Little Knights Graduation: A Celebration for Preschoolers And High School Students

By Janet Cruz

It was a day full of sunshine and smiles from very proud parents and teachers at the Little Knights promotion at Lake Havasu High School Tuesday morning.

Bright balloons and excited little graduates recited songs they learned in class, while sounds of cheers from family and friends filled the gymnasium. A slide show highlighting the students’ year was also played.

“This is so great and all the hard work they put into this program is amazing,” said proud parent Jaime Almer.

Little Knights is a program which pairs high school students enrolled in the Child Development Program at Lake Havasu High School with preschoolers enrolled in the Little Knights preschool program. Students have the opportunity to work with children before they go on to receive their Child Development Associate Credential.

“If students stick with the program and enroll at Mohave Community College, they can get credit for nine hours of work, toward their early childhood education,” said Cathy Bailey Bagby with Lake Havasu High school.

“We want to be able to serve everyone. especially for those who will one day work with children in their career,” said Director Marie Hendry.

Little Knights Preschool Lake Havasu City

Jillian Danielson/RiverScene

High school students also work part time and can go on to work as a preschool or day care assistant and even move on to more specialized degrees at a local college or university after high school.

“I learned about the program through the Career Technical Education Department,” explained High school Junior Jackquelin Lopez. “Getting the chance to work with the kids here is such a great experience,” added Lopez.

Having a chance to see the students and preschoolers celebrate a year well done with a promotion at the end is rewarding to both the students, parents and their children.

“it is really fun”, said preschool graduate Gracie Almer.

“it is a really great program,” added parent Zeb Almer.

Little Knights preschool is a state licensed program. It operates as a lab base environment where high school students serve as lead teachers in the classroom. The Preschool runs as a part-time program and offers two sessions. for more information visit www.https://lhhs.lhusd.org/littleknightspreschool

Jillian Danielson/RiverScene

Names of the all graduates are below.

PRESCHOOL GRADUATES

GRACIE ALMER
GRAYSON MILEY
AUBREE HENSHAW
LEAF FISCHER
LEONA ARMIJO
AURORA SCHOTT
NATHAN RODGERS
KAIYA ZAMPOGNA
MIA GOMEZ
CHARLIE GILES
SAM QUINTANA
JADE HENDRICKSON
PARKER HAYNES
EVAN CHAVEZ
CHARLOTTEE HUNT
TIFFANY BROWN
EMILY MORIN
OWEN KARR

2022 HIGHSCHOOL SENIORS IN THE PROGRAM

EMMA DOLAN
MONIQUE ESTRADA
OLIVER HAGAN
ELIANA LIRA
KYLIE MALONEY
ALYSSA MUSSELMAN
EMMA ROBERTS
BRE THOMPSON
MACKENZIE MYERS

PRESCHOOLERS MOVING UP IN THE PROGRAM
JOCELYN KEREKES
LOGAN HALL
DYLAN SKINNER
BRIAR CLEMENS
OLIVER PELTIER
KHLOE PELTIER
LINCOLN SKINNER
CHARLIE BROWN
GUNNAR BRINDLE
COLTON BRINDLE
LAYLA MUELLAR
OLIVIA CORONA
ELLA CORONA
JAXXON WOLFF
JAYEYNA QUINTANA
CAMBREN MALOTT