By Donna James
For The Salisbury Post
While we all know that Kannapolis is gaining a state-of-the-art research campus, you might not have known the former mill town is also gaining a state-of-the-art preschool program as well.
The Preschool of the Arts @ the Park is scheduled to debut in August. Its addition is another glimpse of the new Kannapolis that is emerging from the dust of the fallen mill stacks.
The program is emerging by offering a different kind of environment for families that are looking for quality care with an enrichment focus.
A collaborative effort between Blackwelder Park Baptist Church and the preschool staff, the program will offer a fresh approach to early childhood education that combines the best from a variety of curriculum approaches such as Reggio Emilia, Emergent Curriculum, Montessori and Project-Based Learning.
The Preschool of the Arts will cater to families who are looking for a more challenging education for their youngest ones while still providing a positive, nurturing, Christ-centered learning environment.
In this preschool learning environment, teachers are trained to see the full potential of a child’s work and to offer discovery-based activities to challenge the child’s learning. The curriculum is dynamic and ever-changing. It continues to grow and change along with the most up-to-date research on early childhood education. The children are exposed to a variety of learning materials and have the opportunity to explore music, art, photography, pottery, foreign language and technology to build a better understanding of the world around them. Children are learning values and character traits in a positive, Christ-centered environment. The carefully planned activities and environment all contribute to the school fulfilling its mission ó teaching kids how to think!
You might ask if Kannapolis is ready for this type of opportunity.
“Absolutely,” says Tina Sinclair excitedly. “There is nothing else like this around here.”
As an educator, she knows what to look for in a quality preschool. She is excited to think about her child learning in a developmentally appropriate environment with so many opportunities. “I have been looking for this type of individualized curriculum and interactive environment for my child’s education. I am excited about the children having a variety of choices and being so actively involved in their learning.”
Others share her enthusiasm. Steva Mervin, early childhood educator, has been guiding future teachers for years.
“It will be rewarding to see appropriate practices implemented in such a unique way,” she says.
Mervin applauds Blackwelder Park Baptist Church for stepping beyond the traditional daycare model and embracing a curriculum that integrates biblical values with a hands-on learning approach.
“It is a great opportunity for graduating students to become affiliated with a high quality program that will allow them to implement strategies and methods they have been learning in the college classroom,” she says.
The program will be providing much needed jobs for many of those newly graduated teachers. The program is seeking highly qualified individuals to fill a variety of teaching positions possessing at least a two-year degree or beyond in Early Childhood Education for the lead positions.
The Preschool of the Arts @ the Park will serve families with children ranging from 3 months through age 5.
Also provided will be a transitional kindergarten; half-day classes; after-school program and a summer camp beginning in June ó all of which will provide job opportunities for many teachers during times when jobs are scarce in Kannapolis.
With the variety of additional programs, the church sees this preschool as another way to serve their community. The teachers see this as a springboard for a lifetime of learning. The families will see this as an innovative opportunity for their child’s education. Most importantly, the children will see this as exactly what it is: a safe, fun place to live and learn.
Future blueprints or random scribbles?
Only time will tell.
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Donna James in director of children’s ministry at Blackwelder Park Baptist Church in Kannapolis. For more information about the Preschool of the Arts, call her at 704-932-4266.