Newton nursery school celebrates 75 years

By Caitlin Castello, Town Correspondent

The Second Church Nursery School opened its doors in 1934, and in some ways, not much has changed since then.

“Children are still children, thank goodness,” said director Elinor Dare. “Play is still serious.”

Located in West Newton, the members of the Second Church in Newton, United Church of Christ started a nursery school 75 years ago and it has mushroomed, said Dare. Families come from all over Newton, as well as Waltham and Needham, she said.

“That’s the sort of thing that we’ve been lucky enough to build, up a reputation,” said Dare. “They want for their children, what they had. What their parents chose from them.”

Dare has been the director of Second Church Nursery School for 22 years, and she taught at the school for 17 years before that. She plans a full day of activities including reading, dance, drama, music and basketball. Even though 39 years have passed since she was hired, she feels some fundamental aspects of the classroom should never change.

“We still have easels, we still have sand tables, we still have water tables, we still have blocks, all the things you have had 39 years ago in the classroom. I think they are important,” said Dare. “We have evolved with the times, of course. They are talking about things that 39 years we didn’t [have]. We didn’t have keyboards in the room 39 years ago. There are keyboards in there now, it’s different.”

The mission of the school is to meet the social and emotional growth of a child in an individual way and for Dare, nursery school is key to a child's learning and transition to other schooling.

“It’s highly important for them. If for nothing else but they learn how to behave in a line, how to wait their turn, how to negotiate skills, and how to use their words. So when they get into the public school setting it just comes to them automatically,” said Dare.

Trying to build a sense of community is another goal for the nursery as well as creating a comfortable environment for the children.

“School should be the extension of family,” said Dare. "Next to family and parents, school and teachers should be the next plateau for a child to feel comfortable. And they after that they friends become so important.”

Along with a sense of community, the affiliation with the church is one of the reasons the school has been able to last for the 75 years, said Dare.

“I am very proud it’s 75 years old, that I have been here a length a time, that I am as lucky as I have been to come to this school,” said Dare. “I have the best of it. I am a lucky lady.”

Caitlin Castello can be reached at caitlincastello@gmail.com