Bailey Early Childhood Center Where the Littlest Hornets Get a Great Start!
written by Melissa McCance The preschool years are a magical time in a child’s development when physical, emotional, and intellectual growth expand rapidly. Along with that growth comes a significant widening of their world. “When they were infants, they developed a trust of their caregivers. As toddlers, they began to establish some independence. Now, as preschoolers, they use this trust and independence to actively explore new form of play (e.g., pretend play) and new environments (e.g., school).1” Because of these characteristics, a good preschool program must be well-grounded in solid educational methods and flexible enough to accommodate the wide range of knowledge, emotional maturity, and physical ability that these young learners bring to the classroom.
be four by December 1 of the school year. One big benefit for parents is that preschool students are eligible to ride the school bus. The preschool week runs Monday through Thursday and is a full-day program. Lead preschool teacher Nichole Reynolds describes her work in this way: “Teaching my four-year-olds how to count, letter recognition, writing their name, and number recognition are only some of the things I teach. I also teach social skills; how to problem solve, be able to understand their own feelings, and how to interact with peers.”
Hillsdale Community Schools’ Bailey Early Childhood Center offers three options for preschool-age children: preschool, developmental kindergarten, and early childhood special education. Each program is tailored to the needs of the group it serves and provides a sound curriculum taught by well-trained educators with a love for young students. “Our staff is trained in early childhood education,” explains Shawn Vondra, superintendent of Hillsdale Community Schools. “They are well educated in the field. The teachers have degrees in early childhood education or early child development, and the aides are paraprofessionals who receive ongoing training.” Another important factor is the excellent staff to student ratio which is always 8:1 or better.
Developmental kindergarten can be a good option for children who are ready to be in school five days a week but may not be ready to start the full K-12 system. The curriculum emphasizes overall child development and kindergarten readiness and has no tuition as it falls under normal school enrollment. “Not all children grow and develop on the same schedule,” explains developmental kindergarten teacher Micha Moore. “Four years ago, Hillsdale Community Schools recognized this need and offered a Developmental Kindergarten. It has been a great gift to be able to help design and run the program ensuring that we meet each of these children’s needs. I watch children going off to kindergarten after a year in DK ready to flourish and meet the challenges that kindergarten offers.” DK follows the normal school day routine of full-day sessions Monday through Friday, bus transportation, and school lunches.
Current enrollment in the preschool program is around 50 students, and the program is funded primarily through the Great Start Readiness Program (GSRP). There is an income eligibility requirement for the GSRP students, but the district also has some tuition-based slots. The program is focused primarily on four-year-olds, and children must
If a student is identified by parents or a physician as possibly needing specialized education and an IEP (Individualized Education Plan) team assessment confirms this, then the early childhood special education (ECSE) program is available to support that child’s educational needs. Some children may need minimal intervention such as speech
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MICHIGAN PARENT WINTER 2021
