A common thought amongst many people is that building future leaders of tomorrow starts today. Though this idea is often applied to older youth, the education one receives very early in their life is essential.
At the age of three or four many different skills and abilities are developed and it is essential for youth at this age to attend pre-school as a way to prepare for Kindergarten and socialize with other kids.
The local Carlyle Playschool, which is a cooperative school run by parents for their children, has been in existence since 1978 when a group of mothers decided to create a place for their children to participate in a pre-school atmosphere where they could develop emotionally, socially, creatively, and physically.
For 35 years the Carlyle Playschool has helped youth develop and fostered learning amongst many children, but they are now concerned for their future.
"It's been 35 years running and just now we're kind of at risk of losing it for the upcoming school year," Jennifer Deimuth, president of the Carlyle Playschool Cooperative, explained.
"To those who are aware of it, it's a huge bummer, and for the new people coming in there's not going to be anything to offer them. The school has pre-K, but they can only accept, I think it's up to 23 people max."
Upon contacting the Carlyle Elementary School it was discovered they actually have 16 fulltime spots available, although some children share a seat if they are enrolled as part-time pre-K goers.
The Carlyle Playschool offers a place for youth to go if unable to find a spot at the school's pre-K.
"We do three-year-old and four-year-old playschool here," Deimuth stated. "The four-year-olds go twice a week and then we have two three-year-old classes which are just once a week."
The classes each range in numbers with the three-year-old classes seeing approximately six to a class and the four-year-olds in a class of 12. Thus, it is an essential part of Carlyle's education of youth though it is run by parents outside the school system.
Currently the Carlyle Playschool is located in the basement of the Full Gospel Church, but with the church looking to renovate the area with an unknown date of completion, there is concern over the inability to find a space for next year.
Their final day in the Full Gospel Church is Friday, June 13, and the church would appreciate them moving their things as soon as possible in order to begin the renovations. Though it is unfortunate they are having to leave the church, Deimuth says they are nothing but grateful for the church's support over the years and that the Carlyle Playschool understands their want to renovate.
"We want to express our gratitude and appreciation to the Full Gospel Church for allowing us to rent their facility for the last four years." Deimuth stated. "They're just doing renovations and upgrading themselves."
The issue, however, has been in finding a new place to go.
"We've been trying to figure this out since January but we've been up and down Main Street, taking down numbers of vacant buildings, hunting people down to find out who owns them," Deimuth explained of their ordeal. "We're renting here right now, we're able to rent, just not at the prices Main Street wants, so we've tried a couple other churches in town and they're just not ready for us to be in their location."
Deimuth explained that the United Church once housed the Playschool, but upon contacting them discovered the basement there needs to be renovated before they would be able to enter the room it was once housed in.
The type of facility they are looking for is ultimately an open room with easy access to a washroom.
"We would need a play area: we do crafts and have our craft tables, we have snack time, and circle time as well," Deimuth said as she explained the basement of the Full Gospel Church has been amazing, but they could function in a smaller area.
"It's good to have craft time and circle time, but in the dead of winter these kids want to move and it shows, so it would be nice to have something [big enough] to kind of get physical as well and get some exercise into these kids as well."
Though hopeful in January of being able to find something, even if just for next year, the Carlyle Playschool Cooperative are losing faith as they continue looking.
"Back in January we were like, 'We'll find something.' 'We have lots of time.' 'Something's going to come up.' And just nothing," Deimuth explained.
"I have one lead that I'm going on right now, but I've been trying the last two weeks to get a hold of this guy it's not looking promising at this point."
What has made Deimuth even more disheartened is that Carlyle has gained the reputation of being a booming town which has attracted young families, but it is about to lose a service essential for these families.
"It's just so frustrating, that some place like Carlyle, that's supposed to be a booming family town and we're going to be losing playschool." Deimuth said disheartened by the inability to find a space at a reasonable rate. "So, hopefully we can avoid that, but it's not looking promising right now."
She has now put out the request to the public, that if anyone knows of a suitable location which would be able to provide a school-like atmosphere to contact her at (306)575-7593.
In addition to being unable to find a place, the Carlyle Playschool Cooperative is also saying goodbye to their teacher for the past two years.
"We would like to thank Mrs. Laurie Bouchard for her commitment and education she has been able to provide," Deimuth exclaimed and wishes her luck in the future.
Though they are confident in lining up a replacement playschool teacher, the Carlyle Playschool Cooperative remains concerned with a facility, which is necessary as they are unable to find a teacher or to register students for the fall without a place for them to go.
