Kids Down South returns to the 200 Hall

After months of hard work, the Kids Down South preschool – located in the 200 Hall – is officially back for its first full year since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic. Kids Down South is a safe place for the children of staff and students to learn while they go about their day.

In January, preschool teacher Laura Lam started working to create a more enjoyable environment for young children. At the time, Lam was the only official staff member at the preschool. They were able to open in April and had two kids enrolled. Currently, they have three teachers and six toddlers ranging from 18 to 36 months.

The program mainly serves children of students, Lam has placed an emphasis on having a welcoming and supportive space. 

“I feel grateful I can curate a place that makes young parents feel like they aren’t being judged,” Lam said, “and they know that their child is getting all the love.” 

Going into preschool is a significant adjustment for many kids, and students should be aware of that. 

“I think that community-building is really important,” Lam said, “so whenever a child first starts, they are so extremely unsure of everyone and the waves of teenages going from class to class. The best thing is when the kids start to feel confident here and love to engage with the staff and students.”

South students can help the toddlers thrive by smiling and waving to them when they pass. 

“Being in a hallway with all the big teenagers can be a little intimidating, and we want the toddlers to feel safe and welcomed here,” Lam said.

Sigi Faste, a South junior this year who attended the preschool when she was younger, said she remembers thinking the high schoolers were so old compared to her. 

“I thought they were the same age as my parents,” she said. “And I totally looked up to them more than I think any of them realized.”

Even though the school year has just started, there are already lots of memories being made. 

“We have kids that start to recognize South staff and want to give them a sweet snuggle,” Lam recalled. “We even have kids that remember Mike at the cafeteria, and when they get hungry, they just start chanting, ‘Mike, Mike, Mike!’”

Preschool is a huge milestone in a lot of children’s lives, and Kids Down South has many past students with fond memories. 

“It was so fun and just a really nice place to make connections for the future,” Faste said.

The program also hopes to collaborate with the Child Development class at South once they get fully established so that the toddlers and the students can have a chance to interact and form bonds with each other.

Lam is committed to making the program as robust and accepting as possible for all students and children enrolled.

Article by Jada Jones