Overbrook Preschool and Kindergarten

Dear OPK Community,
Please see the message below for the latest update on Overbrook Preschool and Kindergarten. It is with a heavy heart that I provide you with this information.
Thank you,
Jennifer Ross

In April, when church leaders decided to close the school at the end of the 2024/2025 school year, we hoped to recruit enough students to maintain our classroom standards of play-based education for one final year. We are sad to inform you that with only nine students enrolled, we have been unable to meet our enrollment goals. The church's executive body has decided to close the preschool by the end of the summer. We made this decision now to allow families and teachers enough time to find options for the coming school year. All deposits and tuition payments will be refunded immediately.

We understand that this news comes with sadness and anxiety for our families and students. We are committed to helping each enrolled family find a new placement for their child. We have contacted many preschools in the area and compiled a list of available options. Additionally, we will be in contact with families that were set to receive financial aid for this coming year to talk about aid options in new schools.

The church is also working with the teachers to help find them placements in new jobs. We have also compiled a list of available openings in our area and will provide recommendations as teachers find new employment. After a difficult season of disruption, we will also provide year-end bonuses for our teachers.

Though the school is closing, we remain committed to celebrating its rich legacy and honoring all the teachers, students, and parents who have made it so special. We will begin planning these celebrations in the fall, and we look forward to your participation in these events.

Finally, we express our gratitude for your support and care. Your commitment to our school has been inspiring. Thank you and we wish you every good blessing.

With gratitude,
The Session of Overbrook Presbyterian Church and the Rev. Dr. Adam Hearlson

By helping kids engage with , adults can learn a few things. Children tend to be open-minded, so they often find we overlook. They’re also more willing to lie in a field of flowers or crawl through mud to search for great subjects. So while we might help them learn about photography, kids can teach us to see the world in new ways.

Some tips to help your child with their nature photos are:

1. Understand the subject. By learning about how animals behave, budding photographers will be better prepared to capture the moment critters spring into action. Websites such as bumblebeewatch.org, iNaturalist.org and bugguide.net can help identify species and explain wildlife behaviours.

2. Learn to see. Seasoned nature photographers will wait hours to get that great shot, but kids often must learn to slow down. Pick a spot in your yard or a nearby park. Then, ask your young photographer to sit still and really observe what is before them for a full 10 minutes before taking a photo.

3. Write with the right light. The word photography means “writing with light.” The best lighting is often during the morning or afternoon when the angle of the sun will make colours richer and warmer. Before shooting, confirm that the sun is either behind your kids by checking that their shadows are pointing toward the subject, or lighting the subject from the side.

4. Get down to their level. Ninety-nine percent of all life on Earth is smaller than an index finger— which makes us giants! By getting down to a subject’s level, your kids can see the world from its point of view and capture a better image.

5. Freeze motion. One of photography’s superpowers is to freeze time and motion. Rather than just photographing a butterfly resting on a flower, encourage your kids to try to capture an image of the insect in flight, suspended in midair. To increase chances of success, have them start shooting photos while an animal is resting and then continue pressing the shutter until it moves.

6. Take in the whole picture. Kids can easily get so caught up in an animal’s antics that they don’t notice what else will be captured in a photo. Branches jutting into the frame’s edge or a very uneven horizon line can be distracting and can’t always be cropped out. So tell your eager protégé to pause and frame both the subject and the background in the shot whenever possible.

7. Reveal hidden wonders. Use studio techniques in the field to create portraits of wildlife that reveal their spectacular details without any other distractions. Position a piece of white plastic such as a thin cutting board so that it can be lit from behind with a portable light and in front with a flash or direct sunlight. Gently place an insect or other small animal on the white board and take the photograph quickly before allowing the creature to safely fly or crawl away.

Your child will enjoy exploring the world around them and all the natural treasures within it. And you will enjoy the rare chance to experience the world through the eyes of your child.

References:
https://www.nwf.org/.../Jun.../PhotoZone/Photo-Tips-For-Kids

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Aaaaaaaand, we’ve got chicks!

We still have spaces available in our 2,3 and 4 year old classes for the 2024-25 school year. Please reach out if you are interested in having your child join our play-based preschool!

We are so grateful for Llanerch Presbyterian Preschool as we begin our journey back to OPK.

OPK will be closed today due to the forecasted winter storm. Stay safe and warm.

We are thrilled to announce that we have found temporary relocation accommodations for our school! The Presbyterian Church of Llanerch has so generously reached out to us to offer space at the Llanerch Presbyterian Preschool. We are beyond grateful and are getting ready to see everyone again on Monday!

Many of you have reached out asking how to donate to our community. We thank you for your consideration and generosity during this challenging time.

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