Nursery school an early step on the learning ladder

KENT — Toys, cookies and “Tanta Sue†drew children and parents to the Kent Community Nursery School during its open house Tuesday, April 6.

Sue Vizzari, or Tanta Sue as she is better known, is director and head teacher of the program (she and her staff are looking to fill a few remaining spots for the fall of this year and will take registration through the summer). The maximum capacity for the 3-year-old class is 14, and 16 for the 4-year-old class. Both classes have been full for the past three years.

The nursery school, which has operated since 1968, focuses on teaching children social and language skills and prides itself on being a “community-based nursery school.â€

The curriculum includes math, science, pre-reading and pre-writing, free play, group activities and daily playground time outside. A music teacher comes once a month. The 4-year-olds take field trips to the firehouse and the library, and police officers and firefighters visit the 3-year-old class throughout the year.

The program is operated by three staff members: Tanta Sue, the head teacher; full-time assistant Deborah VanKeuran, who also works part-time as an assistant librarian at the Warren Public School and part-time assistant Jennifer Rux.

Many of the 14 members of the board of directors who oversee the policies of the nursery are mothers of enrolled children. The admissions director, Julie Saxton, said that the mothers pick up tasks such as organizing immunization forms.

Saxton said many parents are quick to enroll because of the engaging program and Tanta Sue, who has beenwith the school since 2001.

“Tanta is magic,†she said. “People call and ask, ‘Is this the program with Tanta Sue?’ She really has a knack for it.â€

A Kent resident of eight years, Tanta Sue has been teaching children for more than 30 years in Kansas and Connecticut and has an associate’s degree in early childhood education. Having taught for this long, Tanta Sue said she knows what the children want.

“I like teaching preschoolers because of their willingness to learn and their curiosity,†she said. “We only tweak behavior so they get along with themselves and their peers, and by the time they leave they are confident in their own personality.â€

After 40 years in operation, the nursery school is now enrolling children of parents who once attended the school.

Metta Delmore went to Kent Community Nursery School when she was 4 years old and said she has recently transfered her middle child to the nursery because of the class size, academic program and staff.

“Tanta Sue is great,†Delmore said. “She has a soft soul that the children really do well with.† She went on to say the social interaction the children get from working in a group and learning to share with peers as well as dealing with emotions is an essential life lesson that cannot really be taught at home.

The nursery school is currently accepting donations to repair the playground slide. The old slide is the same one Delmore’s father, Harry Rehnberg, bought and built 30 years ago when she attended the school.

The program runs concurrently with the Region One school schedule, from Labor Day in September through June.

The 3-year-old class, which meets Tuesdays and Thursdays from 8:30 a.m. to noon, costs $145 per month. Adding a Friday class increases the cost to $190 per month.

The 4-year-old class meets Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays from 8:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., which includes time for lunch, and costs $200 per month.

For more information about the program or how to get involved, visit kcns.org or call 860-927-1294.