Betsy Wright comforts Geoffrey Reyes after he gets sand in his face during free play.
Child's Play
Preschoolers get a taste of high school
By Michelle Alaimo
Photographs by Scott Lechner
Since 1978, Saratoga High School has offered a different kind of schooling for children--a preschool for children ages 2 to 6 in Saratoga and surrounding communities.
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Ashley Ferreira (left) greets Bobby Tooyserkani when he and his brother, Darry (center) arrive at the preschool.
Saratoga High's preschool is different from many others in the area, because high school students run the program.
Four times a week, from noon to 2:05 p.m., SHS students become preschool teachers by encouraging children to play and providing them with a variety of activities, including art and gardening.
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Ashley Ferreira plays with Natalie Sun in the parachute during group time at Saratoga High Preschool.
Although the two-hour time periods for class may seem short, Jill McFarlen, director of the preschool since its inception, said it's run just like any other preschool, complete with time for naps and snacks.
She said the idea for the class came from a poll taken in the 1970s of students and the community, which asked them to express what they thought was important in the school's homemaking department.
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Saratoga High School junior Ashley Ferreira plays with youngsters in the parachute during the afternoon group time at the preschool on campus.
Some of the students answered that childcare would be a welcome addition.
After going back to school for two more years to get certified in child development, McFarlen, also a psychology teacher, began the preschool and has headed it ever since.
McFarlen said her students, many of whom sign up for a course called "Exploring Childhood" because they are interested in child development or related occupations, come back years later and are often employed in a related field.
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Danelle Foust watches as Bobby Tooyserkani plays on the jungle gym.
Sophomore Bryony Raiswell said, "I signed up in the course because I love children and I wanted to learn more about the way their minds work."
Raiswell said that contrary to what some students think, the class isn't only about watching toddlers. "You choose to get what you want out of it," she said. "There is so much to learn about."
The students learn how a child's brain functions at each age and what stages they go through during development. The high-school students also answer observation questions assigned to them by McFarlen.
In addition to helping the students learn about child development, McFarlen said the preschool helps the young children build socialization skills they need with others of similar ages, all while giving parents a chance to get a few errands done.
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Bryce Kurtz-Fenster opens his arms to Geoffrey Reyes.
The 13-week preschool is held in the spring and fall and costs $70 for two days of class per week and $140 for four days per week. No preschool is held on Wednesday because McFarlen uses the days to meet with other students. For more information, contact Saratoga High School, 867-3411.
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Saratoga, California Since 1975
