Nurturing minds for 13 years

Ettie Zaklos Founder & Director

The month of June transitions us from the completion of a successful academic preschool year to new and exciting summer adventures. At the end of May, we celebrated the hard-won accomplishments of our pre-K graduates as we celebrated their growth throughout the years at the Jay and Patty Baker Preschool of the Arts. It is always a complete joy to watch how the once tiny toddlers have become capable and school-ready children! Throughout this past year, our dear children have discovered so many new aspects of the world around them and gained a multitude of skills and knowledge through exploration and play that will serve them well on their lifelong journey of learning.

It is hard to believe that our incredible preschool has just completed its 13th school year. As I walk through the halls of our beautiful and expansive campus and hear the sounds of children learning and laughing, I think back to when this entire endeavor was just a dream.

Since I started my career as an educator, I had a dream to be part of a school in which children come first and where there is recognition of the power of the early childhood years. I envisioned a collaborative learning environment where progressive teaching techniques and traditional Jewish values could meld together in a perfect symbiosis. Still, I never dared imagine the overwhelming success that is the reality of the Jay and Patty Baker Preschool of the Arts today.

From our humble beginnings when just our own two daughters were enrolled in the preschool, to its steady growth, I have watched our beloved preschool blossom before my eyes. Hundreds of students have now come through our doors where they benefitted from a strong start to their educational journeys. We are so proud of our tremendous growth over the years and how our program has raised the bar for early childhood education here in Naples. It is humbling to think that our earliest students are almost completing high school, and that they began their educational journey at POTA, gaining the necessary foundation for a lifelong love of learning.

This year, we dreamed bigger than ever and broke ground on the “Big Build,” a 17,000 square foot building expansion. We plan to officially inaugurate the new building in our 14th school year, and we’re so excited for all the growth to come!

In early June, we kicked off our milestone 20th year of summer camp fun with Summer of the Arts 2024: Storybook Summer. When we opened enrollment for camp this past January, we were humbled by the tremendous interest in our camp, which filled to capacity within days. As I write this, our team is gearing up for the most amazing summer, with two three-week sessions that explore the world of reading in ways that ignite your child’s imagination! Each week of camp will focus on a different literary genre with immersive and sensory experiences. Our weekly themes include Enchanted Adventures, Time-Traveling Tales, Whodunit Wonders, Galactic Explorers, Epic Expeditions and Comic Craze.

The exciting activities, art, cooking and games each week will tie-in to the theme of the week, igniting our campers’ imaginations through exciting storybook-themed adventures that inspire curiosity, learning and play. The fun never stops, as our campers delve into creative arts, science, soccer, tennis, golf, Little Chefs, water play and weekly entertainers, with new and exciting discoveries awaiting them at every turn. It is sure to be a summer to remember!

To find out more about our program or to schedule a school tour, call 239263-2620 or email naplespreschoolofthe arts@gmail.com.