Council Rock Combines Preschool Program

For 38 years, Council Rock School District has offered a preschool program that gives high school students the opportunity to teach children ages 3 to 5.

Due to budgetary restrictions, the program has been combined and this year will be held at Council Rock High School South instead of at both district high schools. North students can still participate in the preschool program and will be bused daily to South for the class.

Nancy Hooker was a program teacher for the last several years at Council Rock North. Although she said she is sad it will not be held at North this year, Hooker hopes it will be reinstated in the coming years.

“It is very valuable,” Hooker said. “Sometimes, it’s the only real experience high school students have teaching.”

This year, South teacher Kathy Garvey will be in charge of the preschool and high school students. Garvey taught preschool for 12 years before coming to Council Rock seven years ago.

Garvey said both the young children and the teens benefit from the program, which helps prepare preschoolers for a larger school setting as well as develop socialization skills.

The program also helps high school students learn how to respond to children. They are able to develop teaching skills and learn how to communicate with the students through art, music and physical activities.

“This really gives high school students the opportunity to determine if working with small children is something they want to pursue,” Garvey said.

When the school year begins, the high school students learn about child development and start planning the lessons they will teach to the preschoolers.

Then in October, children ages 3 to 5 begin attending class for a few hours, two days a week. They sing songs, play games, make projects and experience the various lessons planned by the high school students. The first semester ends in December.

Then in February, the second semester begins. At that point, preschool students come for a few hours three days a week and take on a more rigid daily schedule. There are activities like story time and circle time.

Hooker said over the years, she has really enjoyed watching the bond that develops between the high school students and their preschool buddies.

The program is open to children ages 3 to 5 who live in the Council Rock School District. Children must be 3 by Sept. 1 and toilet trained to participate.

The costs is $25 per semester and space is limited to 15 preschoolers.

For more information or to register, click here.