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Letters to the Editor: Felicia Hopkins

Letters to the Editor

Letters to the Editor: Felicia Hopkins

Dear North Idaho College,

I have been employed as a North Idaho College Children’s Center classroom teacher for eight years. I work with an incredible staff who shares the same goals and passions. We work together serving our families of North Idaho College students, staff, and faculty. When I began I was excited to be a part of the Children’s Center Philosophy, (to be a part of a community that takes their education and puts it into practice) it gave me an overwhelming sense of appreciation for our profession. As the years went by I realized that the Children’s Center is not only dedicated to quality, but North Idaho College as a whole works together to uphold the highest quality education for our community, including our youngest students: the infants through 5-year-olds at the NIC Children’s Center.
Years of research has shown that the impact on young children’s development is associated with the quality of interactions provided by the world around them. With this understanding the North Idaho College Children’s Center staff has made it our mission to treat children as we see them; as individuals who are competent and inquisitive. For many years I have been passionate about our project approach and emergent curriculum. This is a process by which children learn through investigating ideas that are relevant and interesting to them. We value family and community participation as an intricate part of early education because we know that children form their views about the world through early relationships and experiences. We do this by partnering with various programs and organizations on campus.
I would like to personally extend a warm thank you to the community around us for its ongoing support in our investigations. A very special thank you to the following people: Head coach Jared Phay and the men’s basketball team (basketball project); Pat DeSmet in Student Health Services (blood inquiries); Matt Piekarski in the Carpentry program (art studio design); Information Services/Distance Education Librarian Jim DeMoss (library services); Art Instructor Allie Vogt (art project); Jeff Jenkins and Richard Schultz at Emery’s Restaurant (cooking project); Mail and Copy Center Services staff (robot project); Charlotte Warren of Facilities Operations (door mission); Peer Tutor Coordinator Penny Weiss (horse interest); Stacy Hudson of Communications and Marketing (photo opportunities); Sara Fladeland of the Development Office (grant writing); Mike and Rayelle Anderson (garden project); ASNIC (special events); Holly Edwards of Student Support Services (everything)… and so many more. Thank you again! I look forward to more years of collaboration and adventures that our children
initiate.

Sincerely,
Felicia Hopkins, NIC Children’s Center Teacher

Opinions expressed in editorial and opinion articles are the views of individual NIC students. These views do not necessarily  reflect the opinions of the Sentinel, North Idaho College, or any other organizations or groups there-in. North Idaho College is not responsible for the accuracy of statements or opinions shared.

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Jantzen Hunsaker is a former Webmaster of the Sentinel.

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