Discovery Preschool on the Walla Walla University campus has expanded hours to include afternoons as well as mornings. The new hours are 7:45 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Thursday. Friday is a half day with hours from 7:45 a.m. to 12:15 p.m. Children may come mornings only, afternoons only, or full days with a customizable schedule from one to five days a week.

“We offer a wonderful, inexpensive, flexible preschool program for three- to five-year-olds,” said Elizabeth Yaw, assistant director. The preschool offers a developmental program with letter and number activities, Bible and character stories, social studies and science themes, songs and art projects, and indoor and outdoor playtime. “Special celebrations and field trips are sprinkled throughout the year,” said Yaw.

Discovery Preschool is located on the lower level of Smith Hall, home of the WWU School of Education and Psychology. The dean of the school, Debbie Muthersbaugh, oversees the program. The preschool operates as a lab for WWU students studying education. Students work as assistant teachers in the program and periodically practice teaching lessons to the preschoolers as part of various WWU classes. Maxted teaches most mornings, and Yaw teaches most afternoons.

Space is available for the afternoon program from 12:30 to 5 p.m. For more information or to be added to the waiting list for mornings, contact director Stacy Maxted at Stacy.Maxted@wallawalla.edu. Applications for the program and more information are available at wallawalla.edu/preschool.

Posted Jan. 14, 2019