Project honored for helping child victims

The Children's Advocacy Project of the Community Health Center of Central Wyoming was honored recently for its response to victims of child abuse and neglect.

The agency received a $26,000 award Jan. 22 as a finalist for the Monroe E. Trout Premier Cares Award.

The CAP helps in abuse, assault, neglect and kidnapping cases by coordinating forensic and health services for alleged victims. The agency interviews child victims and arranges for medical examinations. Children who interview often don't have to later testify in court.

Since the project began, Casper police have documented a 30 percent rise in the conviction of child molesters, according to the CAP.

Kindergarten school request process opens

Families of incoming kindergarten students can go online this week to request Natrona County schools for their children for the 2007-08 school year, according to a press release from the district.

Next year's kindergartners will be the first class to be part of a new effort to reduce class sizes by capping kindergarten classes at 17 students. The program will grow over the next four years to include all kindergarten, first, second and third-grade classes in the 17 to 1 program.

The goal is to improve student achievement, behavior management and parent-teacher relationships. Several district schools have already piloted 17 to 1 programs.

Smaller classes may mean that some schools will be able to accept fewer kindergarten students. All kindergartners will find a place, but some families may not receive their first choice school.

This year, placement will not be made on a first-come, first-serve basis. Children who have attended a preschool at their selected school or who have siblings in their selected school will be given first preference, as long as their families request schools through the online process this week.

Families will be asked to request three different schools for their children. If space is limited in a given school's kindergarten program, all other children who have requested the school will be assigned by random lottery.

The online school request process for kindergarten will remain open through Friday. Visit {M7www.natronaschools.org, click the link for Kindergarten Requests, complete the student and family information and request three different schools. Families who enter the same school three times do not improve their odds of getting into that school, the district said.

Music students will perform tonight

Middle and junior high school choir, band and orchestra students in Natrona County are participating in the annual Junior High Music Clinic on Wednesday and Thursday, according to the Natrona County School District.

The final concert will be at 7 p.m. Thursday at the Natrona County High School auditorium. Admission is $2 for adults and $1 for children high-school aged and under.