ILLINOIS LICENSES PRESCHOOL IN CAIRO; LEARNING TREE ALSO OFFERS AFTER-SCHOOL PROGRAM FOR CHILDREN

CAIRO, Ill. -- The Learning Tree, a preschool and after-school program operated by Tip of Illinois Health Services Inc., recently opened in Cairo.

The new school, certified by the Illinois Department of Children and Family Services, has 50 students ranging in ages from 6 weeks to 12 years.

"Preschool and after-school programs are provided Monday through Friday," said Jodell L. Wheeler, executive director of Tip of Illinois. "We have specialized programming for infants and toddlers."

The facility is licensed for 99 children and is open from 6 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. weekdays.

"The facility is subsidized by the state so that low and middle-income parents can receive subsidized tuition for enrollment of their children," said Wheeler.

Kim Naile of Cape Girardeau is program director. She is a graduate of Southeast Missouri State University and has a degree in early childhood education.

Tip of Illinois Health Services, a home health service founded 15 years ago by the Delta Foundation, also has a branch office in Cairo.

"We have 26 people working out of the Tip office at Cairo," said Wheeler. "We average about 2,000 home visits each month in Alexander and Pulaski counties."

The Tip office is at 1600 Washington; the Learning Tree is in the 1700 block of Poplar.

Tip of Illinois is the largest provider of home health services in Southern Illinois. Corporate headquarters are in Carterville, with branch offices in Carbondale, Sparta, Anna, Metropolis, Golconda and Harrisburg. The organization serves 18 counties.

The Delta Foundation, a sister corporation, operates Tip's Tots Preschool and the Delta Health Club, both in Carterville, and the Learning Tree.

Tip recently honored three employees Becky Ashton, Geraline Pentsil and Bettie Kee during a celebration at Cairo.

Ashton, of Carterville, executive assistant for the Delta Foundation, was honored for her role in planning and development of the new preschool at Cairo.

Pentsil, of Mounds, Ill., branch manager of the Cairo facility, was recognized for 10 years service with Tip of Illinois Health Services, and Kee, of Cairo, was honored for 15 years service.