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St. Luke to offer Early Childhood Center
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The Early Childhood Program will provide innovative programming and teaching for area students like Madison Jones (left) and Emanuela Santiago.
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Neighbors | Sarah Foor .This very busy room at St. Luke School in Boardman will, in the coming year, be resituated and become the home of the 5 day preschool program in the Early Childhood Center.
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Many St. Luke preschool and kindergarten students are planning to become "new" students at the St. Luke Early Childhood Center. Next year, Malia Swartz (left), Madison Smith, Lacie Dray, and Gus Valentine (right) will be entering the school's kindergarten program. Kelsie Rudolph (on floor) will be attending a transitional kindergarten class at the center.
By SARAH FOOR
The halls of St. Luke School, along with many of the other Catholic schools in Mahoning County, are buzzing with the kind of excitement that only comes with trying something completely new.
In the coming months, St. Luke’s will be transforming from a K-8 school into an innovative Early Childhood Learning Center, servicing students from the ages of 2 to 10.
The current transformation of the school has been the work of the Mahoning Valley Catholic School Collaborative, which includes St. Luke, St. Charles, Holy Family and St. Joseph and Immaculate Heart of Mary, among others.
Facing closing its doors completely, St. Luke pastor Joseph Fata approached the collaborative after researching innovative early childhood programs. The school’s already-successful preschool program, suitable building, central location, and confidence to try the new endeavor has given the facility a new beginning.
“The collaborative and St. Luke school are working hard to bring a fresh excitement to the Catholic schools community,” explained teacher Johnna Lewis, who teaches at Holy Family and St. Luke, and is the future director of the Early Childhood program.
“We want to offer the community an innovative program for all ages, but we’re also trying to provide a foundation in Catholic education. Our dream is that our early childhood students will continue into middle and high school in Mahoning Valley parochial schools,” Lewis added.
Innovation for area children arrives at St. Luke in the form of five early childhood programs, including toddler classes, preschool, transitional kindergarten, along with kindergarten through fourth-grade classes. Special programming for the school will include sign language, movement and yoga classes, foreign language lessons and hands-on exploration in the school’s learning garden.
“Our subjects are getting a complete overhaul,” explained St. Luke principal Catherine Wigley, who will continue her post next school year. “We’re trying experimental approaches in our Math and Science teaching, and adding smart boards to every room. However, that experimentation won’t change our specialization with younger children and the individualized education we offer.”
The program will provide students a foundation in Catholic education, but the Collaborative insists that the small student-teacher ratio, talented staff, and community support at St. Luke will benefit any student.
The school is gauging the interest of students mainly from Boardman, Poland and Youngstown because of the school’s location, but welcomes students from any Valley community.
“Parents are looking for schools that are new and innovative,” reflected Lewis. “We think that Valley families will be just as excited to join us on this new adventure.”
A school open house is planned for the St. Luke Early Childhood Center March 15, where families can learn more about the program from 6 to 7:30 p.m.