For  more than 20 years, pre-school aged children have been coming to JCHS Baby Jay Pre-K as a way to prepare future educators interested in early childhood education. The Baby Jay Pre-K program is offered to everyone in the Junction City community. The service is free of charge and all children that enter through the Blue Jay doors leave enlightened and happy to come back the next day.

Mrs. Simmons is the currently the Family Science and Education teacher, and will be leaving some time in February for maternity leave. Once she leaves a substitute will take her place until the month of April, “I’m very confident that my students will be able to handle themselves in my absence.”

As of January 27, 2016, the first day of the program, four students were enrolled to attend. The smaller class size is a huge difference from last year’s class of 13 children.

This class is offered to all students wanting to persue teaching as their career. Some students have mixed emotions about interacting with younger children for the first time. “I’m nervous about teaching little kids today,” junior Jordyn Flannery said.

In this class, students are put into the teaching position and are given the responsibility to actually teach their students, “Today I am excited to teach the kids how to make snow,” junior Marilyn Picazo said.

The sophomores and juniors of JC are really eager to mold the minds of the future generation. “I like to work with children and I’m excited to learn what they can do,” sophomore Jordan Dombrowski stated.

With the children from last year having graduated and gone kindergarten there is a serious need for new students. Anyone with any preschool aged girls or boys are eligible for this program. It is beneficial for the students because they get an opportunity to experience what their school lives will be like and a chance to interact with other children. It’s beneficial to the student teachers because they can get first hand knowledge as to what their future career will be like.