Westminster Nursery School
A letter sent July 16, 2018:
It is with great sadness and heavy hearts that we officially announce the closure of Westminster Nursery School.
This was not an easy decision for the Westminster Nursery School Board, but was necessary due to financial reasons. This decision was made in full appreciation of the long history of Westminster Nursery School, its impact on the community, the great work and loving devotion of the staff, and the responsibility of the board to fulfill its duties and responsibilities.
Even as we close the doors of WNS, we hold open the doors of Westminster Church, which remains committed to the dream of an education that awakens the faith, imagination, moral capacity, and intelligence of our children. We will not allow that dream to disappear. Already we are in the process of hiring a part-time children's and youth ministry coordinator to help lead our growing church, and were thrilled to receive a grant from the Synod of the Northeast to help in this endeavor. We are excited to see new families, children, and youth engaging their faith through Westminster—under a new vision of mission-oriented, spiritually formative, relevant, and inclusive ministry.
Even as we grieve the closure of WNS, Westminster Church is actively exploring how we can further that dream through exciting programs that serve the needs of the modern family. WNS served those needs for 66 years. We invite you to help us imagine what will serve those needs for the next 66 years.
We believe that WNS may have been the first nursery school to open in Auburn—founded by Westminster Presbyterian Church in 1952 with a desire to offer a family-focused, creative environment that readied children for kindergarten, encouraged learning through play, taught essential life values, and welcomed each child with love. Even after WNS separately incorporated, in order to make its own independent decisions, Westminster Church and WNS continued to partner closely for the education and welfare of the children of Auburn. We are proud of recent creative initiatives such as yoga and kindergym. And we are even prouder of the faithful, innovative efforts by staff, board members, and church leaders to save WNS.
I want to thank in particular Tracy Blair, who has directed WNS with passion, devotion, and creativity. I also want to thank the amazing church members who have served on the WNS board and have fought for WNS with love: Marilyn Durbin-Lavin, Judy Foresman, and Elizabeth Verdi.
When it became apparent about two years ago that Westminster Nursery School’s enrollment had been reduced dramatically due to the competition of free UPK and 3PK classes, and to the increased need for full-day programs, and to changing demographics, WNS and the church rallied to find creative solutions, believing that WNS still offered something unique and precious to the community. Following extensive conversations among WNS and church leaders, we launched a comprehensive marketing and funds-development campaign, along with exciting new programmatic offerings. We explored alternatives, such as becoming a full-day program. Westminster Church even voted to waive all property and utility fees, while church members donated funds for scholarships for families in need of assistance.
Eventually, however, it became apparent that WNS simply could not keep up with the changing culture. WNS determined that changing to day care or full-day nursery school would sacrifice what made WNS special to begin with, and would probably still not save the program, given that even full-day programs are struggling to meet enrollment.
We had hoped to continue through the 2018-19 school year, until funds were exhausted; however, knowledge of our impending closure understandably led staff to seek other employment. Now, without the staff who make the school so special, the WNS Board has unanimously decided to close immediately. Westminster Church stands by the decisions of the WNS Board, as it always has.
Families were notified by telephone and by letter, and steps are being taken to dissolve the school. WNS is helping families make the transition to new placements, and is working with the district in this process. WNS also has notified the area preschools of its closure. All registration fees are being refunded. The school's scholarship funds will still be used to assist deserving families with financial aid at other schools. Other financial assets and property assets will revert to church ownership. There are still many questions to be answered about future plans for the school wing, and we will keep you informed as we know more.
We understand and share in the sadness this closure brings, but would like to focus on the amazing program that WNS was for the past 66 years. We are working on a remembrance and celebration during worship, tentatively scheduled for Sunday, September 30th, to give time for reflection and sharing of all the wonderful memories that we have. An open-house reception would follow. As this celebration gets finalized, we will share the event information, so that those who would like to join us can make plans to do so.
For now, please pray for the staff, families, and board of the school.
"See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it?" (Isaiah 43;19)
In grace and peace,
Rev. Patrick D. Heery
It is with great sadness and heavy hearts that we officially announce the closure of Westminster Nursery School.
This was not an easy decision for the Westminster Nursery School Board, but was necessary due to financial reasons. This decision was made in full appreciation of the long history of Westminster Nursery School, its impact on the community, the great work and loving devotion of the staff, and the responsibility of the board to fulfill its duties and responsibilities.
Even as we close the doors of WNS, we hold open the doors of Westminster Church, which remains committed to the dream of an education that awakens the faith, imagination, moral capacity, and intelligence of our children. We will not allow that dream to disappear. Already we are in the process of hiring a part-time children's and youth ministry coordinator to help lead our growing church, and were thrilled to receive a grant from the Synod of the Northeast to help in this endeavor. We are excited to see new families, children, and youth engaging their faith through Westminster—under a new vision of mission-oriented, spiritually formative, relevant, and inclusive ministry.
Even as we grieve the closure of WNS, Westminster Church is actively exploring how we can further that dream through exciting programs that serve the needs of the modern family. WNS served those needs for 66 years. We invite you to help us imagine what will serve those needs for the next 66 years.
We believe that WNS may have been the first nursery school to open in Auburn—founded by Westminster Presbyterian Church in 1952 with a desire to offer a family-focused, creative environment that readied children for kindergarten, encouraged learning through play, taught essential life values, and welcomed each child with love. Even after WNS separately incorporated, in order to make its own independent decisions, Westminster Church and WNS continued to partner closely for the education and welfare of the children of Auburn. We are proud of recent creative initiatives such as yoga and kindergym. And we are even prouder of the faithful, innovative efforts by staff, board members, and church leaders to save WNS.
I want to thank in particular Tracy Blair, who has directed WNS with passion, devotion, and creativity. I also want to thank the amazing church members who have served on the WNS board and have fought for WNS with love: Marilyn Durbin-Lavin, Judy Foresman, and Elizabeth Verdi.
When it became apparent about two years ago that Westminster Nursery School’s enrollment had been reduced dramatically due to the competition of free UPK and 3PK classes, and to the increased need for full-day programs, and to changing demographics, WNS and the church rallied to find creative solutions, believing that WNS still offered something unique and precious to the community. Following extensive conversations among WNS and church leaders, we launched a comprehensive marketing and funds-development campaign, along with exciting new programmatic offerings. We explored alternatives, such as becoming a full-day program. Westminster Church even voted to waive all property and utility fees, while church members donated funds for scholarships for families in need of assistance.
Eventually, however, it became apparent that WNS simply could not keep up with the changing culture. WNS determined that changing to day care or full-day nursery school would sacrifice what made WNS special to begin with, and would probably still not save the program, given that even full-day programs are struggling to meet enrollment.
We had hoped to continue through the 2018-19 school year, until funds were exhausted; however, knowledge of our impending closure understandably led staff to seek other employment. Now, without the staff who make the school so special, the WNS Board has unanimously decided to close immediately. Westminster Church stands by the decisions of the WNS Board, as it always has.
Families were notified by telephone and by letter, and steps are being taken to dissolve the school. WNS is helping families make the transition to new placements, and is working with the district in this process. WNS also has notified the area preschools of its closure. All registration fees are being refunded. The school's scholarship funds will still be used to assist deserving families with financial aid at other schools. Other financial assets and property assets will revert to church ownership. There are still many questions to be answered about future plans for the school wing, and we will keep you informed as we know more.
We understand and share in the sadness this closure brings, but would like to focus on the amazing program that WNS was for the past 66 years. We are working on a remembrance and celebration during worship, tentatively scheduled for Sunday, September 30th, to give time for reflection and sharing of all the wonderful memories that we have. An open-house reception would follow. As this celebration gets finalized, we will share the event information, so that those who would like to join us can make plans to do so.
For now, please pray for the staff, families, and board of the school.
"See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it?" (Isaiah 43;19)
In grace and peace,
Rev. Patrick D. Heery