Farewell (forever) Preschool!

Well, it's official, our youngest child has completed preschool! Farewell preschool! You have been very good to us. We have enjoyed, the songs, the artwork and the games. Paige and I have appreciated having a little time apart to spend with friends and increase our independence.

For the past two years, Paige has gone to preschool at Waubonsee Valley High School Early Learning Lab. Basically, our local high school offers a course of early childhood education for it's students. Part of the high school curriculum includes an early learning lab supervised by a teacher in which the high school students plan, prepare and teach a class of preschool students. Of course, in order to teach preschool, you need preschoolers and this is where Paige and 14 other kids come in.

Having done other preschools with Ashley, I have been very impressed with the Early Learning Lab. Paige has basically had one-on-one instruction. Also, because of the many available helping hands and creative minds, Paige has gone on field trips and done activities that really aren't possible in other types of preschools.

On Monday, as it was the last day for the teachers who are Seniors, the preschool held a reception and invited parents. Here are some of the pictures from that day:

This is Paige's preschool class, in some of the pictures, her high school teachers are in standing up in back. I included these pictures to go along with the picture above so you could see Paige "ham-it-up" as she strikes a pose during the photo shoot. (What you can't see is a mass of parents with cameras taking picture after picture of the kids.)

After all the pictures, which was not a minor feat considering lining up and getting that many preschoolers to sit still is a big challenge, their teacher, Mrs. Pierce led the kids in some songs. In this picture they are singing "5 Little Ducks" at Paige's request.

Paige with the teacher of all students, Mrs. Pierce. She is amazing and has been doing this for many years!


And of course, no party is complete without refreshments. We actually had them at the start because who wants to wait for food!

Paige and her friends eating at the snack table.

After snack, it was time to show mom around the classroom and visit with some of the graduating teachers.

It was a fun day and I truly appreciate how much Paige loves her teachers and how much they in turn love the kids. As a parent, it is always comforting to leave your little one with people, who know your child, think she is adorable, and really enjoy teaching.

The next day as a "thank-you" present, the preschool families provided a breakfast for the teachers (on a day with no preschoolers.) Paige and I helped organize the breakfast and we delivered it to the school in the morning along with some flowers for Mrs. Pierce. Everyone was very appreciative and Paige had fun helping me carry all the food into the classroom.