Mike Wolanin | The Republic A view of a preschool classroom at First Christian Church in downtown Columbus, Ind., Monday, Sept. 23, 2024. The preschool program at the church is celebration its 50th anniversary.
In a corner of a classroom on Monday, as part of a structured activity, 4- and 5-year-olds played astronaut, complete with makeshift suits and authentic-looking helmets.
The scene unfolded at the nonprofit First Christian Church Preschool, where leaders aim to rocket youngsters to a life of out-of-this-world faith, love and self-confidence. The downtown Columbus program, a ministry of First Christian Church, will mark its 50th anniversary with an informal celebration from 2 to 4 p.m. Sunday outdoors in the church courtyard, 531 Fifth St.
The free gathering open to all will include the local Southern Indiana Taiko drum group, bounce houses, hot dogs and chips, ice cream bars, children’s activities with Big Top Productions and more.
The school inside the church building currently teaches 59 children, including a 25 percent international population, ages 30 months to pre-kindergarten weekday mornings during the standard school year.
“We absolutely love what we do here,” said preschool director Tammy Hendricks, breaking into a smile when she heard little ones’ laughter from a classroom down the hall. “And we really love the kids.”
That explains why Hendricks has been there 24 years and preschool assistant Lana Clancy for 26 years.
With little prodding, Hendricks and Clancy will launch into the age-old, trademark “I Love First Christian Preschool” song, presented to the tune of “Take Me Out to the Ballgame.”
We love First Christian preschool.
Here we have lots of fun.
We learn our letters and numbers, too.
Look — I’ve painted a picture for you.
A moment later, as the song concluded, Hendricks even did flashy jazz hands for extra effect.
Hendricks and Clancy are strong believers in national research showing that early childhood education better prepares children for primary grades and tasks such as reading, concentration and more.
“One of the biggest things here is that they learn how to cooperate with one another in a group setting,” Hendricks said.
“And would you mention focus?” asked Clancy.
“Oh, yes,” Hendricks said. “They learn focus and and they develop the ability to work amid distractions.”
A perfect example of that unfolded minutes later in a classroom of about 15 children, with roughly three different groups engaged peacefully in markedly different pursuits without any confusion or jarring overlap.
Janet Anthony, a lifelong local educator and the preschool’s first director from 1974 to 1977, will be volunteering in the cafe at Sunday’s event. She acknowledged a feeling of pride in having played a role there, plus at Fairlawn Presbyterian Church Preschool as well.
She began with one afternoon class of 13 children.
“It is so wonderful and amazing that it has gone on, grown and impacted so many,” Anthony said.
Hendricks and Clancy estimate that probably more than 3,500 youngsters have been enrolled through the years. That’s enough to overflow the Columbus East High School gym.
The preschool’s beginning was necessary in part because the 1960s and 1970s marked a time locally and nationally when growing numbers of young mothers returned to work outside the home, according to Hendricks.
Hendricks mentioned that today, she notices one or two subtle differences between youngsters of 25 years ago and today.
“They seem to be a little different,” she said, adding that they are perhaps a spinoff of today’s times. “I think that they’re probably a little more stressed, and generally show a little more separation anxiety.”
