Nurtury Program At NHS Serves Many Needs

By Laurie Borst

Among the many outstanding programs of study at Newtown High School is a Nurtury program that offers students the opportunity to learn about child development and early childhood education with a hands-on component not found in many schools.

The Nurtury offers a preschool program for Newtown/Sandy Hook 3- and 4-year-olds. The youngsters attend four days per week where they are paired up with high school students, taking either child development or early childhood education classes.

These courses are taught by Stephanie Gacso, who has taken over the Nurtury program this year. Prior to joining the faculty at Newtown High, Ms Gacso taught in Ridgefield for three years. The Ridgefield program taught theory only, no hands-on experience.

Ms Gacso is certified in family and consumer science. Before earning her certification, she worked in New York City as an event planner.

At NHS, she teaches five classes with about 100 students. Four of these classes are child development and one is early childhood education (ECE). Students begin with the child development work. The following year, they can take the ECE course. At this level, the students do the lesson planning.

The preschool program is designed for three and four year olds. This year, the class is comprised of 16 four year olds. They can accommodate up to 22 children, with the stipulations that they must be from Newtown or Sandy Hook, and, they must be potty trained.

The preschool runs Tuesday through Friday from mid-September to mid-June. The times vary, depending on the high school schedule. Two days, the tots attend for two hours each day. The other two days, they spend three hours each day at preschool.

The program is called a preschool because they do teach. The lesson planning follows the Connecticut Benchmarks for ECE. Ms Gacso said they educate through play.

A variety of learning centers are set up in the double-size classroom where four students at a time can play. Art, cooking, discovery, dramatic play, library, toys and games, blocks, and computers are all available for investigation. Sand and water tables are popular with the youngsters.

At the cooking center, children learn measurement. Recipes are written with graphics to help the prereaders understand what ingredients are needed. At the discovery center, students investigate science topics.

Toys and games provide puzzles, board games, and math manipulatives. In the library, students can explore all types of communication. Books, tapes, and a tape recorder allow children to work on reading, writing, speaking, and listening skills.

During Read Across America, students filled out birthday cards for Dr Seuss

Five computers are available with CDs and instructional websites to help them improve a variety of skills.

Dramatic play takes place in the housekeeping center. This center can be set up in the fall as an apple store with bushel baskets, pie tins, and other autumnal items.

Physical activities take place outside in the warm weather. The gymnasium is used in winter. A variety of games and activities are taught, including parachute and relay races .

No teachable moment is wasted. Everyday, students sit down together for snack time. They are taught self-care like washing their hands before meals. The children make placemats at the beginning of the year. They decorate them with drawings and each mat is laminated.

Responsibility it taught as well as social skills. After eating, the youngsters wash the tables with sponges. Ms Gacso noted that whichever game is the “hot new thing,” she sees it played. At lunchtime, “I Spy” is the game of choice among the tots.

The high schoolers also are learning a lot in the classes. They write lesson plans and work with the children one on one. The teens fill out forms commonly used in ECE to report on new developments in skills or problems encountered with the young ones.

Ms Gacso shared the teenagers’ responses to several questions. The first question asked why the student took the course. Most of them plan to teach and felt the class offered a good experience. Some had been camp counselors and felt they would gain a better understanding of children.

The second question asked what important lesson each of them learned. Many said patience. Others expressed surprise at how quickly young children acquire skills.

Many students saw the course as good preparation for future teaching positions and some said it would help them when they have their own children.

The last question asked about challenges the students have faced. Getting children to cooperate was the biggest challenge cited. Several students mentioned that they have a new respect for what teachers do.

Part of Ms Gacso’s work involves identifying children with special needs. She makes referrals for evaluations and services. This year, there are two ESL students in the program.

While there are three months of school left this year, Ms Gacso is looking toward next year. Registration for the preschool program will open soon. The fee has not yet been set for the upcoming year. Last year, the tuition was $400 with a $50 materials fee for disposables, e.g., napkins, spoons, art supplies.

For more information about the Nurtury program, call Ms Gacso at 426-7646, extension 1143, or email gacsos@newtown.k12.ct.us.