Little Panthers Preschool

By Nadine Phipps

When people hear "William T. Dwyer", they think high school. But now people need to think of it as a laboratory school, a laboratory school where students gain knowledge about children before careers in teaching. Dwyer was chosen to be the North County center for the Early Childhood Teacher Academy. Students will now share their high school with the Little Panthers Preschool.

The preschool allows the academy students to learn about children and serves as a regular preschool for children who want to learn while having fun. The preschool, located in the 6000 building, sits next to the Finance Academy. The preschool consists of a normal classroom, a dramatic play area, a small manipulative area, library, art, music, and block building areas. A new playground lies in the back of the preschool, along with basketball hoops, lunch tables, and a butterfly garden.

The Little Panthers Preschool will be open from 8:30am to 1:00pm Monday - Friday. The preschool seats a maximum of twelve students from three to five years of age.

Potty-trained students are welcome to join. The preschool fee will be $425 per month. A one time $50 resource and registration fee is required. One presiding preschool teacher and three to four academy students will staff facility. Because the preschool is located next to the Early Childhood Academy, "it will give the academy students a chance to observe and assess preschool students and have direct experience," said Mrs. Bader.

Little Panthers Preschool opens September 8. "My interns are well prepared and the preschool teacher will have years of experience," said Bader. She can only predict that, "the preschool will serve the community and their need for a high-tech good quality preschool." For more information or to register, call Mrs. Bader at (561) 625-7899.