Golden Hill wins grant to fund Primary Project

Golden Hill Elementary has received a grant from the Children’s Institute to fund Primary Project, a program designed to help students adjust to school, gain confidence and social skills, and focus on learning, according to the Children’s Institute. The grant will extend over three years, totaling $33,750.

Primary Project helps students in pre-K through third grade, shared Golden Hill Principal Starla Ciarelli. “The main focus is students that might have a hard time transitioning. It could be transitioning into school, transitioning from homeroom to specials or specials back to homeroom.” Students build skills by transitioning through play. “We will have a trained child associate who will engage them in regard to coming to school, going to classes and transitioning.”

According to the Children’s Institute, “Children who participate in Primary Project have been shown to: have more confidence, have increased attendance, be better able to connect to school and more successfully interact with peers and adults.”

The grant funds the part-time child associate position, materials needed for the program, and training for the child associate, Ciarelli and Jeanne Marie Pavlik, supervisor of pupil and staff support services.

“I am excited and grateful that we have the opportunity to be part of this program and training,” shared Pavlik.

“At that age, play is beneficial for students to learn and grow and be able to focus in school. We look forward to providing purposeful time in some of our students’ days to learn a variety of skills in a play based atmosphere.”

Ciarelli anticipates long-term benefits for students. “If we can get our students here now at a young age, positive attendance will continue through their upper elementary, middle school, and high school years.”

Students can be recommended to participate by a teacher, guidance counselor, or parent. Children participate in 12 to 15 sessions with the child associate.

For more information and an informative video, visit the Primary Project website: childrensinstitute.net/programs-services/primary-project.