Parents' Preschool History
The school year 2023-2024 marks the 55th anniversary of Parents' Preschool. During these past 55 years, over 4000 children from our community and surrounding communities have attended the school.
In the summer of 1968, when it was known that a previously established preschool of Ellwood City would no longer be operating, a group of parents who felt a real loss began to meet. They wanted a place where children could experience a broad variety of activities with their peers in addition to helping them meet their individual needs.
It was from a sense of mission to their community and their children that they organized and founded the Cooperative Preschool of Ellwood City. Since then the school has grown considerably. It became incorporated on February 3,1976 and legally changed Its name to Parents' Preschool of Ellwood City, Inc. This name was chosen because it reflected the basic nature of the school.
The purpose of our preschool remains the same: that from a sense of mission to our community, we are here to provide mental, spiritual, physical, emotional and social support to our preschool children. We teach them to do the very best they can every day.
The first few years of operation saw the preschool with one class of mixed ages including 3 and 4 year olds. The school operated on a Shoestring budget with tuition being the only source of income. The church provided some furniture, toys were donated and some special equipment was handmade to equip the rooms. Although the preschool operated independently of the church, Christ Presbyterian Church was its main, although indirect means of support. Generously, all utilities, janitorial services, and special help from the church secretary were provided by the church. This generosity continues to be true today.
The school struggled financially but continued to grow. In 1970 enrollment increased enough that a second class and teacher were added, allowing the classes to be broken down into ages.
Christ Presbyterian Church continued to offer financial support for several years. That support, in conjunction with a steady increase in enrollment, enabled the school to become financially secure. At about the same time, a few dedicated parents formed a Parents Club to be the fund raising arm of the Directors, Teachers, Aides, and Parent Volunteers. The school has approximately 75 students enrolled with 5 classes, 2 Teachers, and 3 Aides.
We invite all interested parents to give their preschool children and themselves an opportunity to be apart of what we offer - Excellence in Preschool Education.
In the summer of 1968, when it was known that a previously established preschool of Ellwood City would no longer be operating, a group of parents who felt a real loss began to meet. They wanted a place where children could experience a broad variety of activities with their peers in addition to helping them meet their individual needs.
It was from a sense of mission to their community and their children that they organized and founded the Cooperative Preschool of Ellwood City. Since then the school has grown considerably. It became incorporated on February 3,1976 and legally changed Its name to Parents' Preschool of Ellwood City, Inc. This name was chosen because it reflected the basic nature of the school.
The purpose of our preschool remains the same: that from a sense of mission to our community, we are here to provide mental, spiritual, physical, emotional and social support to our preschool children. We teach them to do the very best they can every day.
The first few years of operation saw the preschool with one class of mixed ages including 3 and 4 year olds. The school operated on a Shoestring budget with tuition being the only source of income. The church provided some furniture, toys were donated and some special equipment was handmade to equip the rooms. Although the preschool operated independently of the church, Christ Presbyterian Church was its main, although indirect means of support. Generously, all utilities, janitorial services, and special help from the church secretary were provided by the church. This generosity continues to be true today.
The school struggled financially but continued to grow. In 1970 enrollment increased enough that a second class and teacher were added, allowing the classes to be broken down into ages.
Christ Presbyterian Church continued to offer financial support for several years. That support, in conjunction with a steady increase in enrollment, enabled the school to become financially secure. At about the same time, a few dedicated parents formed a Parents Club to be the fund raising arm of the Directors, Teachers, Aides, and Parent Volunteers. The school has approximately 75 students enrolled with 5 classes, 2 Teachers, and 3 Aides.
We invite all interested parents to give their preschool children and themselves an opportunity to be apart of what we offer - Excellence in Preschool Education.