In April 1973, a parent dinner meeting was held in celebration of our twenty-fifth anniversary. Mrs. Mazenauer, one of the original founders of our school was present. The guest speaker was Marion Klingel, Grand Island’s Town Historian. Her speech follows:
The Grand Island Nursery School is a fine example of what can be accomplished in a community when even a handful of people see a need and then do something about it.
Need for preschool education was recognized by a few mothers back in 1948 when the town’s official population had not yet reached 3,000. Today it’s five times that amount and the project in which they became involved then has grown until now it is recognized as one of Grand Island’s most outstanding.
The title Grand Island Nursery School may not have entered the minds of those few mothers who at first considered meeting as a study group and to coffee klatch as their children enjoyed a few hours of cooperative play in the Mazenauer home on Oakfield Road.
Actually, though, their meetings centered more around having their little tots benefit from play periods with someone besides mother or older sisters or brothers. You see, homes on the island then were few and far apart in comparison with today’s subdivision, apartment projects and suburban rather than rural areas of development.
This was 1948, remember, just a year after the town’s first kindergarten opened in Sidway School - then Grand Island’s only school, and only 11 years old. Kaegebein School opened in 1953 And Huth Road in 1958. By 1950 Grand Island Nursery School was well on the way to hiring its first teacher, Miss Woepple. Its activities were moved first to the boardroom of the old town hall and then into the old fire hall. I say old because both have since been demolished and replaced by out present buildings. In 1953, Grand Island Nursery School moved into its present quarters, here in Trinity Church.
To be commended on the 25th anniversary are those pioneers who worked so hard to get the school functioning in an orderly manner. Bake sales were held to raise money, toys were solicited and renovated, and other equipment gathered and repaired to set up what has now grown to be one of the area’s finest nursery schools.
Mrs. Mary Parks, then head of the Nursery School Dept. at the University of Buffalo, gave professional advice. Mrs. David Kinton, teacher-director from 1952-1960, is another dedicated person to remember. It was during her time that the school became a practice center for student teachers—a giant step from those first sessions of playtime held in the Mazenauer home.
In 1960 the school was incorporated by the New York State Dept. of Education and Mrs. Daniel Barkow became teacher-director. Mrs. David Rosenberg followed her from 1961 to 1963. Now we come to 1963 when Mrs. Isabel Allen became teacher-director, and continued to lead the way for 22 years.
Truly, Grand Island Nursery School has come a long way during the past 25 years and we hope it will continue to grow as the island expands until some day you will need a building all of your own. But meanwhile, how lucky to have Trinity Church keep its doors open to our little people. After all, Trinity is one of the Island’s two oldest established congregations so what better place to have our youngsters housed as they start on the road to education.
Going back again to 1958 - the school installed a new board of directors and celebrated its 10th anniversary in May of that year - in Creighton’s Edgewater Hotel, a delightful place for family affairs. Now it is the Silver Dollar Saloon on East River Road.
Just one more thing, Mrs. Shofner, now deceased, was the Mrs. Mazenauer who opened her home for those first nursery school kids in 1948. Her two boys, Peter and Skip(Mr. Penny Saver) are probably two of the school’s oldest alumni members. She also has a grandson and granddaughter who have also attended classes at our nursery school.
Also at that 25th anniversary dinner, a plaque, which now hangs on the wall at the Nursery School, was dedicated to give thanks and recognition to our founders. That the names of these eight couples may not be forgotten by those who now reap the benefit of their hard work, we record them here again in grateful acknowledgment:
Mr. & Mrs. Paul Brobeil
Mr. & Mrs. Arthur Mazenauer
Mr. & Mrs. Wilbert Janke
Mr. & Mrs. Chester Daggett
Mr. & Mrs. Michael Quinn
Mr. & Mrs. Christopher Cotter
Mr. & Mrs. John Wheeler
Mr. & Mrs. Frederick Strauss
In June 1985, a most dedicated woman, Mrs. Isabel Allen retired as our Director/Teacher, a position she held for 22 years. In the Fall of 1985, Mrs. Barbara Macaluso, the teacher of the 4 year old class also retired. Mrs. Bonnie Janowsky and Mrs. Anne Jarzab were on their own and had a tremendous effect on our children as well as our school.
In June 1988, Bonnie Janowsky became our Director/Teacher. Joining her was Marty Schuh, who was with the school for 10 years. Mrs. Vicki Wilkinson joined our school in 1987 and in 2005 became our new Director/Teacher after the retirement of Bonnie Janowsky. That same year we welcomed two new teachers, Mrs. Nancy Major and Ms. Julie Estenoz.
Today, the school is under the leadership of Director Vicki Wilkinson and teacher assistants Yolandi Oelofse and Sarah Gasbarro. Together, they continue the long history of excellence and caring for our children.
The Grand Island Nursery School is a fine example of what can be accomplished in a community when even a handful of people see a need and then do something about it.
Need for preschool education was recognized by a few mothers back in 1948 when the town’s official population had not yet reached 3,000. Today it’s five times that amount and the project in which they became involved then has grown until now it is recognized as one of Grand Island’s most outstanding.
The title Grand Island Nursery School may not have entered the minds of those few mothers who at first considered meeting as a study group and to coffee klatch as their children enjoyed a few hours of cooperative play in the Mazenauer home on Oakfield Road.
Actually, though, their meetings centered more around having their little tots benefit from play periods with someone besides mother or older sisters or brothers. You see, homes on the island then were few and far apart in comparison with today’s subdivision, apartment projects and suburban rather than rural areas of development.
This was 1948, remember, just a year after the town’s first kindergarten opened in Sidway School - then Grand Island’s only school, and only 11 years old. Kaegebein School opened in 1953 And Huth Road in 1958. By 1950 Grand Island Nursery School was well on the way to hiring its first teacher, Miss Woepple. Its activities were moved first to the boardroom of the old town hall and then into the old fire hall. I say old because both have since been demolished and replaced by out present buildings. In 1953, Grand Island Nursery School moved into its present quarters, here in Trinity Church.
To be commended on the 25th anniversary are those pioneers who worked so hard to get the school functioning in an orderly manner. Bake sales were held to raise money, toys were solicited and renovated, and other equipment gathered and repaired to set up what has now grown to be one of the area’s finest nursery schools.
Mrs. Mary Parks, then head of the Nursery School Dept. at the University of Buffalo, gave professional advice. Mrs. David Kinton, teacher-director from 1952-1960, is another dedicated person to remember. It was during her time that the school became a practice center for student teachers—a giant step from those first sessions of playtime held in the Mazenauer home.
In 1960 the school was incorporated by the New York State Dept. of Education and Mrs. Daniel Barkow became teacher-director. Mrs. David Rosenberg followed her from 1961 to 1963. Now we come to 1963 when Mrs. Isabel Allen became teacher-director, and continued to lead the way for 22 years.
Truly, Grand Island Nursery School has come a long way during the past 25 years and we hope it will continue to grow as the island expands until some day you will need a building all of your own. But meanwhile, how lucky to have Trinity Church keep its doors open to our little people. After all, Trinity is one of the Island’s two oldest established congregations so what better place to have our youngsters housed as they start on the road to education.
Going back again to 1958 - the school installed a new board of directors and celebrated its 10th anniversary in May of that year - in Creighton’s Edgewater Hotel, a delightful place for family affairs. Now it is the Silver Dollar Saloon on East River Road.
Just one more thing, Mrs. Shofner, now deceased, was the Mrs. Mazenauer who opened her home for those first nursery school kids in 1948. Her two boys, Peter and Skip(Mr. Penny Saver) are probably two of the school’s oldest alumni members. She also has a grandson and granddaughter who have also attended classes at our nursery school.
Also at that 25th anniversary dinner, a plaque, which now hangs on the wall at the Nursery School, was dedicated to give thanks and recognition to our founders. That the names of these eight couples may not be forgotten by those who now reap the benefit of their hard work, we record them here again in grateful acknowledgment:
Mr. & Mrs. Paul Brobeil
Mr. & Mrs. Arthur Mazenauer
Mr. & Mrs. Wilbert Janke
Mr. & Mrs. Chester Daggett
Mr. & Mrs. Michael Quinn
Mr. & Mrs. Christopher Cotter
Mr. & Mrs. John Wheeler
Mr. & Mrs. Frederick Strauss
In June 1985, a most dedicated woman, Mrs. Isabel Allen retired as our Director/Teacher, a position she held for 22 years. In the Fall of 1985, Mrs. Barbara Macaluso, the teacher of the 4 year old class also retired. Mrs. Bonnie Janowsky and Mrs. Anne Jarzab were on their own and had a tremendous effect on our children as well as our school.
In June 1988, Bonnie Janowsky became our Director/Teacher. Joining her was Marty Schuh, who was with the school for 10 years. Mrs. Vicki Wilkinson joined our school in 1987 and in 2005 became our new Director/Teacher after the retirement of Bonnie Janowsky. That same year we welcomed two new teachers, Mrs. Nancy Major and Ms. Julie Estenoz.
Today, the school is under the leadership of Director Vicki Wilkinson and teacher assistants Yolandi Oelofse and Sarah Gasbarro. Together, they continue the long history of excellence and caring for our children.
