As the school year comes to a close, our Voluntary Prekindergarten (VPK) students from Fuller Center West Campus experienced an exciting milestone as they toured the kindergarten classrooms at Fuller Academy. This special visit offered a meaningful glimpse into their next academic chapter while helping to ease the transition and build confidence for the year ahead.
During their time at Fuller Academy, our VPK students didn’t just observe—they fully participated. Students joined kindergarteners inside the classroom and completed activities side by side, giving them a true hands-on experience of what a typical kindergarten day looks like. The kindergarteners led each activity, which gave them a sense of leadership and responsibility, while allowing the VPK students to learn from their peers. These carefully designed activities challenged the students in multiple areas, including math and early reading skills, while also reinforcing important developmental abilities such as fine motor coordination.
In addition, the experience helped students practice essential classroom behaviors, including focusing, following instructions, and listening attentively—skills that are critical for success in kindergarten and beyond. Fuller Academy kindergarten teachers ran the students through their morning routine in the classroom as a way to help the VPK students best understand the expectations that would be set on them in the future. Watching our VPK students engage so confidently alongside current kindergarteners was a proud moment for both staff and families.
This visit highlights the strength of our early childhood program. Last year, Fuller Center VPK students tested 100% Kindergarten Ready, reflecting our commitment to providing a strong academic and developmental foundation.
“Our VPK students are incredibly well-prepared, and opportunities like this make the transition to kindergarten both exciting and meaningful,” said Fuller Center CEO Eric Roby. “Seeing their enthusiasm reminds us why we do this work. We are looking forward to watching these students take the next step in their educational journey next year.”
At Fuller Center, we are dedicated to ensuring that every child is set up for success. Experiences like this not only prepare our students academically but also build confidence, independence, and a love of learning that will last well into their future. Fuller Center offers a year-round, full-day VPK program that allows for more time to be allotted to academics and ensuring students have the tools necessary for kindergarten and success throughout the rest of their academic career.
For a more in-depth insight into Fuller Academy, check out this video here https://youtu.be/XF6A6gQ4dR0?si=7J1GjAapBzyRx9Ve
