Kentwood — Preschoolers checked out their new school for the first time earlier this week, walking through the child-sized entrance door, snuggling up with books in the many nooks and crannies and playing in the museum-style room called the Imagination Station.
About 290 students in the Great Start Readiness Program and the district’s Early Childhood Special Education program are attending school at the new Kentwood Early Childhood Center, 200 60th St. SE, next to Townline Elementary School. GSRP is the state-funded preschool program operated by Kent ISD in Kent County, with classrooms located in many different buildings.
Four new preschoolers wearing hard hats and construction vests helped cut the ribbon on Monday during a ceremony with parents, teachers, administrators and Board of Education members. It was the grand opening of the “home of the little Falcons,” as Director of Early Childhood Teressa Gatza called it.
‘It is super empowering that we have this gift to do early childhood so well. Everything is specific to a young learner.’
— Director of Early Childhood Teressa Gatza
Carter Ross, 4, who helped cut the ribbon, talked about his first day: “I played on the playground. I sang a song. I found my cubby and I put my backpack in it.”
Designed and constructed by TowerPinkster and Fritz Wahlfield Construction, the 40,000-square-foot Early Childhood Center was funded by the $192 million bond passed in 2021. It expands district preschool offerings to meet needs in the growing community: Kentwood Public Schools’ enrollment was 9,430 students last school year, up from 8,823 in 2012-2013, according to data from CEPI Student Enrollment Counts.
“It is super empowering that we have this gift to do early childhood so well. Everything is specific to a young learner,” Gatza said. “Every decision was made with those little kids in mind … Everything is at their level, from classroom materials to play equipment.”
A Growing Community
Kentwood Public Schools is one of just three districts in Kent County experiencing growing enrollment, as young families move into the most diverse school district in Michigan. Michigan enrollment has declined by about 16 percent over the same period, according to CEPI Student Enrollment Counts.
KPS’ investment in early childhood also includes four preschool classrooms at Explorer Elementary and eight more planned at the new Hamilton Elementary, slated to open next school year at 3303 Breton Road SE.
Along with preschool, the new ECC will also offer other services including playgroups; home visits; and speech, occupational therapy and physical therapy service.
GSRP teacher Harmoni Garcia and her son Dewand, a preschooler, are happy they get to enjoy the building together.
“It feels really good to have a new school with new technology. Everything is up-to-date and (students) can help us with the whiteboards and they can interact with the technology here,” Garcia said. “They have new playground equipment; the classrooms are bigger with more space and they are more accessible to children.”
Most importantly, Dewand was all smiles after his first day.
“I was a little nervous at first as a mom. His teachers said he did just find making friends and playing,” Garcia said. “Today when we were done, he was like, ‘Am I going back to school again?’ It’s good to see how excited he is about school.”
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