Neighborhood Preschool known for innovative approach
By Sophia Fischer sfischer@theacorn.com

CAROLINE ASLANIAN/Special to The Acorn FUTURE BUSINESS LEADERS- Youngsters from Oak Park Neighborhood Preschool are open for business as they gather in their lemonade stand at a recent school fundraiser. The school is also hosting a Winter Wonderland carnival set for Sat. Feb. 9.

Eleven tons of snow will blanket the field behind Oak Hills Elementary School in Oak Park on Sat., Feb. 9. The winter wonderland will be part of a carnival hosted by the Oak Park Neighborhood Preschool.

The carnival will be held from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. and will feature moon bounces, games and food. It's the first time the school is holding the event, which is open to the public.

"We're really looking forward to it. It's going to be a lot of fun," said Michelle Cass of Oak Park, whose daughter Olivia is a student at the school. "The purpose of our winter carnival is twofold. We want to raise awareness in our community about our wonderful preschool and also raise money for our Parent Advisory Board, which helps pay for our music program, field trips and educational materials."

Established in September 2002, the Oak Park Neighborhood Preschool is known for its awardwinning, innovative and unique approach to early childhood education. Located on the Oak Hills Elementary campus, the classroom includes multisensory activities that encourage students to explore their surroundings, solve problems and express themselves. Along with reading, writing and math, longand short-term in-depth projects based on students' interests are a primary focus, as are music and art.

Children are grouped in multiage classrooms to provide them with opportunities to learn from one another. The approach is based on research that shows that children in multi-age, inclusive classrooms develop empathy and leadership skills. The competition between children is diminished, and the instruction is focused on each child as an individual rather than as part of a group, according to school officials.

Children who began the program when it opened nearly six years ago are now in fourth and fifth grades and are excelling both academically and socially, according to Tony Knight, superintendent of Oak Park Unified School District .

"We have found that students who go through our preschool program are among the highest achievers in their elementary school classrooms," Knight said.

In 2005, the preschool received a Golden Bell Award from the California School Boards Association, which recognizes schools statewide for outstanding curriculum and instruction methods. The school's director, Kim Gregorchuk, has a bachelor's degree in child development from California State University Northridge and more than 27 years of teaching experience. The preschool teachers often work beyond the preschool hours to plan a curriculum that incorporates the interests of all of the children, according to Knight.

Parents are an important part of the program, viewed as their children's advocates. Parents may be involved in various ways, including curriculum development.

"I personally love how teachers are willing to work with you to address any issues that your child may have difficulty with, from making transitions to adjusting to new situations," said Stella Harper of Thousand Oaks, whose 4-year-old daughter Dominique is a student. "Preschool has been a very positive experience for Dominique. She is more confident, expressive and has learned to socialize better with her peers."

Open to children from age 2 years 9 months to 5 years old, the school's philosophy is based on a program developed just after World War II in Reggio Emilia, a town in Italy. The Reggio Emilia philosophy has been adopted by preschools worldwide.

"I love the Reggio Emilia philosophy and how it allows the children the freedom to learn about things that they are naturally curious about," Cass said. "The teachers are so encouraging and caring and allow the children to explore in their own way."

The school draws students from many communities, not only Oak Park. Out-of-district students who attend the preschool and continue on to Oak Park's upper grades have an easy interdistrict transition, Knight said.

After visiting several preschools, Fedra Tamaddon of Calabasas said she chose to send her son Darius, 3½, to Oak Park Neighborhood Preschool because of the parent/teacher collaboration. A former teacher, Tamaddon plans to send her younger son, Cameron, to the school next year.

"OPNS to me is like a hidden jewel," Tamaddon said. "I was looking for a program that promoted learning through fun and play. As an example, once or twice a month they bring a musician, 'The Music Guy,' into the classroom, singing songs as well as teaching different types of instruments and how the shape of the instrument projects different sounds."

Parent Julie Paik loves how the children take initiative in their learning. The Agoura Hills resident's son Joel, 4, is in his second year at the preschool. She described one of the projects the children launched.

"Some of the students were interested in ocean creatures, which led to a field trip to Santa Monica Aquarium," Paik said. "Their interests broadened to include different kinds of land creatures as wel.An interest in storytelling and writing culminated in a short play put on by the students, in which the students wrote the narration, designed and built their costumes with the (art teacher), and performed the play in front of the parents."

Another project had the children build a mock city. Using different materials, they designed and built their own schools, hospitals, hotels, highways, trains and water features.

Preschool hours are 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Monday through Friday, with extended care available. Students may register for five, four, three or two days per week. In addition, there are programs for toddlers and their parents from 9:30 to 11:30 a.m. on Monday or Thursday.

Admission to winter carnival is $6 per child. Children under 2 and adults are free. Proceeds benefit the school.

Oak Park Neighborhood Preschool, which shares the campus with Oak Hills Elementary, is at 1010 Kanan Road.

For more information, visit www.oakparkneighborhoodschool .com or call (818) 707-7742.