Back to our roots

In October 1999, Bayless School District received a Missouri Preschool Project Grant and opened the first full-day preschool program. The classroom was located in the “Annex” building behind Bayless Elementary School. The classroom moved into the Elementary Building where it stayed until May 2018. In August 2016, the new Bayless Early Childhood Center was completed and opened its doors to the community. The program grew from one classroom with 10 children to four classrooms with 75 children.

In May 2022, Bayless ECC was faced with the challenge of coming up with a plan to support the growing number of children ages three to five and children qualifying for special education services in the district. There was not enough space in our center. As it turned out, the original room in the “Annex” was available! In three short weeks during the summer of 2022, custodial, maintenance, and the ECC staff turned the space into an amazing classroom where Yellow Room students have thrived!

When the new staff were hired and came into the space, there were many emotions.

Miss Aja, ECSE Teacher, was the first to see the space.

“When I first saw the room, I saw it as a blank space with so many opportunities,” Miss Aja said. “I tried to envision the best way to create an inviting learning environment that was not only functional but would meet the needs of my new little learners.”

Miss Mary was a new paraprofessional, new to Bayless, new to Early Childhood and new to education.

“I thought ‘I sure hope it’s true that we can do hard things,’” Miss Mary said.

Looking back over this year and searching through photos from the original room, there are similarities in the space and the experiences the children are enjoying. The 1999-2000 school year held the challenges of starting a new program, and the 2022-2023 school year may have felt very much the same. As we close out our first year in the “Annex” and envision the future, Miss Aja and Miss Mary’s feelings have evolved and reflect all that can happen when everyone works together to keep the momentum going.

“When looking back at the start of the year and all the obstacles my staff and I have had to face, I am proud of the support and encouragement that we have all provided one another,” Miss Aja said. “I am also thrilled with the classroom community that we have been able to build amongst ourselves and our students.”

“Team work makes the dream work regardless of the space that you are in,” Miss Mary said. “When co-workers get along well, have patience, have a love of children, and have a sense of humor great learning and growth happens. I feel blessed having been a part of the Yellow room and appreciate all that I have learned from my colleagues and littles. I am proud of the growth that we all did this year!”