If you follow my series, you know that I jump at any chance
to allow someone else the honor of tending to my children. I mean, who wouldn’t want to be
greeted by the words every caretaker wants to hear: “Go away, I don’t like you”. Or, my personal favorite (shouted at
the top of his lungs while running away at top speed): “that’s not my
mommy. This is NOT my mommy!”
Needless to say, when I hear about opportunities to get Knox
interaction with other children and my involvement is not required, I jump at
them. Cue our beloved school
system; the Highlands High School Family and Consumer Science department has a
3-week preschool session for local 3, 4, and 5 year-olds. The full 8 sessions costs only $15
total and includes themed-lessons planned by the HHS students with each lesson
consisting of circle time and a learning activity as well as small motor
skills, crafts, and large motor skills.
Per Ahren Wagner, HHS teacher, the program has been ongoing
for 20+ years and is a great opportunity for the big kids (her high schoolers)
and little kids (my son, and other children of wise and weary parents) to
interrelate and co-learn. Also,
the little kids love the opportunity to go to the high school and to bond with
the big kids.
“This is a wonderful program for both my “big” kids and the
“little” kids who attend the program. During the year I focus on age and
developmentally appropriate activities for preschool age children, so when the
planning and organizing time is here for preschool, they (big kids) have a good
idea of what would work well with the students.”
Funnily enough, I actually took this class and led one of
the learning sessions for Child Development. I remember the children coming, so excited to engage in this
learning opportunity and to meet other children. I remember seeing the impact, no matter how small, I was
having on the children. And, in
retrospect, I see the incredible practical application of such a program. As Ms. Wagner says, it is entirely
student-run (with teacher supervision) and so the students really gain
first-hand and hands-on knowledge of childhood education and enrichment.
But most importantly, this will give me an extra one hour
and forty-five minutes, three times per week for three weeks to be completely
alone… and by alone, I mean with my daughter Finley. Womp womp.
For more information or to register, please contact Ahren
Wagner (leave a voicemail) at 859-815-2664 or email at ahren.wagner@fortthomas.kyschools.us. The sessions begin on Wednesday May 1
with two sessions: 9:05-10:50 and 11:40-1:35. Space is limited so be sure to register as soon as possible.