Wintergreen to open ‘sensory’ preschool

Contributed photo/Payge Woodard

PRESQUE ISLE — Wintergreen Arts Center will take a creative approach to teaching children in its new preschool initiative.

The program, set to begin this fall, will offer movement, sensory stimulation, arts and crafts based classes.

“We are going to enhance these little ones through rice, sand, music, instruments (and) singing,” Wintergreen co-chair Heather Harvell says. 

The arts center currently offers programs for kids such as Toddler In Time, a program for children, up to age 3, to come out and play and explore through artistic activities. 

The preschool classes will be held four days a week at the arts center on State Street. 

Harvell says this is part of Wintergreen’s new plan to fill any gaps in the community using art. 

“Our mission here is to spread creativity throughout the county but also I think our mission is to find out what the community needs from us,” she says.

Harvell saw a need for a place to take children to prepare them for school. The preschool program will teach children to socialize and become familiar with a school-like routine.

The preschool will offer 14 spots as well as employ one new teacher and a teacher’s assistant.