Pre-K KOREH Corner
By Talia Scharlin

Year End Celebration

Arlene Simmons leading the session on dynamic storytelling.
Pre-K KOREH volunteers learning how to use movement to tell dynamic stories to their children.
Pre-K KOREH volunteers following Arlene Simmons

This has been a very successful year for Pre-K KOREH. Over 140 children have spent time with our incredible volunteers, receiving the one-on-one attention they need to get ready for kindergarten. Many of these children have truly opened up, becoming more socially engaged and curious, and finding a love of books.

On May 29th we celebrated together at Dutton’s Brentwood Books. Arlene Simmons, ESL Teacher Adviser for the LAUSD’s Division of Adult and Career Education, led a learning session on dynamic storytelling. To honor our love for reading, we had a White-Elephant Book Exchange. Volunteers brought gift-wrapped books they thought others would enjoy, and each person went home with something new to read. Most importantly, we spent time with each other and thanked our amazing volunteers.

A particular highlight was when we thanked Therese Hundert, who has been volunteering for the Jewish Federation for more than 20 years and KOREH L.A. for 5 years. She tirelessly devotes her time every week, and she deserves all our admiration.


Lidia Epelbaum and Bea Chankin-Weisberg,
Pre-K KOREH Co-Chairs; and Talia Scharlin,
Pre-K KOREH Coordinator

You're a Hit

The principals, coordinators, and teachers at all of our schools have been saying how thrilled they are to have you as volunteers. They’ve expressed that you are dedicated, creative, thoughtful volunteers who truly impact the preschoolers. Here’s what a few of them said:

“The volunteers are wonderful, they’re really great. The kids look forward to them coming every week.”
      -Jacqueline Williams, Principal, Crescent Heights Early Education Center

"They are wonderful. They work great with children as well as adults."
"Such a pleasure to have them in the classroom."
"They are great!"

     -Teachers at Beethoven Early Education Center

“My experience with KOREH L.A has been totally positive from the beginning. It started for me when I was at Roscoe Canyon. I have not had a single … volunteer that hasn’t been wonderful…I’ve just been very, very pleased. They’re always so appropriate. There always seems to be one child that’s just been waiting for them.”
      -Arleene Scibetta, Site Supervisor, Sherwood Head Start Preschool

Eve Blattel and Darwin, 5, Crescent Heights Early Education Center enjoying reading together.

“I’m very pleased when [the volunteers] come. They always come in ready to fit in, ready to work with the children. They always assist anyway they can… We were working on letters and [the volunteer] brought me a game. I worked with the children with [the game] today, it kept their attention, they were excited … they couldn’t wait to get a turn and call out the words.”
      -Joan Hemsley, Site Supervisor, Ozzie Goren Head Start Preschool

Sherry Price and Phillip, 5, Crescent Heights Early Education Center pouring over a book.

“I know that [they are] not paid for the work … I just wanted [them] to know that to us [they] are priceless.”
      -Karin Wolvek, Teacher’s Assistant, Vanalden Early Education Center

“One of our volunteers also does physical activities that are related to the book that really engages the children… The kids remember [the activities] and take [them] to heart. It’s been a wonderful experience having them here. They will truly, dearly be missed*”
      -Nicole Vessell, Site Supervisor, Lull Head Start Preschool

*Lull will be closing at the end of this term. All Lull volunteers are welcome to volunteer with Pre-K KOREH at other partner schools next year. A big thank you to Nicole for all your wonderful energy – you will be missed!

Thank you again to all our volunteers for making such a positive impact!