Miss Agate (4s Assistant) has been working at the preschool since it was started, about 28 years ago. Her favorite thing about the preschool is the children. She loves getting to know the kids and their parents. The staff, children, and their parents become a happy family. Her favorite thing about working with the four-year-olds is that they grow so much and learn so much during the school year.
Miss Carmela (2s Teacher) has worked for 12 years as the teacher in the two-year-old class. Her favorite thing about the preschool is since it is a small school, the teachers and staff get to know each other very well, giving it a family atmosphere. In addition, the preschool is housed in a great building with a huge gym. This is a big plus for the children during the winter months. The children love their gym time! Her favorite thing about working with the twos is that she gets to be their very first teacher. She gets to see the children grow and learn so much during their first year of school. It is a rewarding experience.
Miss Jen (3s Assistant) has been working at the preschool for about 27 years. Her favorite thing about the preschool is the sense of community, the staff, the holiday celebrations, the kids, and the families. Her favorite thing about working with the fours is that they understand more, they can absorb more of what you’re trying to teach them, and they can surprise you!
Miss Anna (Director, Teacher) is new to our preschool but not to our church. She grew up in Locust Valley, graduated from Locust Valley High School and attended St Gertrude’s church. She raised 3 boys in Pennsylvania and was a middle school teacher there. She also participated with the Boy Scouts and assisted in her children's classes as much as she was able. Her focus was family and consumer science and art. She is excited to bring both of these into the 3 year old classroom. She feels that learning at this age is best done in the form of play and creativity. “They learn as they play. This is a wonderful age because over the course of the school year the children mature and learn so much. It is very rewarding to guide and be a part of their success.”
Miss Samantha (3s Assistant) has worked at the preschool for 12 years. Her favorite thing about the preschool is that as a Bayville native--and working with children throughout her life--she has had an amazing opportunity to see people she’s grown up with (or taught in the past) bring their children and grandchildren to become the next generation of St. Gertrude’s. She enjoys the wonderfully rewarding experience to be a part of growing the future of Bayville. Her favorite thing about working with the three-year-olds is that they’re great fun to work with. Their eagerness to explore new concepts, and share their developing personalities, makes each day a new experience. She strives to adapt to the learning of each child to make their daily interactions meaningful.
Miss Nicole (2s Assistant) has been working at the preschool for almost 7 years. Her favorite things about the preschool are the family-like feel, being one-on-one with the children because of the smaller class sizes, the creativity the kids show, and witnessing the wonder of learning. Her favorite thing about working with this age group specifically is the wisdom of a child’s perspective, even though they’re only two or three. She enjoys playing an important part in their development, watching them become more independent and separating from care givers; it’s a lot fun!