They were asked to dress up as their favorite Disney character on Monday, their favorite book character on Tuesday and their favorite superhero on Wednesday. Thursday was designated as Decades Day and they dressed up in gear that reflected their favorite decade. Friday was reserved for them to dress up as to what they want to be when they grow up.

Preschool Administrator Lenora “Ponie” Mojado said they saw lots of princesses on Monday and Spider-Man lookalikes on Wednesday. Dressing up as a favorite book character showed their interest in many of the book titles that were being offered at the fair. From Paw Patrol to Bluey, there were a lot of book characters represented. The decades spanned from the 1970s to the 2000s among the students who attended school on Thursday.

Preschoolers, who are three to four years old, were encouraged by their teacher Julissa Garcia and aide Jess Thompson to participate in the different activities. Professional sports is the future goal of a few of the boys in the class with one wanting to play for the Baltimore Ravens in the NFL, two for major league baseball teams and one on the motocross track. 

Garcia said the children have been learning about the importance of community helpers such as firefighters, police officers, doctors and veterinarians, so it was not a big surprise to see many of the students donning white coats and stethoscopes on March 14.

“We took a poll as to who their favorite community helper is between police and doctors and it was a tie,” she said. “We had the firefighters visit our classroom a few months ago so it was nice to circle back to that as a conversation starter.”

Pre-K students in the classroom with teacher Ana Garcia and aide Alaina Adkins range from four to five years old and they got to discuss their career decisions during carpet time first thing in the morning. There was chef Marcie Brane, firefighter Kut Vega-Castello, veterinarian Love Salgado-Flores, rock star Mav Vega, a police officer, and even a make-up artist among others.

Ana Garcia said the teachers and staff got into the spirit of Silly Week as well. She said she wore a Disney shirt and Mickey Mouse ears on Monday, joined her aides as ladybugs on Tuesday and wore a T-shirt on Wednesday that said “Pre-K teacher of superheroes” – something she can wear anytime. She threw herself back into the 80s on Thursday and wore a fancy dress on Friday to convey being a sophisticated teacher.

Teacher Laura Aldrete and aide Elena Vega-Castello kept kindergartners busy with a pre-St. Patrick’s Day activity of building leprechaun traps. The traps will be left out over the weekend and on March 17, the kids will get to see if they had any luck capturing one of the diminutive, mischievous fairy-like creatures of Irish folklore.

The five- to six-year-olds really got into the career day theme as they are already looking toward graduation in just a couple of months. Although Loovi Burton came dressed as a chef, she said she also wants to be a ballerina who teaches children how to dance. Jeffrey Vallez likes to play video games but plans to become an astronaut when he grows up. Jensen Hamilton wore a Winco hat, apron and name badge to depict the fact he wants to be a butcher one day, just like his father.

Lupitah Miranda has her sights set on being a veterinarian and Notoowish Velazquez wants to take dirt bike riding to the professional level. “They are always kind of talking with their friends about what they want to do when they grow up,” Vega-Castello said.

Laura Aldrete shared the fact she had intended to become an artist and wore an appropriate outfit to show that. She also majored in psychology before switching to early childhood development to become a teacher. Now she can use what she learned in all those fields as she continues to prepare her students for first grade. Her aide, Elena, always wanted to be a teacher so she’s right where she always hoped to be.

Mojado loves animals and recalls wanting to be a veterinarian when she was little and Preschool Administrative Assistant Maria Hernandez thought she would have a nursing career. Preschool teacher Julissa and her aide Jess both recall wanting to be either a pediatrician or teacher. Pre-K’s Ana Garcia thought she’d become a secretary, and her aide Alaina was eyeing a career as a doctor when she was her students’ age.

Mojado said the Scholastic Book Fair, which is held in the fall and spring, is very popular with students and their families, which is also a benefit to the school.

“The preschool benefits from the Book Fair, as we receive a portion of the proceeds, which goes back to the preschool to help teachers to get books for their classrooms,” she said. “Occasionally, the book fair generates a significant amount of funds, allowing us to purchase books for the end of the year. This past fall, teachers were able to get books for their students as Christmas gifts. Overall, the book fair is successful and enables us to provide classroom books and gifts for the children.”

A wide variety of titles are offered, laid out on tables in the school’s hallway. There are chapter books for older siblings that are in first and second grade on display at the register, should parents want to buy those too. Mojado said that some of the most sought-after titles are the “Paw Patrol” books which often feature pop-up elements, squishy textures, and rolling features that engage children’s senses.

“These interactive features make these books popular purchases,” Mojado said.

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Preschool Administrator Lenora “Ponie” Mojado said the event was an opportunity to thank everyone for their participation in activities at the preschool.

The children had made crafts for their loved ones including coloring flowers that were laminated with the following verse on the reverse side: “Grandparents, grandparents make us laugh, love to play, when we get together, we smile all day.” A photograph tag was attached to a chain to be worn as a bracelet or necklace and other handmade trinkets were gifted to each grandparent, great grandparent and even a few great-great grandparents who were there.

Marian Chacon has five grandchildren, 12 great grandchildren and one great-great grandchild. She has two great-grandsons attending the preschool this year; kindergartner Anthony Ortega, 4, and Brian Chacon III, who is in pre-K. Chacon was asked to give an opening prayer at the start of the event in which she thanked the Lord for a beautiful day where everyone could come together and be respectful and kind to one another. She asked for a blessing on all who were present as well as the food they were about to eat.

Guests were treated to a buffet brunch that included eggs, hash, chicken, potatoes, rolls, fresh fruit and a dessert table full of sweets.

Dondi Silvas has two grandsons plus a granddaughter, Loovi Burton, who is in kindergarten. She was at the event with her mother Yvonne Silvas, grandson Jovi, and Loovi’s other grandmother, Stacy Perkins. Isaiah and Maria Vivanco have a total of nine grandchildren and three of them, Jericho Vivanco, Kuyvaxish Mendez and Kwiinamush Maxcy, currently attend the preschool.

“It’s nice to see everybody here and to see the kids so happy; it’s good that the preschool brings everybody together to have a nice day,” said Johnna Valdez, who has three grandchildren who are students there. “I also like that they’re with their cousins while at school.”

Kindergartner Palki Herrera has attended the school since she was two years old. She was at the event with her grandmothers, Adonna Salgado and Monica Herrera.

“I went to the reservation preschool when I was young,” said Herrera, whose grandson Gabriel graduated from the kindergarten class in June. “The kids have good relationships with the teachers, and they always do a lot of fun stuff alongside the set curriculum.”

Salgado’s daughter Alylah, now 10, attended the Soboba Tribal Preschool and she felt it really prepared her well for public school. “It gave her a good foot forward,” she said.

Both women agreed that all their kids always make really cute things to take home, with this day’s crafty gifts being no exception. “I have all their projects hanging in the hallway of their play area,” Salgado said.

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The children had surprise gifts for their moms, too. They decorated canvas tote bags and filled out questionnaires “All About Mom.” Preschooler Nadia said her mom’s name is “Mommy” and that she is really good at “everything.” A classmate of hers said their favorite thing about their mom is “when she gives me cookies.”

Pre-K students used colorful handprints in a circle to resemble a flower to which green stems were painted on. Inside was a jar candle decorated with a mosaic made from colorful tissue paper. Kindergartners colored flower pots that were printed on the totes and decorated plates that were put inside each one. Grandmothers received keychains with mini handprints on them.

Glori Lindsey said her daughter Avareign, 6, did a “berry good job” with all the gifts she made. “I love everything so much,” she said. Glori was able to spend some valuable time with her family, which also includes two sons, on the official Mother’s Day of May 12 at a resort in Palm Springs.

Celena Morillo and her daughter, Menyil Tohee, 5, enjoy everything the preschool has to offer. “I like all the different things they ask them to make; they are very creative,” Celena said. On Mother’s Day her family cooked her breakfast and then all her sisters came over for lunch and to spend time together outside.

Rosemary Morillo is great-grandmother to Avareign and grandmother to Menyil and shared the time with fellow grandmother Nancy Beltran. Another great-granddaughter of Morillo’s is Nehsoon Salas, 5, who filled in the blanks “All About My Mom” by saying if she could tell her mom one thing, it would be, “You are gorgeous.” The kindergartner’s mother Avelaka Gonzales said this is the first year her daughter has attended the preschool.

“She has learned so much about animals and plants and she’s having fun while she’s doing it so that’s the best part,” Gonzales said. On Mother’s Day she was treated to a spa day while Nehsoon and other family members cleaned the house for her.

Morillo, who offered a blessing before the brunch was served, said, “It’s always an honor to get together with all the mothers,” she said. She asked the Creator to bless all family members in attendance and reminded everyone to “cherish these moments with your young ones, as time goes by so fast.”

Preschool teachers and staff served up mini cold cut sandwiches, two kinds of salad, chicken, mashed potatoes, green beans and pasta salad. There were also bags of chips and other crunchy snacks, a huge bowl of fresh berries and strawberry topped cupcakes and Rice Krispie treats. All of this was washed down with lemonade, bottled water or a refreshing strawberry drink.

Corryn Salgado-Flores enjoyed the morning with her daughter Love Salgado-Flores, 3, and son Ace Covington, 5, along with their grandmother Becky Flores. Corryn said she likes that the preschool offers her children a chance to learn their Native language. “They also get to go to school with a few of their cousins,” she said.

The event provided an opportunity for all siblings and relatives who are in different classrooms to be together to celebrate as a family.

Tribal Council Secretary Monica Herrera has two grandchildren who are students there; Pre-K student Palki and kindergartner Gabe who were with their mom, Alyssa Salgado.

“I like the themes they do every year; it’s always super cute,” Herrera said. “I love that the school does this to bring the community together.”

Cyndi Lemke, whose grandson Iggy Alcala is in the kindergarten class, had a great personal Mother’s Day. “All the moms came to my house,” she said. “All us ladies had snacks and watched movies while the guys made and served breakfast. It was also my birthday, so I got extra flowers.”

Soboba Tribal Vice Chairwoman Geneva Mojado said, “I came to celebrate with all these special moms.” Mother of two, she enjoyed her own Mother’s Day on May 12. “We had Sunday brunch at the casino, which was amazing.”

One of the newest moms in attendance was Daise Burton with her five-week-old son, Jobi, who has an older brother Joseph, 8, and an older sister, Loovi, 4, who is in Ana Garcia’s Pre-K class. The kids were joined by their “glamma” Dondi Silvas, who serves as Soboba Foundation President and Housing Specialist for Soboba Housing.

Sierra Mendez had a second son six weeks ago and was at the event with her four-year-old son, Kuyvaxish Mendez, who is in Lenora “Ponie” Mojado’s class. Sierra also has a stepdaughter, who is 10. She was pleased to be one of the lucky raffle prize recipients and chose a satin sleep mask and pillowcase set, sure to be well used in the future. Other choices were handbags and cast-iron pans.

Preschool teacher Mojado has two sons; Mac is 10 and Eli is 8. She had spent Sunday with family at the Soboba Casino Resort’s brunch. “It was amazing; they had a buffet with different items,” she said. “Then I went shopping at Bath and Body Works and later I went to my sister’s house for family dinner. It was the perfect Mother’s Day of relaxing and shopping.”

She enjoyed giving out prizes at the raffle and said the mothers in attendance seemed to feel really appreciated and enjoyed the food they were served.

“My favorite part about working with children is they make me laugh and smile,” Mojado said. “We always joke around in my preschool class. I always make the children laugh and carry on a conversation. It’s always a fun time in the preschool room with all my little friends.”

Julissa Garcia is an Instructional Aide in the pre-kindergarten classroom. Celebrating Mother’s Day with her almost one-year-old son included going to dinner with her mother and aunt.

“My son and his dad also shared gifts and gave me a couple extra hours of sleep,” she said.

She enjoyed the feeling of togetherness at the preschool’s brunch.

“I liked seeing all of our children’s families show up for them and their reactions to the handcrafted gifts they made in class,” Garcia said. Her favorite part of working with the young children is “seeing them grow and progress each day and being given the opportunity to help foster lifelong learning.”

Preschool staff have already begun preparations for a Father’s Day luncheon on May 31.

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