No preschoolers in the preschool
Empty cubbies in the preschool room
January 14, 2016
For over 30 years, the preschool at GHS has been a program in which high school students can learn to teach and work with children. This year, however, the preschool is not operating due to lack of early childhood education certification.
“The program was temporarily discontinued so that we could get certification and approvals at the state level,” said GHS principal Erik Anderson, “so that we can operate in a sanctioned and approved program.”
According to Anderson, the preschool program is coming back to GHS next year. Preschoolers who were signed up for the program at the beginning of the school year were dispersed to other preschools, such as the Gloucester Preschool at Blackburn Industrial park.
“With childcare,” said Anderson, “once you find something that works you don’t want to change it. We will open our doors back to prior students.”
Child study program leader and teacher Albina Papows has had to adapt to the change. GHS students in the program now work with children all over the city, especially at the Gloucester Preschool. Along with this, a few students go to East Gloucester Elementary School.
“With the preschool not being here on site,” said Papows, “it’s been very different and difficult to teach the concepts that are needed to be a preschool teacher. Students that are child study aides are not getting experience with any children at all.”
Child study aides are sophomores who help older students teach lessons to the children. However, since the children are no longer on site, these students can no longer work hands-on with children. Some of the aides work with the students in the Life Skills Program.
According to Papows, it’s been hard to send her students to schools around the city throughout the school day.
“The GHS schedule is not conducive to go there [off-site elementary and preschools],” said Papows. “They’re lucky if they get to go two days a week.”
Although this year has been the first in 30 years that there hasn’t been an on-site preschool, Papows and her students are anticipating the return.
“We are all hoping that it will come back,” said Papows.
Maryann Goodhue • Jan 21, 2016 at 1:28 pm
Well written Katelyn! Presenting the facts about the loss of the program and what the future holds for the program was very informative. I was perplexed as to what happened! My experience with the program and with the students that were placed in my classroom that came from the program was always very positive. High school students were well prepared with lessons to carry out with my students! Albina Papows did an excellent job getting them ready to interact with children in early childhood education. The program is a loss to the families of Gloucester. I do hope that next year the program will be reinstated!
Katelyn Moore • Feb 1, 2016 at 11:28 am
Thank you!
Vincent Ciaramitaro • Jan 15, 2016 at 7:33 am
Hopefully, the program is reinstated on schedule. The high school population that have preschool age children themselves, while small, are the real victims. They need someone to watch their child while they are off finishing there education to better there own, an there child’s lives. It is possible to make arrangements somewhere else, it is difficult to get from the highschool to, for example, plum cove day school, with only a few minutes leeway. Those are the people that that I personally feel for.
Albina Papows • Jan 15, 2016 at 12:12 pm
Thanks for the support, Vincent! Just to clarify things, the GHS Preschool is for preschooler, 4 and 5 years old. It runs from 8:30-11:00 four days a week. This is not the Young Families Program that was here a few years ago, that helped out the teen moms enrolled at GHS. The children in our program are from the community and pay tuition.
Vincent ciaramitaro • Jan 15, 2016 at 8:52 pm
Yes, I understand that. I have a close personal friend that had a toddler in her senior year. She whent to her first four blocks, pick up her child, and finished her credits the next year using the same method. The child care was meant to be temporary, it was just meant for pregnancy indecent a few years ago, correct?
Danielle macdonald • Jan 14, 2016 at 8:23 pm
My son who is now 16 was at ghs preschool. I loved it. I have a 2 year old now and would love to have him attend. It’s great for students. Let me know if u start it up agian.
Evemarie Parisi • Jan 14, 2016 at 7:17 pm
Please bring this wonderful program back to Ghs!!!!
Albina Papows • Jan 15, 2016 at 12:13 pm
Thanks, Eve! Loved having JP and Lila as students!