The preschool began with the idea that all children deserved a positive early education experience. Scholarships were included; outreach and volunteerism blossomed to get the school off the ground. Today, the preschool (now known as Cazenovia Community Preschool) continues with those same ideas, and the school has grown exponentially.
“The board members 40 years ago were a progressively-minded group of individuals working to meet the needs of the community,” said Kelli Johnson, Former Chairperson and Current Board Member. “The current Board’s mission remains the same. As the needs of the community change, we strive to adapt and offer more to meet demand.”
Currently, one area that CCP is working to expand is its capacity to fully include children with special needs.
“There is a considerable void of options in Madison County,” Johnson said. “We’d like to help fill that void by creating an environment at CCP that can not only accommodate, but enrich the early educational experience of all children.”
The program has tripled in size in the last nine years, thanks in part to a relationship with Cazenovia College, who leases the program’s current space at the corner of Lincklaen and Nickerson Streets. In addition to two Pre-K classes, a 3-year-old class, and a new multi-age class, CCP plays host to a variety of educational classes and camps. The Summer Reading program (serving children in grades K-4), Kindergarten Enrichment Camps focusing on the arts, science, and literacy, and Sensational Baby (a touch communication class for parents of infants age 8 weeks to 12 months) are some of the options open to the community at CCP.
In celebration of CCP’s Ruby Anniversary, a cocktail gala will be held on Friday Oct. 23, at the Lincklaen House. The theme is “40 years of CCP, How Sweet It Is”. The public is invited to attend and enjoy sweets, appetizers and cash bar. CCP will be honoring some of the volunteers of the school, past and present. Golden boxes of gourmet truffles will be offered for sale, with one box containing a pair of Ruby Earrings generously donated by Susan Machamer of Cazenovia Jewelry.
Tickets are $15 per person and are available by calling the preschool at 655-7234.
Kara Judd-Litera works for the Cazenovia Community Preschool Program. For more information, call 655-7234.
