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AVANCE program starts at Sassarini

Team teachers, led by Director Kevin Coates (above), are busy setting up classrooms at Sassarini Elementary School to prepare for the inaugural year of the AVANCE program in October. AVANCE is a national curriculum aimed at the Spanish-speaking parents of children up to age three. The program is funded in Sonoma thanks to a grant secured by the Sonoma Valley Education Foundation. AVANCE provides innovative education and family support services to predominantly Hispanic families in low-income communities. The curriculum has proven to make great strides in promoting school readiness and supporting family engagement. Parents attend workshops from 9 a.m. to noon every Wednesday in one room, while children enjoy classroom activities in another. The goal is for 20 to 25 families to participate in the nine-month program, which is open to all families in the District. For more information, go to avance.org. Families interested in participating should call Sassarini at 935-6040 and leave a message for Kevin Coates.