Written by Superintendent Brett Boggs

During the recent Connecting Education to Careers for Student Success community conversation held at Grace College, there was discussion about the barriers that prohibit people from coming to Kosciusko County to take advantage of career opportunities.  The lack of quality preschool opportunities available to families in Kosciusko County was identified as one of the most significant barriers.

The Tippecanoe Valley School Corporation (TVSC) recognized this need a couple of years ago and addressed this barrier by providing multiple quality preschool opportunities within the TVSC schools.  Mentone Elementary School is the host site of the Mentone Kindergarten Readiness Center where 40 preschool children (two classes of 20 children each) are taught by certified teachers and receive a high-quality preschool experience (at a very reasonable cost) five days a week throughout the school year.  Mentone Elementary School is also the host site of the Little Vikings Preschool.  The Little Vikings Preschool serves preschoolers with and without disabilities.  A fourth group of preschool children is served in Mentone Elementary School’s Head Start classroom.  The community of Mentone, located in Kosciusko County less than 20 minutes southwest of Warsaw, is well-served by these preschool opportunities.  Questions about any of these preschool can be answered by calling the Mentone Elementary School Office at 574-598-2590.

Through a new partnership, the Burket Educational Center will host the Jack & Jill Preschool for the first time during the 2017-2018 school year.  The Jack & Jill Preschool is a non-profit faith-based preschool that operates from 8:30 to 11:30 a.m. Monday through Wednesday, with a class on Thursdays just for students ages four and up.  The Burket Educational Center is located in the town of Burket, just 11 miles southwest of Warsaw.  For more information about the Jack & Jill Preschool call (574) 551-8086.

Akron Elementary School has been the host site of the Beaver Dam Preschool for approximately 20 years.  Sponsored by the Beaver Dam United Methodist Church, a classroom is leased annually for use by the Beaver Dam Preschool. Multiple classes for children three years of age and up are taught by a licensed preschool teacher.  Questions about the Beaver Dam Preschool may be directed to Teacher Lisa Adams at (574) 835-1811.

The Akron community is also well-served by Wee Care Day Care.  Sponsored and hosted by the Akron Church of God, Wee Care Day Care provides day care, preschool, and before and after school child care services.  Additional information may be obtained by calling Director Diane Wildermuth at (574) 598-2008.

Tippecanoe Valley recognizes the need for young children to develop the social and educational skills necessary for success in kindergarten and has addressed this need by providing a variety of quality preschool opportunities available to the families of the Tippecanoe Valley community through programs in Mentone, Burket, and Akron.