Generations of laughter echoed through Woodside Nursery School on Saturday afternoon as the Klem Road landmark celebrated 70 years of early childhood education. From toddlers to grandparents, dozens of former students, family members and friends gathered for a nostalgic afternoon of cotton candy, balloon art, and a photo retrospective spanning seven decades of school history.
Woodside Nursery School, located on Klem Rd., was founded in 1956 as a non-profit, non-sectarian, co-operative nursery school. Its nature as a “co-operative” school distinguishes it from traditional childcare centers, as the school is owned and administered by the parents as a non-profit organization. They work together to hire trained teachers and a program coordinator, while the parents themselves participate as teacher assistants.
Because of its parent-run structure, families are deeply involved in the classroom on a rotating basis, which fosters a kind of “second home” atmosphere for students. The core philosophy is focused on “learning by doing,” utilizing activities like “magic gardening” and process-oriented art to build confidence and curiosity…