Like any parents, Maranda and Curtis Elsis searched high and low before deciding where to send their young daughter for educational child care. Not only did that search stop once they walked into a Primrose School, but the experience also led them to fulfill a lifelong dream of theirs to be business owners. The two will open the doors to the Primrose School of Waterford Lakes in January of 2012 and they couldn’t be happier with the process so far.
“I was immediately impressed with Primrose and the school’s emphasis on character development and social responsibility,” says Maranda. “Our daughter had the time of her life, and meanwhile Curtis and I found the peace of mind we were looking for knowing Primrose was preparing her with a strong educational foundation. We are excited for our son to begin preschool at Primrose next year, and we are thrilled to share this experience with other families in the community.”
The Elsis’ say that when they first set foot inside a Primrose School and learned what the program had to offer developing young minds in terms of education, experience and attention, it just felt right. They knew they found the right spot, not only for their children, but for their entrepreneurial spirit as well.
Since 1999 the couple has served as firefighters for the Orlando Fire Department. Although they have enjoyed the opportunity to serve their community over the past decade, the duo has always dreamed of owning their own business. “When we made the decision to start our own business, we explored several different franchise and educational options. The support Primrose offers their owners is unlike anything else,” says Maranda. “After weighing the options and witnessing firsthand the impact Primrose had on our daughter, the choice was easy.”
The impact she’s referring to stems from multiple factors. One of the most important is the proprietary Balanced Learning® curriculum found at the schools brought to life by passionate teachers who put emphasis on nurturing a child’s mind, body and heart. Balanced Learning® considers multiple aspects of growth and learning, blending teacher-directed and child-initiated activities with a special emphasis on character development.
“Primrose teachers across the country are trained to consistently deliver our standards-based curriculum,” says Curtis. “They make sure each teacher has what they need to teach and to focus their energy on understanding each child and what they need to learn and grow.” Each Primrose School is required to obtain individual school accreditation as well, adding to their already high educational environment standard.
The results? The annual assessment of graduating Primrose students shows that they consistently score above average on a nationally-normed measure of school readiness. In fact, for the past two years Primrose students have scored in the 90th percentile compared to same-age peers across the nation.
“On top of that the schools also offer several unique programs that can’t be found anywhere,” says Curtis. “The school’s Helping Hands events and programs instill a desire in kids to help others and experience the joy that comes along with that.” Primrose Schools nationwide also participate in several events throughout the year including book drives, fundraisers and food and supply drives.
For the business owners in them, the Elsis’ know they have joined a great organization. But the parents in them know they have joined an even better family. A family that has helped their daughter to become the bright young girl she is today.
“The people that are a part of this company are warm, loving and professional; and together they create an environment where children flourish,” says Maranda. “We’re excited to have those individuals become a part of the Waterford Lakes team and help kids just like they helped our daughter.”
At the end of the day, according to Curtis, it’s about the children walking away with a love for learning. “For over 25 years Primrose has been putting extraordinary people and culture together thanks to their passionate staff, curriculum and high standards for every child that is enrolled there,” he says. “We experienced that and now it’s our goal to bring the right people together to deliver the very best for the parents and children we serve.”
The Primrose School of Waterford Lakes is slated to open in January 2012 and will feature the exclusive Balanced Learning® curriculum for children ages six weeks to 5 years old. In addition, Primrose students 5-12 years of age will enjoy summer camp programs featuring field trips and before/after school care.
Primrose School of Waterford Lakes has already begun pre-registering children for the school’s opening classes in January 2012. To learn more or register your child today, visit www.PrimroseSchools.com/WaterfordLakes or call (407) 247-1061.
Primrose School of Waterford Lakes
311 Woodland Lake Drive
Orlando, FL 32828
Article by: Corey Gehrold
