By Steve Ritchie
Silverton’s stature as a haven for artists is being bolstered by the Silverton Arts Association’s creation of the Park House Preschool, which opened earlier this month.
Described as a “Reggio-inspired, arts-driven and community-minded” program, the Park House Preschool will add another early education option in Silverton for parents with children who are 3 to 6 years old. The school will operate from March 5 – June 14 from 9 a.m. to noon Monday through Thursdays, in the Arts Association’s Park House adjacent to Coolidge & McClaine Park. The Park House will continue as a multi-use facility, with afternoon and evening classes.
During the three-month pilot program, parents can choose to have their child attend on a “flexible schedule” of two to four days a week. Those who enroll for this partial year will also receive preference for the 2012-13 school year, which begins Sept. 4. Organizers say enrollment is limited to 10 children.
Preschool Instructor Margaret Jones says she is thrilled by the potential of combining the resources of the Silverton Arts Association and its members along with parents and the children.
“It’s a lovely open building, designed by artists to promote art. We will be tapping into the talents of our local artists who will be available to come in and work with the kids,” Jones said.
Jones said instruction in the basics of the visual arts will be a focus of the preschool, but the program will also include “meaningful experiences” in music, dance, performing arts and dramatic experiences. She sees one of her key roles as helping to document stories for the kids, as they learn to express themselves and begin to explore their environment.
“There are 100 languages of children. They speak and communicate in so many different ways. Art is one of the friendliest,” Jones said. “The other element is that of parent as teacher. The parents are very involved here. We want to use the parents’ knowledge, skills and experience to share with kids in whatever we are working on.”
The preschool borrows from the Reggio Emilia Approach, a philosophy of education that began in Italy after World War II. The Park House Preschool materials list four core principles of the approach:
• Children must have some control over the direction of their learning;
• Children must be able to learn through experiences of touching, moving, listening, seeing, and hearing;
• Children have a relationship with other children and with material items in the world that children must be allowed to explore;
• Children must have endless ways and opportunities to express themselves.
Potter Jason Laney, a member of the arts association board and an instructor, was present at a recent weekday open house at the preschool. He shares Jones’ enthusiasm for the program’s potential, and noted the association spent nearly a year discussing the preschool concept before giving the go-ahead last fall.
“The preschool will bring art to young kids, which is always a good thing,” Laney said.
Laney plans to “throw” some kid-sized cups for the preschoolers and have them work on the underglaze and coloring of the cups, which they will then keep and take home.
Arts Association Education Director Stacy Higby said she sees a distinction between the normal sort of “craft projects” that younger children normally work on in preschool, and the Park House approach, which will utilize artists with a wealth of knowledge and passion about art.
“It’s easy to get sucked into craft projects instead of learning about art – color, line, shapes and so forth,” Higby said.
Higby, Jones and Laney are all pleased that the initial response from the community has been so positive.
“The community has been really enthusiastic about the space, the program and the management,” Higby said.
“Our community is thinking more about this (preschool) age group,” added Jones, who praised the existing preschools in town and said she has already formed a working relationship with The Secret Garden Preschool and Montessori Bluebird Preschool.
“If you start to provide a rich educational experience for the young child, it sets them up for success,” Jones said.
For information on Park House Preschool, contact Higby or Jones at 503-873-6390, or [email protected].
