On most Tuesday mornings, children who attend Precious Ones Preschool in the Evangelical United Methodist Church, at 276 E. Main St., New Holland, arrive by 9 a.m., play for 20 minutes, and then have learning time together before breaking into two groups. But on Feb. 8, a special guest visited at the end of learning time.
Volunteer Michele Hoover brought her guinea pig, Onyx, and while the children sat in a circle on the floor, Onyx, spent time nibbling a banana peel and watermelon rind between visits to individual students.
Precious Ones is a ministry of the church, overseen by Patty McDowell, whom the children call "Miss Patty." Hoover assists her with help from volunteer Katie Cirito. On Tuesdays and Thursdays, the school serves children ages 3 to 5 years old with all three adults present. On Wednesdays, when eight children who will be 5 years old by September attend, only two adults are present. Classes run from 9 a.m. to noon.
McDowell opens each class with the Pledge of Allegiance followed by basics such as the month and the day. Sitting at the front of the classroom, McDowell teaches the students about numbers and letters. On the day Onyx visited, the number of the week was 16, and students learned the letter P, which McDowell explained is the first letter of her first name. The color of the month was pink, and McDowell asked each student wearing pink to stand. She also read a story about an animal whose name begins with the letter P - "The Pig's Picnic."
Students also have opportunities to stand up in front of the class to tell about themselves or about their adventures with a classroom mascot named Bobby Bear. Students take turns taking Bobby home on a Thursday and then returning him the next Tuesday along with a journal in which a family member has helped record Bobby's adventures. Students can also take home an All About Me bag to fill with their favorite things for a personal show and tell time.
Readers who would like to know more about Precious Ones Preschool may visit https://newhollandeumc.com/precious-ones-preschool-1 or call 717-354-2334.
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