A new addition at St. Joseph School this year is the preschool. Led by teacher Mary Townsley and aide Lori Machovec, two classes of 16 children attend half-day sessions Monday through Friday. St. Joe’s preschool is the only faith-based preschool in DeWitt.
The year has been busy. Classes visit the local library monthly for story time and an opportunity for the children to select books for the classroom. The young students have also partnered with the fourth- and fifth-grade classes to be reading buddies, in which the older students select books and read them to the preschoolers. This activity promotes the sense of family and belonging so prevalent at St. Joe’s. The preschoolers receive personal attention while a story is read and the older children practice their reading skills while nurturing someone younger.
There are regular visits from Jessica Steines, an interpretive naturalist from Clinton County. She and others have helped the children develop many skills, both academic and social.
