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Program focuses on creativity in the classroom
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By Natasha Clark
Assistant Managing Editor
SPRINGFIELD The Community School of Springfield (CMSS) has been enhancing the lives of youth through the art of music since it was found in 1983. This year they will embark on a new journey of enlightenment with their new program, Prelude Preschool of the Arts.
Designed for children ages three to five, the preschool will use arts education as an integral part of its curriculum. The program aims to embody music, movement, art exploration, creative thinking, individual expression and group skills as a means to open a creative atmosphere that encourages intellect and imagination.
This new innovative program has 39 slots to fill for its September post-Labor Day start date. The school plans to incorporate its professional musicians and artists as an addition to the classroom.
"It is the only full day program of its kind in Massachusetts," Jeanie Connor, director of development and communications, said. "And it is really the evolution of a long history of the Community Music School working with very young children."
Connor explained that the program will teach very traditional subjects, all taught with an arts component. Full day, off day and extended day options will be available to parents. The core program will operate from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. and there will be early drop offs between 8 and 9 a.m. Extended hours will be from 8 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.
Students will have art classes five days a week in addition to all of the classroom learning, which includes literacy, math, science, social studies, technology, lunch, snacks and fitness and outdoor play. There will also be collaborations with the Springfield Museums and the little ones can enjoy a new state of the art outdoor playground complete with musical instruments. The school will provide healthy, organic lunches and snacks and offer additional exercise such as yoga and dance.
Preschool Director Margot Whitt said artists and teachers will work together to create a cohesive program with continuity.
"It will be a two classroom program and each class will have a full-time teacher and artists that will work in conjunction," Whitt said, adding that there will be four additional artists along with the four classroom teachers.
According to information released by CMSS, "the curriculum is based on a belief that children are active participants in the learning process and that they learn and express their understanding of concepts in many non-verbal, creative and artistic languages."
CMSS has extensive experience in working with the young age group. It has collaborated in similar programs with Head Start and Square One (formerly Springfield Day Nursery) over five month periods.
"The goal of that program was to give opportunities to children who don't have access to musical arts. Going through the Head Start system was to reach so many children and families. [For] more than 10 years we have been doing professional development in preschools," Whitt said.
Those Head Start programs also gave teachers the tools to read simple music and the skills to be able to teach using instruments and age appropriate curriculum in music and movement.
"I suspect that almost everyone would agree that there is something of an education crisis in big cities where there are high dropout rates and we believe that we need to engage children very young and expose them to the wonders of the arts," Connor said.
That is why CMSS prides itself on making its programs available to everyone.
"We're hoping to make this opportunity available to all children of all levels. We will be accepting students that can come in with state voucher aid. We will have full tuition and reimbursed tuition rates," Whitt said.
The 39 slots will be filled on a first come, first served basis. Whitt invites anyone who is interested in registering or learning more about Prelude Preschool of the Arts to contact CMSS at 732-8428 ext. 114.
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