Pine Grove Preschool celebrates milestone

In the past 10 years, Pine Grove Preschool, located in Pine Grove Church, 1194 Reading Road, Bowmansville, has graduated 523 students. Some of those students are spotlighted on an anniversary wall located in the preschool. "Our first graduates are in middle school," said Susan Yoder, preschool director, who pointed out Garden Spot Middle School student Natalie Shober as one of the oldest on the wall.

Susan has been involved in the preschool since her husband, Jonathan, former pastor of Pine Grove, first suggested the idea more than 20 years ago. "Jonathan saw the impact that a preschool in a church can have on a community," recalled Susan, who said the church first looked at the concept in 2002. Susan served on a task force to study the idea. "We could not make it work with the existing building (at that time)," said Susan. "When they realized they needed to build, they decided to build for a preschool," she added, noting that the preschool opened with 35 students in September 2013.

Pine Grove now serves 63 students with two head teachers and two assistants. "Our curriculum is written specifically for preschool," said Susan, who noted there is an emphasis on kindergarten readiness and alignment with the ELANCO School District. "We work to enhance the transition between preschool and kindergarten and between the home and kindergarten," she added, noting that ELANCO has invited local preschools to join the transition team. "We share ideas and try to do things that will help make parents comfortable with the transition to kindergarten."

Each classroom includes a learning center, an area for large group activities, a bathroom, and a sink. Classes are held five days a week in the morning and four days a week in the afternoon for roughly three hours. Classes for 3-year-olds are held on Tuesday and Friday mornings. The preschool also utilizes a new kitchen on the premises, especially in the fall when students make applesauce and pumpkin bread in preparation for a Thanksgiving event that may bring as many as 300 family members to the school over the three days. During the celebration, parents are given the opportunity to purchase and dedicate a book for the school library, which now numbers more than 500 volumes. "This year, we expanded it so parents can provide an activity box to take outside to use," said Susan. Among the first eight boxes are those dedicated to the subjects of archaeology, insects, science, gardening, dress-up, and music. Susan commented that the teachers might use box contents as part of a lesson or students might ask for them during outdoor activity time. A scholarship program is available for students thanks to a generous local donor.

"God has really enabled us to establish a positive presence (in the community)," said Susan, who had many years of experience with preschools before becoming director. "We have gotten a lot of positive feedback from elementary teachers that our students are prepared when they come to kindergarten. We are thankful for that." Susan attributes the school's good reputation to "well-trained, competent, and seasoned teachers." "We feel very blessed (to have them)," she said.

Readers who would like to know more may visit http://www.pinegrovechurch.us and click on "Preschool."