MADISON – Just in time for Christmas Day, preschoolers who attend Primrose School of Madison conducted a food drive to benefit St. Mary’s Pantry.

The youngsters at Primrose brought in 900 cans of food to help in-need families.

The student’s outreach supports the organization’s mission to feed families during the holiday season.

Officials with Primrose have defined two primary objectives for its “Caring & Giving Initiative”:

* To encourage children to complete age-appropriate household chores for allowance money to buy canned goods.

* To foster giving without expectation, which is a key component of the Primrose Schools “Balanced Learning” curriculum.

Recently, “NBC Nightly News” aired a segment that explained Primrose Schools’ nationwide initiative.

“Nurturing generosity in young children is an investment in the future of our society,” Jo Kirchner, CEO of Primrose Schools, said. “At Primrose Schools, we believe that teaching children the value of giving, sharing and caring is a cornerstone of early education.”

“By educating children to be service-minded and to give without expectation, we are working together toward a brighter future of caring, community-oriented citizens,” Kirchner said.

Primrose Schools encompasses a national system of accredited, private preschools that provide a premier early education and child care experience. Franchise owners, leadership teams and school staff partner with parents to help children develop the right foundation for continual learning in life. (primroseschools.com)

Educators with Primrose Schools believe that children learn better when they are engaged. To promote that principle, their “Balanced Learning” curriculum uses purposeful play and nurturing guidance from teachers as key components. This time-tested approach with a strong emphasis on life skills and character development can help a child develop and excel.

Primrose Schools offer care to infants, toddlers, early preschoolers, Preschool Pathways, Preschool and Pre-Kindergarten.

Two locations are available:

* Primrose School of Madison at 124 Plaza Blvd. — Call 256-772-2029, or visit PrimroseMadison.com or Facebook/Primrose School of Madison.

* Primrose School of Madison West at 117 Field View Lane — Call 256-325-2060 or visit PrimroseMadisonWest.com or Facebook/Primrose School of Madison West.