GOSHEN — On Sunday, Eighth Street Mennonite Preschool will be celebrating its 50th anniversary with an open house from 2-5 p.m.
Director Emma Dugger said the focus of the open house will be promoting the preschool’s outdoor education. There will be free hot dogs and Tropicana food truck will be on hand for those who want to purchase from them, cupcake decorating, face painting, henna, magic demonstrations and tours of the pre-school.
HISTORY
The preschool began 50 years ago in 1973 with the help of eight women in the church — Janey Brookmyer, Sandy Wingard, Janet Ediger, Jane Swihart Farrell, Marilyn Lehman, Frances Yoder, LaDona Preheim and Jeannette Bechtel.
Dugger said these women were stay-at-home moms who wanted to get their children together to play and socialize.
“It started being play-based and we still are, which is incredible,” Dugger said. “We are not a technology device facility or worksheets or academics per se; all of our learning is through play. It’s very intentional and we use the ‘Tools of the Mind’ curriculum — it’s a play-based thematic unit study that changes once a month.”
Dugger explained they change their toy room space to match the theme of the month, so if it’s a grocery store, for example, they’ll turn the space into a grocery store with a deli, bakery and Starbucks.
“It’s fun to watch the kids and have a 3-year old ask, ‘Miss Emma, do you want a latte or vente?’” she laughed.
Other units might include dental/medical, farm, etc. and always includes a sensory area, dress-up area and transportation, which might be an ambulance one month and a hay wagon the next.
Some milestones of the preschool include:
• October 1973 — preschool opens for the first time on Tuesdays and Thursdays.
• 1974 — preschool expands to five days a week with 3-year-olds attending Tuesdays and Thursdays and 4- and 5-year-olds attending Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays.
• 1988 — Mothers and Fathers nights began
• 1993 — 100 people attended the 20th anniversary celebration.
• 1996 — climbing apparatus and painted tires added to playground.
• 1997 — Ernie Yoder built the train for the playground.
• 2008 — Children’s kitchen set built by Bob Peters.
• 2009 — a grant for $4,000 received from Elkhart County Community Foundation to create a more multi-cultural environment.
• 2013 — started a Facebook page.
• 2014 — Began Tools of the Mind curriculum.
• 2019 — In March they were shutdown for the Covid pandemic and remain closed the following year.
• 2021—Began working with the Source on Conscious Discipline training. Began a music class for 3-year-olds. Began outdoor education program for 4-year-olds. Began Minds in Motion obstacle course and Loose Parts Play curriculum.
• 2023—First 4H Fair parade float for the 50th anniversary. Began Baby Doll Circle Time curriculum. Created partnership with Center for Healing and Hope to fill one month of their food pantry.
Dugger is the 12th director over the 50 years, and she estimates they served 2,722 children over the history of the preschool. She said when they are at full capacity they have 70 students a year.
Eighth Street Mennonite is accepting enrollment for next year. The year ends the second week of May and they begin after Labor Day. They follow the Goshen School calendar for most of the school year.
Dugger shared some of the things that makes Eighth Street Mennonite Preschool different include, “We have a Mind and Motion obstacle course daily and that helps with motor skills, balance and hand-eye coordination.”
They also have an outdoor education program that comes to them weekly and Loose Parts play program. Dugger explained that as “any little treasure” the children love to play with and create and build, including basics like boxes or stones. They offer art daily and music once a week.
For Sunday’s open house past teachers, staff and students have been invited. “Some of the students are now parents of current students,” she noted.
The congregation at Eighth Street Mennonite has been invited and she said they’ve been a huge help and support for the preschool in numerous ways, especially financial and with building maintenance.
Dugger said the event is open to the public and they’ll be giving out flower and vegetable seed packets and will have T-shirts and other items for sale.
“Come and play and see former or current friends,” Dugger invited. “It should be fun for all ages.”
