7th Annual Gracias San Antonio

Pre-K 4 SA’s Gracias San Antonio: Children Are Citizens Project is grounded in the belief that children are not just future citizens, but are citizens of the city with the right to express their opinions and participate in the civic and cultural life of San Antonio. As citizens of the community, children learn the value of civic engagement, as well as various means for participation including giving back.

Gracias begins with the children’s participation in a program-wide election in November to vote on a local non-profit to support for the academic year. This year Pre-K 4 SA students selected St. PJ’s Children’s Home to support throughout the year. Children and families engage in City Explorations throughout the year by visiting different places around San Antonio. Local artists join children in the classroom to create authentic art pieces using a variety of artistic mediums to express the children’s perspective of their city and the places they visit.

The art pieces are then shown in a public exhibition at the San Antonio Central Library and auctioned to raise money for the non-profit selected early in the year. Due to the current COVID-19 restrictions, the public exhibition was cancelled, but we will proceed with the auction.

Vision: In one generation Pre-K 4 SA will develop a highly-skilled workforce through quality early learning childhood education for all children in San Antonio.

Mission: The mission of Pre-K 4 SA is to contribute to a stronger San Antonio workforce through high quality early learning that benefits all 4-year-olds in San Antonio.

Pre-K 4 SA is a comprehensive early childhood initiative aimed at changing the education and workforce trajectory of San Antonio in one generation. Pre-K 4 SA offers full-day pre-kindergarten for 4-year-olds living in the City of San Antonio.