As the school bells gear up to ring in the new academic year in Duval, a group of young students are already a step ahead. Thanks to the district's Summer Voluntary Prekindergarten (VPK), many kids had the chance to dive into their ABCs and 123s before the first day of school. The program wasn't just about starting academics early—it was designed to make learning as fun as playtime. "Students learn through play," said VPK teacher Laronya Finn, in a statement obtained by Duval County Public Schools. "It’s fun, but it’s also educational."
It's that time when Team Duval is buzzing with preparations, and while they're at it, Summer VPK is wrapping up a successful run. With focus not just on academics but on the kind of routines and rituals that shape a schoolday, students were seen getting an upper hand on the 2025-26 school year—having a blast in the bargain.
Throwing a spotlight on what went down at John Love Early Learning Center, Team Duval News captured the tiny tots engaged in a spread of Summer VPK activities. For those curious to see these young minds in action, a video was shared, which you can watch by following this link. It's a peek into how play and learning intertwine in the early stages of education, setting the foundational blocks for the years of schooling that lie ahead.
"It's fun, but it’s also educational," Finn emphasized, reaffirming the philosophy behind the curriculum. Tuned into their needs and interests, teachers like Finn have crafted an experience that is more than just academic—they've engineered an environment where learning and play are one and the same. That balance, aimed at engaging young students spent weeks focusing on everything, is key for the pupils' growth, and as the footage shows, they seem to be thriving, according to the Duval County Public Schools.
