Respect for the child, and an awareness of their emotional readiness for learning, is a primary role of the teacher; the core of the program is focusing on the individual child’s needs.

Two-and-a-half year-old Mateo is already on his way to being a world citizen. He and his parents have been taking classes in Mandarin Chinese since he was just a few months old, learning together. From the outside and to Mateo, having fun is what it’s all about. He sings and dances and hugs the furry white cat that he asks for in Mandarin. But while he’s playing, a lot is going on in his brain.

Nothing speaks more highly of a community than the education and support it provides to its students. Issaquah is fortunate to provide both—an outstanding school district and the Issaquah Schools Foundation (ISF), which further supports students in specific, meaningful ways. A perfect example is the VOICE (Volunteers of Issaquah Changing Education) Mentor Program.

Where are you going to college? Most high school seniors are asked that question. While many will rattle off several colleges they have applied to, there are also those who are undecided. Those are the ones who usually end up in “decade drift,” meaning they don’t go to college and instead end up working at a low-wage, dead-end job for about 10 years. At that point, the lightbulb comes on and they realize that they need to have a skill in order to enhance their personal life. What they don’t realize is that the wages they could have earned had they attended a vocational/technical school and gained a skill will never be made up during the remainder of their working life.

Surveying the stands at a high school football game, it might be hard to differentiate one face from another. But beneath the green and silver, or purple and gold, or blue, white, and green is a diverse mix of students, some not even American.

Issaquah music teachers make the transition to formal instruction easy.

Believe it or not, summer is coming! Registration for many local camps and classes begins in January, so it is not too early to start planning now for the summer

When choosing the best preschool for your child, Barbara Dover, director of Giggly Wiggly Preschool in Issaquah recommends, “Start a year in advance and tour at least three preschools when class is in session.” This is important advice, especially in light of the vast array of choices we have for preschools in Issaquah and Sammamish.

VOICE Mentors in Issaquah Schools have learned that much can be accomplished in an hour when working with a struggling student. The VOICE Mentor Program (Volunteers of Issaquah Changing Education) is a highly successful in-school mentor program funded by the Issaquah Schools Foundation. VOICE matches community volunteers with students identified by teachers and counselors as needing extra support in school.

Anyone who has attended the local art fairs or Farmers Markets knows that we have lots of artistic talent on the Eastside! As a new mom, I am always on the lookout for fun, one-of- a-kind gifts for the little ones in my life. I was lucky to spot these three businesses and thought I would share their stories with you.