Michigan Parent Fall 2021

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.

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.

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

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.”

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.

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

and language help which can be done on an as-needed basis while they remain in the regular preschool or developmental kindergarten classroom. If more specialized help is needed, then the ECSE team is there. Hillsdale Community Schools is the only district in the county that offers a classroom-based program for children of this age. Children as young as two years, seven months up to age five are eligible. These are half-day programs and transportation is provided.

Lesley Smith is an ECSE teacher who says, “Students in my classroom receive individualized instruction, in accordance with their IEP, as well as related ancillary services such as speech and language, occupational therapy or physical therapy provided by our local ISD. Our ECSE program ensures the provision of a Free and Appropriate Public Education to all eligible children as well as encouraging interaction with same aged peers within the building. I have two amazing educational assistants that work in my classroom, Tami Wolodkin and Chrissy Jarrell . . . We are, ultimately, prepping these awesome children for their success in kindergarten and future school years!”

Teaching preschoolers requires energy, caring, commitment, knowledge, and adaptability. Below are some comments made by the staff members at Bailey which clearly show their dedication and the joy they find in their work!

“My favorite part about BECC is seeing the progress, no matter how big or small, each and ever day. Seeing these kids get excited over learning and wanting to show off their new knowledge is extremely heartwarming and I’m so very proud to be a part of their ‘family’ here at BECC.”—Chrissy Jarrell, educational assistant

“I love the people that make up our building! BECC is full of little people (3-5 year olds). They are so much fun to be around! They are so much fun to teach and help grow into Kindergarten students. They carry on the most interesting and entertaining conversations with each other and with their teachers. You never know what you will hear each day, but it is sure to bring a smile to your face!”—Shelley Ellis, preschool teacher & GSRP program manager for BECC

“Through the years I’ve had many special moments/events with children. I love the family fun nights, picnics, and end of year special days when we get to see them with their families. What I love most about BECC is that we are teaching the littlest Hornets! Everything in their education starts here!”—Tami Wolodkin, educational assistant

Bailey Early Childhood Center is located at 59 S. Manning Street, Hillsdale. You can reach them by calling 517-4377369.

1Halliburton, Amy, & Gable, Sara, n.d., Preschool Basics: How Children Develop During Preschool Years, 7/11/21,< extension.missouri.edu>