Located in the Family and Consumer Sciences building on campus, Generations Teaching Generations is a preschool that offers education to children from six weeks old to five years old and gives education majors a chance to gain teaching experience.
The preschool has 70 enrolled students with 200 others on a waiting list to apply.
“We are a well-known preschool around the community,” Christian Samaha, director of the school, said. “It makes those of us working here proud to know we are in such high demand. At the same time though, we wish we could fit all those students. We just do not have the space for that number.”
The program, which includes teachers with degrees, student workers and education majors, offers year-round classes for young children. Younger students participate in learning activities such as nature walks and field trips.
“We engage the students through on-campus field trips,” Samaha said. “We’ve been to the post office, campus security building, and every year for Halloween the students go trick-or-treating on campus.”
Older students participate in a pre-kindergarten curriculum. Math, science, social living, Louisiana history and language arts are all taught.
“There are three- and four-year-olds here that know who our governor is. They can also name our state’s flower, insect (Bumblebee for the curious), tree and dog,” Samaha said. “Most students are more than ready to move on to kindergarten when they complete their education here. They are reading, writing sentences and journaling. This is rare for a 4-year-old to be able to do.”
Samaha said there is an annual deposit of $100 as a registration fee. Parents have the option to choose two-day sessions for $235, three-day sessions for $330 and five-day sessions for $450.
“We believe this is a reasonable cost for the quality education we have to offer,” Samaha said.
Education students who work at Generations Teaching Generations have the ability to gain experience for when they actually become teachers.
Chelsey Terrebonne, education senior, has been working for the preschool for almost two years.
“I love it,” Terrebonne said. “Once I adjusted to the routine of working here, I became attached to the students. I learned how to work with kids, and hopefully this experience will give me opportunities in the future.”
Many employees and faculty members at Nicholls have children enrolled in the program.
Jerad David, assistant director of University Printing and Design Services, had a son go through the program, and his daughter is currently enrolled.
“It is a great program,” David said. “It is convenient because I work right next to the school, and I am very impressed with the results I have seen from the schooling my children have received.”
Samaha agreed with how convenient it is to have your child enrolled at Generations Teaching Generations when you work on campus, and that parents like the ratio of teachers to students. She also said that students working there are gaining vital experience for their futures.
“I think what sets us apart is that we do not view ourselves as a daycare or babysitting service,” Samaha said. “We believe that learning takes place when you are involved, and learning can take place at any age – no matter how young one is,” Samaha said.
