PRESQUE ISLE, Maine — After first opening their doors to local families last year, Planet Recess Educational Center has begun a new chapter at a larger, more open building that formerly housed the Cornerstone Christian Academy.
Planet Recess serves children from ages 6 months to 12 years, and provides before- and after-school care, early childhood skills programming and daycare for toddlers and infants. Longtime pre-K educator Jackie Hughes opened Planet Recess in September 2018 at the new Stone Ridge Event Center, which she formerly managed, on Maysville Road in Presque Isle.
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- Thomas Cyr (left), Edison Jarrett and Ryker Summerlin (right) are all smiles while playing during recess at Planet Recess Educational Center, now located at 180 Houlton Road in Presque Isle. (Staff photo/Melissa Lizotte)
Hughes said that she and staff members began looking for a new location in hopes of providing children with private classroom space, a larger playground area and more opportunities to interact with children within their own age groups. While their former space at Stone Ridge was 4,000 square feet, the building at 180 Houlton Road is 10,000 square feet and sits on 12 acres of land.
Planet Recess has operated in its new location since July and employs 16 teachers. Staff members have used the structure of the former Cornerstone school to their advantage, creating colorful artwork along the walls and supplying each classroom with the proper educational tools for each grade level.
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- This classroom for elementary students is one of many that is tailored to specific age levels at the new Planet Recess Education Center location on 180 Houlton Road in Presque Isle. (Staff photo/Melissa Lizotte)
The daycare currently has 80 children enrolled and includes classrooms and play areas for infants, toddlers, pre-K children and elementary students. Hughes said that she and the teachers are putting the finishing touches on the pre-K rooms, which are a recent addition to Planet Recess.
“We’re going to offer three different pre-K sessions: Monday-Friday, a Monday-Wednesday-Friday session and a Tuesday-Thursday session, all from 8 to 11 a.m.,” Hughes said. “We also have the ability to do extended pre-K days for anyone interested.”
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- Colorful artwork painted by the teachers of Planet Recess Education Center decorates the hallways of the daycare’s new location on 180 Houlton Road in Presque Isle. (Staff photo/Melissa Lizotte)
During the day teachers focus on providing individualized curriculum based on each child’s needs that incorporates lessons on early literacy, STEM subjects, social and emotional skills, arts and crafts and physical activity. Planet Recess provides daily breakfasts, lunches, snacks and recess periods and hosts parent involvement activities on a monthly basis.
Among the new additions to Planet Recess are a larger playground that features separate areas for toddlers, pre-K and elementary children, a nature trail and a soon-to-be-completed basketball court.
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- Colorful artwork painted by the teachers of Planet Recess Education Center decorates the hallways of the daycare’s new location on 180 Houlton Road in Presque Isle. (Staff photo/Melissa Lizotte)
Inside, staff members are working to build a small interloan library and put together an auditorium space for children to perform plays and holiday-themed productions. Next summer, the staff plans to add an outdoor vegetable garden that the children will help grow and maintain.
Hughes noted that the larger location will allow Planet Recess to potentially serve 160 children and expand the type of special activities offered.
“The reactions from families have all been very positive. People like the atmosphere and the fact that we’re only two miles out of town but still away from the busy city traffic,” Hughes said.
Folks who would like information on Planet Recess Educational Center can contact Hughes at (207) 498-0829 or message the daycare’s Facebook page.
