By JESSA PEASE / Staff Writer

PELHAM— The Greater Shelby County Chamber of Commerce celebrated a newly opened preschool academy in Pelham with a ribbon cutting ceremony Jan. 19.

Shining Stars Academy, located at 296 Yeager Parkway, opened its doors Jan. 4 and has already enrolled seven children.

“Our parents have been wonderful as far as with us just opening up and getting everybody into classrooms,” said Tameka Danners, director of the school. “We’ve had a lot of support from our parents.”

Shining Stars Academy serves children from six weeks old to 6 years old. The facility has the capability of holding 60 children.

Students begin in the infant classroom, where Danners said they’ll be learning how to sit up and how to hold their heads up. The infants will also be starting to crawl and participating in tummy time.

A basic curriculum starts with the toddlers, according to Danners. The students will begin with small items, such as eyes, nose, ears, animals, sounds, fruits and vegetables.

Once students are placed in the 2-year-old classroom, Danners said they will begin a more structured learning. Teachers will assist with the alphabet, colors, shapes and numbers.

Then the 3-year-old room is where the children will begin with bigger education concepts, using learn through play techniques, according to Danners.

“We really want the kids ready and prepared for kindergarten,” Danners said. “They just want them to know so much now.”

So far, Danners said everything is going well at Shining Stars Academy. She said all the students seem to be doing well, and the parents are supportive.

“Yes (it’s) very exciting,” Danners said. “I have been in childcare myself for 16 years, so this is my second day care that I have been at that I have been the director. It’s very exciting. I have five kids of my own and I love children, watching them grow and learning things.”