KITTERY, Maine — Parents in Kittery are rallying to save a preschool that has become a cornerstone for their children and the community.
Durgin Pines Pre-School, located within a senior living center, offers a one-of-a-kind program where children interact daily with the senior residents.
The preschool’s future became uncertain after administrators announced it would close on Jan. 3 due to low enrollment. However, after a wave of support from parents and community members, the school extended its closing date to March 31, giving advocates time to work on a plan to save it.
Durgin Pines Pre-School isn’t your typical early education program. Its intergenerational set-up allows kids to engage with senior residents in shared activities, fostering empathy and compassion.
"They're so affectionate and loving," one of the residents said.
To students, the residents are affectionately known as "grand-friends."
"The love you see when the kids are together and with the grand-friends makes this program real and authentic," Durgin Pines Pre-School Director Abigail Wheeler said.
Wheeler said the closure announcement hit hard.
"I was devastated," she admitted. "This is a place I’ve worked for the last three years and poured my heart and soul into."
Jennifer Campos, a parent, said the preschool offers her son much more than academics.
"My son is getting a much more enriching education here and social skills," Campos emphasized.
Campos has become one of many who doesn't want to send her children anywhere else.
Durgin Pines Administrator Michelle Belhumeur said they never wanted to close but they just didn't have enough students enrolled and the decision became out of their hands.
"It's been a pattern for many years and we just thought we couldn't turn it around," Belhumeur said.
Hearing that, the parents decided to step in and hold a meeting with school administrators earlier this week, offering to take an active role in increasing enrollment. Their ideas include a revamped marketing plan to highlight the preschool’s impact on children and the elderly alike.
"We want to show the community how wonderful this program is," Campos said. "It benefits both the children and the residents."
The efforts to raise awareness are already paying off. Belhumeur said the school has seen an influx of inquiries.
"We’ve had so many calls from families interested in enrolling their children," she shared.
While the school remains on a tight deadline, Wheeler is optimistic about the community’s efforts.
"Seeing everybody come together and sharing what a special place this is creates a ripple effect I don’t think people fully understand," Wheeler said.
For now, the school is focused on spreading the word and driving up enrollment. If their efforts succeed, this unique intergenerational program may continue to thrive, benefiting both children and seniors in the Kittery community.