Our mission, since 2007, has remained the same: to provide the highest quality, balanced, hands-on education for children from very low-income families for the purpose of thriving in Kindergarten. This non-profit, faith and community based organization has been providing enriching experiences that nurture the whole child through physical, cognitive, social, emotional, spiritual and creative daily activities. Ark Preschool promotes character education utilizing the Woodland Joint Unified School District's Lifeskills Curriculum program that focuses on attributes such as friendship, organization, responsibility, initiative, courage and respect. These attributes are woven into the daily curriculum. Our dedicated staff is passionate about providing opportunities for children to break through the constraints of poverty and live the lives of success and joy they were meant to live. While experiencing hands-on activities, the children gain knowledge about the way things work in the world around them. Students have opportunities to learn to work in safe, clean, and positive group experiences. Our students engage in Kindergarten readiness skills which encourage creative thinking and problem solving to help them to thrive in elementary school. There are daily indoor and outdoor physical activities to develop motor skills, which are important to health and to developing readiness skills. Our goal is to encourage self-esteem and to provide opportunities for fun and laughter. Children develop a positive self-concept through play and exploration on their own and in groups, where adults serve as positive role models. In addition, we support our students' families through educational information in weekly newsletters and connections to community resources.