Little Britain Pre-K Program celebrates new playground

The crisp October air rang with applause this morning as students, teachers, administrators and community members gathered outside Little Britain Elementary School. Together, they celebrated the unveiling of a new playground for the district’s youngest Wizards – a joyous milestone marking the Universal Pre-Kindergarten Program’s first month in its new home. 

Click here to view a photo gallery from the ceremony!
 
Led by longtime teachers Allison Corbalis and Lori Rubiano, the program hit the ground running over the last several weeks as they prepared their classrooms to welcome a new group of students eager to begin their educational journey.

“I always look forward to meeting the new kids, getting to know them and figuring out where they’re at, because they’re all so different,” Ms. Corbalis explained. “Some of them have never been away from their parents, while others have already experienced babysitters, daycare, music classes – you name it. Every child starts in a different place.”

Ms. Rubiano added that the first few weeks are dedicated to helping students adjust to the classroom and find their place in a new environment. During this time, students learn foundational skills such as recognizing their names, following classroom procedures and understanding school rules. At the same time, they’re also beginning to form friendships!

Establishing a consistent rhythm is key, especially with the program’s two-and-a-half-hour sessions. Each session begins with a shared meal, followed by a class meeting where students say the Pledge of Allegiance, sing and dance together, play group games, talk about the calendar, discuss the weather and review the plan for the day.

Next comes “center time,” when students get to choose from a variety of thoughtfully curated activities. Every station is designed to foster important skills across many disciplines, including literacy, numeracy, problem-solving, critical-thinking and creative expression. 

“The students think of this as play time, but it’s actually all skill based learning,” Ms. Corbalis said. 

After cleaning up, students gather for story time. Stories are selected based on a monthly theme, with September’s theme centered around a classic fall favorite fruit.

“We’ve been learning all about apples – how they’re grown and the many delicious dishes you can make with them,” Ms. Rubiano shared. 

Students typically finish the day with a project, craft or skill-reinforcement activity, and the routine always ends on the playground. But today, their routine looked a little different.

Instead of heading to their usual play area, students stepped outside to find a crowd of excited community members waiting to unveil their brand-new playground.

Little Britain Principal Dr. Christopher Barrie opened the ribbon-cutting ceremony. 

“This place represents more than just slides and a place to play,” he said. “It's a place where our youngest learners will grow, explore and build friendships.”

Dr. Barrie thanked the Washingtonville Board of Education and district administration for their support, and he recognized the Pre-K teachers for their dedication to their students.

“But most importantly, today is our day for our students,” Dr. Barrie added. “This playground belongs to you, and we can't wait to see the joy and creativity that you bring to it.”

Following the ceremony, students rushed to explore the new space. The playground features three different slides, a variety of climbing structures and other playful touches like a pretend steering wheel and a set of bongos. Extra plush turf and a fence enclosure were also included for added safety. 

With routines taking shape and a new playground to explore, Little Britain’s Pre-K students are starting off their school journey with confidence and joy.

Click here to view a photo gallery from the ceremony!