Perfect World Nursery School

This is how it should be. It's a far cry from the stop and drop of daycare. What I like the most is the drop off and the parent friendships. In a perfect world...

Preschool Is A Meeting Place

Webster co-op has fostered parents' friendships for 50 years
Bennett J. LoudonStaff writer Rochester, New York

(May 31, 2006) — WEBSTER — For 50 years, Webster Nursery School has not only been preparing children for kindergarten and first grade, but creating a network of parent volunteers.
Founded in 1956, the school housed in rented space at Webster Baptist Church, 59 South Ave., operates as a cooperative program. Parents pay tuition and are required to volunteer once or twice per month.

The school is in a large room in the back of the church with a high ceiling painted blue, with tiny dots of white stars. The walls are decorated with finger paintings and other art work.

The 38 children and their parents arrive about 9:15 in the morning."We don't drop the students off at the door," said Jane Csaszar, vice chairwoman of the school's board of directors.

The children get 15 minutes to interact, while parents, usually mothers, get a chance to socialize."We form relationships with each other so I know, not only who the teacher is, but I know the parents, I know the children, I know their siblings because they'll bring their little brothers and sisters in," Csaszar said.

Barbara Ernst has been the school's teacher for the past 28 years."If you wanted the perfect preschool teacher, that's it," said volunteer registrar Susan Harrison, whose 3-year-old son, Russell, attends the school.

Ernst, who would not reveal her age, started her career as a kindergarten teacher in the Gates Chili Central School District. Later, she taught art appreciation at Plank Road South Elementary School in the Webster school district.

"I love it. Coming to school gets me going. I love the children. I love the parent involvement," she said.After starting the day with music, the children move to the other side of the room where they sit in a circle on a soft rug while Ernst reads stories and talks about the lesson for the day.

Later, they move to another area for craft and art projects. Sometimes they have visitors. One Thursday, for example, Jason Poole, a children's librarian from Webster Public Library, dropped by to sing children's songs.

"If you want to kind of bring your kids into school gradually, this is a great way to do it,'' said Harrison, the registrar. "I like having a chance to come in and see what (my son is) doing, how he interacts with the other kids. I like the chance to be able to talk to the teacher often. Also, the thing I like best is getting to know other parents."

BLOUDON@DemocratandChronicle.com