2017 marks 45 years of early education provided to preschool children in Tryon and the surrounding communities through Tuesday School. What began as a cooperative playgroup at Tryon First Baptist Church many years ago has grown into a one of a kind preschool program.

Tuesday School has been located at the Tryon Congregational Church for the last 35 years. Tuesday School operates five days a week with flexible schedule options and services children 2-4 years of age. Students do not have to be residents of Polk County to attend the school. Tuesday School offers small classroom sizes with certified teachers and assistants.

As one of the nation’s oldest parent cooperatives, Tuesday School can attribute its successful longevity to parent and family dedication and involvement, a strong community support and outstanding teachers and curriculum. Tuesday School is governed by a board of parents who seek not only to provide paramount education to their children, but to also serve the community.

Tuesday School is the only private preschool in Polk County and the surrounding areas whose curriculum is not state regulated or church affiliated, rather parent driven. Preschool parents at Tuesday School truly have valuable influence over their child’s education. Hundreds of local children throughout the last four decades have attended Tuesday School and many former alumni now send their own children.

Tuesday School is steeped in tradition and values and is highly influenced by Tryon’s rich cultural heritage. Fine arts, learning through play, developmentally appropriate education and class field trips are all integral parts of the Tuesday School curriculum. Children attend a unique music class and participate in yoga weekly and are exposed to structured learning, art and active play daily.

With trips to the local nursing home and participation in local events, Tuesday School seeks to edify in its students the importance of community service. The lessons, friendships and education afforded to the students at Tuesday School are invaluable. Tuesday School welcomes diverse new families each year and seeks to reinvent itself to serve the needs of current families every year.

Tuesday School has always operated with integrity and maintains its status as a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization. In order to remain current and to preserve its veracity, the all parent board changes each year. Like any other preschool program, Tuesday School requires financial support beyond tuition to operate. Tuesday School has heavily relied on fundraising with a large family involvement to raise the additional funds from year to year. In an effort to maintain financial integrity and with the increase in budget demands an accountant and bookkeeper were hired. As family dynamics have changed over the past several years and with a lack of high-profit fundraisers producing much needed funds, the financial costs to operate Tuesday School are no longer sustainable.

Tuesday School has been very fortunate over the past three years to receive a large anonymous monetary donation that allowed the school to remain in operation. Unfortunately, Tuesday School was not a recipient of said donation this year and now the parent board and families are faced with a very difficult and heart wrenching decision regarding the school’s future.

Without a considerable financial donation and commitment from an outside source Tuesday School will likely close its doors in May 2017. Tuesday School is a unique type of preschool program that does not receive funds through state or federal programs or through church affiliation. While these aspects contribute to what makes Tuesday School rare, they also increase the financial burden that the board and parents are responsible to meet each year. Tuition has been raised in recent years but in order to stay competitive with local rates and to avoid losing students due to financial reasons that is not an option currently.

Tuesday School prides itself on the 45 years of influence that it has had on local children, families and communities. Is this an end of an era in Tryon and Polk County? Tuesday School is seeking monetary support to continue valuable social and educational services to preschool children. For more information, contact Tuesday School at 828-859-0258.

 

Submitted by Jessica Betancourt