Children’s School to close after 46 years
Students in Cortni Junko’s class at Children’s School of Washington pose with a Washington fire truck in this 2016 photo.
A Children’s School class photo from the early 1980s, with teachers Fran Ingram (back row, fourth from left) and Susan Hartger.
Numbers, letters, colors and shapes. Sharing, playing and helping.
Over 46 years, some things, like the curriculum at the Children’s School of Washington, don’t really change.
“It really is about the kids and making sure they have a positive school experience before moving on to the next phase,” said director and teacher Cortni Junko.
A Washington institution since 1971, the preschool will close at the end of this school year.
Junko said the board of directors has attempted for the past five years or so to increase enrollment. The small class sizes, modest tuition and competition with new low-cost and free preschool programs proved too difficult to overcome.
“We mostly focused on an interactive learning experience. Kids have the freedom to explore. Through that exploration is where they really learned,” Junko said. “It’s just really sad to close.”
In 1971, three East Washington women started the school at the old North Wade Elementary School on East Beau Street. Popularity grew, and the school moved to Trinity Episcopal Church then First Christian Church. After a fire in 1997, the school moved to First Presbyterian Church. In fall 2000, it returned to First Christian Church.
Junko, whose two children went through the program, said the tight-knit community feeling appealed to parents.
“I really fell in love with this small, child-centered feel,” Junko said. “It’s always been cooperative and encouraged parents to participate.”
The school is one of a few nonprofit, independent, nonsectarian preschools in the area offering part-time education.
“Unfortunately, there’s not the same kind of need for this type of program,” said Junko. “A lot of parents both work, and they need full-time schooling.”
In more than 40 years, the director position has changed hands only seven times – Linda Marriner, Mary Whybrew, Fran Ingram, Joan Griffin, Debbie Streeter, Nancy Cohen and Junko.
Ingram, who now lives near Cincinnati, Ohio, with her husband, said the educators have always worked to prepare the children for kindergarten in a fun way.
“I tried to provide, and they still do provide, experiences that have the children feel comfortable in a classroom and taking direction from people other than their parents,” said Ingram. “They experience that learning and school can be fun.”
Ingram said she loves to hear about former students and what they’re doing now. Among the graduates are a professional golfer, basketball player, musicians and doctors.
“We’re not taking credit for that, but they started with us,” Ingram said with a laugh. “It’s been fun just seeing what they’ve chosen to do.”
The last day of school for students will be a moving-on ceremony May 24.
“It was always fun and very busy,” Ingram said. “At times, it was very hectic but always very rewarding.”