HUBERTUS — When students return to St. Gabriel School after summer vacation, they will notice a change.
The building will have an added classroom.
The half-day 4-year-old kindergarten class meets a few miles away at St. Gabriel Parish in Richfield, but a need for more space and a desire to expand the program’s offerings prompted a search for a solution.
“A committee was formed to look at options for expanding our K4 program. A decision was made to purchase a modular classroom and have it installed on our school campus,” Principal Judy Mortell said.
Adding the 24-foot-by-56foot classroom was approved by the Richfield Plan Commission.
Although delivery of modular classroom is still months away, parents interested in the K4 program will have an opportunity to learn more about it and its expanded offerings at an open house from 5-7 p.m. April 10 at the Fellowship Hall at St. Gabriel Parish.
Being relocated to the school campus will have lots of advantages, 4K program teacher Cindy Skowbo said Wednesday.
“The students will be able to use the school gym and playground and be a part of the school activities,” Skowbo said.
The modular classroom will also give the K4 students something they do not have now — a secured space.
“You don’t like to think in terms of having to have secure entrances and control over who enters and leaves, but in today’s world, that is a reality. People can come and go at the church but the modular classroom at the school will be a nice, confined and safe area for the students,” Skowbo said.
Along with its new quarters, the program will undergo changes, as it will be expanded.
“We will offer options like half-day, full-day and full-day with after-school care,” Mortell said.
“I think a 4-year-old program is very important. Traditional kindergarten has changed over the last 20 years and there are more expectations of students. A K4 program exposes them to a school setting so it won’t be so overwhelming when they do go to kindergarten. It gives them a good foundation for that transition,” Skowbo said.