Preschoolers graduate from special unit

By Denise Dick

denise_dick@vindy.com

YOUNGSTOWN

Jovany Abath walked across the classroom, waving to the small audience, a big smile spread across his face.

Jovany, 6, along with Kaleb Maldonado, 4, and Jordan Mitchell, 6, make up the Class of 2014 of the medically fragile preschool unit at Williams Holmes McGuffey Elementary School.

Alexandra Abath, Jovany’s mother, said this was her son’s first year in the preschool. The family moved to Youngstown from Philadelphia.

“I can’t believe he was sitting down all this time,” she said. “At home, he’s always moving, doing stuff.”

Jovany sat through Thursday’s graduation program, all smiles, following along with hand motions as teacher Cheryl Vanatsky led the children in songs or read stories.

His mom says he enjoys coming to school.

“He gets excited when the bus comes to take him,” she said.

The children in the medically fragile unit all have a medical issue that causes significant challenges in their developmental skills and areas, Vanatsky said.

Some are nonverbal. Others can’t walk independently.

Their ages range from 3 to 5 with some 6-year-olds in the class, depending on their birthdays.

This year’s class included nine students. Twelve is the maximum. It’s the city district’s only medically fragile unit.

Students get occupational, speech, physical and vision therapy in the unit, which is staffed with two assistants and speech-, occupational- and physical-therapists in addition to Vanatsky.

This marks Jordan’s first year in the program too, said his mother, Dawn Sharrone.

She believes the program has helped her son, although “he’s always been smart,” she said.

Jordan, who was premature, suffers from cerebral palsy and seizures.

He enjoys coming to preschool.

“He loves it,” Sharrone said. “He loves Miss Cheryl.”

Kaleb completed two years in the preschool. Initially, he couldn’t sit up, said his mother, Stacey Phelan.

Kaleb also has seizures and cerebral palsy.

“He plays with toys, and he’s so mobile now,” Phelan said.

Each graduate received a diploma while “Pomp and Circumstance” played in the background. Each child received a certificate from Mayor John McNally and U.S. Rep. Tim Ryan of Howland, D-13th, marking their accomplishments.

Vanatsky thanked the parents who filled her small classroom for the work they do with their children.

“I am honored to know you,” she said.

Vanatsky has been teaching students with special needs for 28 years.

“I love it,” she said. “This was my calling.”