What a happy day!  The kids wanted to sing every song the Specialist had taught them since August.  The book selections on the Story Express are excellent.  The kids knew right away which book they wanted to keep.  The boggans fit perfectly and they wore them so proudly.  The wooden toys were also wonderful.  As soon as  we got back into class the kids wanted to paint their toys.

Each child talked about how wonderful this day was.  We have one autistic boy this year and he loves trains.  You made his day today.  He found a Thomas the Train book, a wooden toy train , and a boggin that he said worked as a "train man's hat".  What a special time.  Thank you Craddock Center for everything. — Andrews, NC Pre-K We enjoy the visits from the Craddock Center Artist so much.  Recently we did the song The Hat's Alright.

The kids were taught how to play the spoons Appalachian style.  They loved it!  One child touched my heart so much.  He was born with some physical limitations and this can make it difficult for him to participate in some activities.  When he picked up the spoons, his face lit up, he started yee-hawing, and sang with much enthusiasm.  I will never forget the joy this child experienced. — Fannin County Head Start/Pre-K

The Craddock Center contributes so much to our school.  We have missed the visits so much during the holidays and many snow days. (The kids are making great use of the boggans.  Thank you.)  When we finally were able to return to school, we had a teachers' work day on the day the Craddock Center Artist was scheduled to visit.  Our kids missed her so much, they wanted to come to school on their off day just to have music and story time.  Thankfully the weather is nicer now and we are back to a normal routine again.  The kids look so forward to each Monday visit.  Thank you Craddock Center! —Ranger, NC Pre-K

I MUST ADMIT               

I was elated from the day of the phone call from New York until the morning the panel truck and automobile pulled into the parking lot of the church on the hill. The New York Times was preparing a program on “Religion in America” to be shown on Discovery Channel. “Would you be willing to be interviewed on site? We would take no more than three hours of your time.” I tried to sound cool, like this happens in Cherry Log all the time. A date was agreed on, and I waited.

The reporting team consisted of five young people, late twenties, early thirties, all very professional and most gracious. All from New York. Within minutes cameras, lights, and mikes were set up, tested, and declared ready. From the church we moved to the Center, and apart from a few shots of our beautiful mountains, my guests were satisfied and packed up as smoothly as they had set up. In slightly less than three hours they rolled away. All conversed freely off camera, but only one engaged me in the interview. No, there was one exception. At one point in the interview, one of the group, a young woman, became quite emotional and asked for a break. I asked her if there was a problem and she said “No; I just never knew that anyone was this deeply committed to their faith.” She talked a while about her now-deceased grandparents, and then we returned to our work.

The young man conducting the interview was well prepared, asking good questions and capable in the spontaneous follow up to the answers. He did, however, return again and again to one question: Are there any snake handlers around here? I first thought he was nonserious but I came finally to realize the matter was important to him. I said I witnessed snake handling in worship in Kentucky years ago but that it was now against the law in every state except West Virginia. But, he said, don’t you think it is still going on? Probably, so I gave him the name of a preacher in the Church of God of Prophecy who would know.

Sure enough, when the program was on Discovery Channel, the 3-hour interview was about 40 minutes, and of that more time was given to snake handling than to any other feature of religion in Southern Appalachia. The reporter had found and filmed a snake handling service. In fact, the reporter actually touched the rattlesnake, firmly held, of course, by the believer.

Oh, well, so much for religion in Southern Appalachia. But if I had known the reporter had such an appetite for a miracle, I would have taken him to a Head Start school and let him interview children in our Enrichment Program. Talk about miracles. They are all over the floor! — FBC

CALLING ALL PREACHERS                   

To mark these dates on your calendars for the next Preaching Workshops in Cherry Log. October 3, 2011 Dr. Will Willimon will be the presenter and March 5, 2012 the presenter will be Dr. Barbara Brown Taylor. In 1996, an international survey conducted by Baylor University named Dr. Willimon, Dr. Taylor and Dr. Craddock among the twelve Most Effective Preachers in the English-speaking world. The Craddock Center is pleased to offer you the opportunity to spend a morning with these outstanding preachers. After lecturing and preaching all over the world, don’t you think it’s time they came to Cherry Log? — TLS

SPRING CLEANING                    

May produce some things you’d like to pass along to The Craddock Center’s furniture storage unit. The inventory is very low now but the need is high! Several families have been burned out and others are forced to start over due to many unavoidable circumstances. If during your spring cleaning you come across some furniture or household goods you’d like to contribute, please call 706-632-1772. Tammy can arrange a pickup or she'll meet you at the storage unit in Blue Ridge. — TLS

SRING IS IN THE AIR                  

As I write this first day of March. On the way to The Craddock Center this morning I passed five deer and a fox, all of whom looked really excited to be out where the warm breezes are blowing. There is a sense of renewal, excitement and hope in Cherry Log after a particularly rough winter. There is definitely a vibrance in the mountains in early spring with the animals coming out of hiding, the budding trees showing their fresh colors, and the songs of birds filling the air.

The farmers around here say we are due one more snow. We are hoping the groundhog knows best! One thing is certain, when the cherry blossoms are in full bloom, we’ll know it really is spring. While it is warm the Story Express has been finishing the holiday visits to schools that were snowed out in December and January. The preschool children are thrilled to see the Story Express no matter when it arrives! And they are so excited to get the handmade wooden toys from Texas and Florida. Getting children hooked on books early in life is one of the best gifts we can give them! Thanks to all of you who continue to donate books to keep the Story Express loaded. It means so much to the children. — TLS

Children’s Enrichment Program of             The Craddock Center                        I will give _______ scholarships of $140.00 per year for 3 years.     I will pay this pledge ___ monthly, ___ semiannually,    ____ annually   Signed ___________________________________ Address __________________________________