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COMPLIMENTARY EDITIONEDITION COMPLIMENTARY
MAY 26, 2021
THE NEWNAN TIMES-HERALD | NTHMEDIA
ESTABLISHED 2019
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BY JILL WHITLEY
A
s COVID-19 raged across Georgia like wildfire last spring and summer, leaving cancelled events and shuttered schools in its wake, the parents of Coweta County’s youngest students suddenly faced a host of heartbreaking educational choices. Some were forced to quit their jobs or work from home to accommodate their child’s virtual learning schedule, while others struggled to find an available space as local daycare centers pivoted to provide a supervised virtual learning environment. However, for children at one local private school, in-person learning not only continued, but expanded into an opportunity for growth. Barbara Kookogey, director of Newnan Presbyterian Preschool and Kindergarten, watched and waited as her students neared the end of the 2019-2020 school year, initially assuring kindergarten parents that their children would be prepared to graduate and move on to whatever public or private school held in store for them. However, as Chromebooks were handed out and school buildings remained closed, Kookogey re-
alized that the possibility of learning loss and missed opportunities for socialization created an urgent need that her tiny school was well-positioned to fill. “Our kindergarteners were graduating into much larger schools, and their first experience there would be through a screen, at home, without other kids. The school system is doing an amazing job, but little ones are just not able to learn that way. So we did the research and figured out what we could do to keep them here, together, in-person, as an emergency first-grade class.” Kookogey sent out an email to parents detailing the plan, and was overwhelmed by the response. She quickly had to hire a second teacher and offer an additional class. Now, with one successful year of first grade under their belt, NPPK is looking to add at least one second-grade class for the 2021-2022 school year, and has plans for continued future growth. “We discovered during this process that there is no affordable private school option on the west side of Newnan, and we want to be able to meet that need for families.” Kookogey, who is celebrating her
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30th year with the newly-renamed Newnan Presbyterian School, explained “The school opened in 1984 with a single, part-time class of three year-olds, and as the community needed it, we added half-day classes for infants and two year-olds, then full-day pre-K and kindergarten.” She continues, “we’ve grown because our parents wanted us to grow. We are an economical option for primary school on the west side of Newnan. Parents want their children to stay longer in our family-focused atmosphere where the small class sizes allow them to feel comfortable, receive quality time from their teachers, and build strong foundations of confidence and competence for later success.” First grade parent Missy Kidd was extremely grateful for the opportunity to send her daughter, Yancey, to school in person at Newnan Presbyterian this year. “While my 13 yearold could handle virtual learning, there was just no way we could have done it with Yancey. She is incrediPHOTO BY THE NEWNAN TIMES-HERALD bly social. Having this option was a Newnan Presbyterian School godsend.” Director Barbara Kookogey and Kidd went on to explain, “The first grade lead teacher Ashley
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'Emergency' year prompts NPPK to change name, expand grade offerings
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