GREENSBORO – The newly-renamed Lakeview Early Education Center will now host students from Hardwick Head Start school, having moved from their former Church Street home in the Caspian Lake Lodge No. 87 of the Free & Accepted Masons.
photo by Paul Fixx
Details preceding the move were revealed during the August 14 Mountain View Elementary School District Board meeting.
“We are beyond thrilled to welcome them to our third classroom” stated one board member. An exciting bonus of the partnership, Head Start will be providing a full time chef, creating meals on site with the students. There are currently 21 students enrolled at Lakeview Early Education Center. With Head Start’s partnership, enrollment is to be increased to 34.
“I just want to thank Beth and Heather at Head Start for quickly collaborating. We were talking about a year from now, trying to enter into a partnership like this, but it happened a lot faster than we thought,” said Orleans Southwest Supervisory Union (OSSU) Superintendent Dr. David Baker. “But it really does meet our goal, right, we want to serve all of our kids in this supervisory union, in this early education center. I think it’s going to be a powerful model. . . the turnaround was quick, but again, Head Start brings a lot to the table, not just a chef although we’ll welcome that. Just the alignment with the mission, and the beauty of having that partnership.”
photo by Raymonda Parchment
Principal Beth Parker said instruction will be 100 percent merged, “We’re one entity now, and it’s really great.”
Head Start has hired former Lakeview Elementary pre-K teacher Robin Schilling. Schilling graduated from Goddard College with a B.A. in Education, with a concentration in school counseling. Schilling also has an A.S. degree in Early Childhood Education from the Community College of Philadelphia. Schilling has been working in preschool classrooms for just over six years, with background in cooperative preschool programs, as well as Reggio-Emilia and Montessori pedagogies.
“The most important thing about working with three- and four-year-olds for me is empowerment and liberation. We do a lot of social emotional work for kiddos to learn how to co-regulate and eventually self regulate. In my classroom, we always say that we are so capable!”
photo by Raymonda Parchment
Schilling says they are excited to be teaching more children and to be partnering with Head Start this year, “This means we will be able to serve even more children and families at Lakeview, which was always our goal. So far these children are inspiring, gentle, kind, silly and ready to adventure forth.”
Last year, Schilling had a class of eight children and seven families. “Together we founded a brand new program in a preexisting elementary school with a long history and traditions all their own. I am already missing my three kindergarten kiddos and families, shout out to those fabulous humans, and am so happy to be seeing 5 of my kids from last year everyday on the playground.”
photo by Raymonda Parchment
“Lakeview is such a beautiful building with so many possibilities. We’re nestled in a really incredible community in terms of enriching experiences for young children. I especially want to mention the Greensboro library and Emily, the children’s librarian there, and all of the wonderful programs they have. Last year, my preschool class walked to the library and got to do story time there, and it was a really magical experience.”
“As an early childhood educator, I feel really emotional about the equity that Lakeview could provide to the community. Starting kiddos from so many different towns and villages here in the same place feels like a really grounded way to welcome our youngest learners. I hope that we can start by teaching them what school can be. School can and should be a place where all kids have a right to learn and shape their classroom. School should be a place that feels safe and joyful. We can do so much together.”
An earlier version of this story incorrectly named the Lakeview Early Education Center.
Raymonda Parchment is a Hardwick Gazette reporter. She recently graduated from Vermont State University - Castleton with a Bachelor’s Degree in English. She is a strong supporter of freedom of speech, and the right to publish information, opinions, and ideas without censorship or restraint. She is a lifelong lover of the written word, and is excited to join the team as a staff member.
