(Submitted Photo/Ashley Stewart)

By Ben Tompkins

Carrot River

Curious Kids Preschool Cooperative hopes for better year after successful fall registration night

Sep 16, 2021 | 6:26 PM

Carrot River recently held their fall registration night, with one of those groups being the Curious Kids Preschool Cooperative. They are a non-profit organization that isn’t a part of the school system.

Because of that, they were deemed non-essential during the pandemic and were forced out of the high school, where they would usually hold their programming.

That caused them to find a new home to relocate to, which would eventually become the United Church.

Due to the move, which they had to do for at least the full school year, they had to transport all of the stuff that they would need for an entire year.

President of the preschool, Ashley Stewart, said they lost a lot of kids because of the fact they had to move.

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“Some families chose not to put their kids in at all, we had quite a few parents that didn’t want their children to have to wear a mask at all times,” Stewart said.

Stewart also explained the reason why their preschool could not join the school system and be deemed essential.

“Most of the others are run as a pre-k right out of the school, but because of our population, there’s not a big enough demographic in Carrot River.”

This year gives them more hope, as there aren’t currently any restrictions that would once again push them out of the high school, which has parents quite happy.

“I think parents were excited to get back to the routine and the kids were too,” Stewart said. “I think people are optimistic to get back and the kids want to get back to their fun program and learning.”

According to Stewart, that fun was definitely interrupted last year, in a variety of ways.

“We used to do field trips, but last year we couldn’t, so we planned a party every month, even if nothing was going on. We celebrated every month to make it fun for their children,” she said.

And to say the least, last year was definitely hard on everyone, especially considering what had to be done just to even hold their programming.

“I think it was a bit hard on everyone to get into the routine of coming, distancing, masking and sanitizing,” Stewart said. “Last year was challenging, but we had a good board and teacher and helper and they were able to initially have a routine drop-off, mask, sanitize and in you go.”

“The children adapted quite quickly to wearing their masks because if you want to come, that’s how it was, you wear the mask. The children did very well adapting to wearing masks.”

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Ben.Tompkins@pattisonmedia.com

On Twitter @BenTompkins_8