By Kathy Brown.
(Sept. 18, 2018) — This year marks the 50th anniversary of the Haddam Cooperative Nursery School (HCNS). In 1967, Edie Rochette, started the school in her home with her two sons and some of their friends. That same year, the First Congregational Church of Haddam (FCCH) wanted to do some outreach programs, including starting a nursery school, so they asked Mrs. Rochette if she wanted to bring her fledgling school to the church facility, and she agreed.
The classes have changed over the years to meet the needs of enrollment and the school district. At the beginning, the classes were Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays, and the 3 year olds and 4 year olds met together, but separated for some activities. When the enrollment grew, they switched to 3 year olds on Tuesdays and Thursdays, and 4 year olds on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays, as well as having both morning and afternoon sessions. “There was a time,” recalls Edie, “that the school had such a waiting list that when a mom found out she was expecting, they would call in and get on the waiting list!” Now parents have a choice of half or full day in the 4 year old class, to better prepare students for full day Kindergarten.
Marsha Brielmann was hired in 1974, right out of college, because the Board of Directors wanted a teacher with a Bachelors degree. She had a Bachelors of Science in Early Childhood, and later obtained a Masters in Art Education. Her own five daughters went through the nursery school, as well as her seven grandchildren.
Marsha reminisced about some of the changes over the years. “We used to leave the door unlocked so that parents could stop in at any time to visit their child. Now the doors are kept locked for the safety of the children and staff.” That isn’t the only change. The playground wasn’t fenced in the early years; now it is. And the playscape was updated in 2009 after quite a few fundraisers. When Marsha first started, there were no computers or copy machines; they used to use carbon paper. All the ideas came from preschool teaching manuals, and now they get ideas online.
In 1979, there was a fire at the church. “The firemen did a great job saving a lot of our equipment,” remembers Edie. “The cubbies that Bob Lentz made when the school first started, they are still using today, also the tables, chairs, and riding boat.” While the church was being rebuilt, the Regional School District #17 Board of Education opened up a room for them to use at the middle school. The new windows are much brighter, leading to a more cheerful looking classroom.
Fundraisers have changed over the years as well. The Snoopy Fair was held in the spring of each year for many years; it included games and activities for children, as well as a big raffle. “Our biggest fundraiser was our children’s fair which not only helped keep our school tuition down, but also was a wonderful day for the children,” said Marsha. Now there’s a Harvest Fair in the fall, as well as an Open House/Big Raffle each spring.
Both Edie and Marsha remember working with many teachers/co-workers over the years: Barbara Hawkins, Carol Watson, Jill Henderson, Amanda Lisitano, Joyce Prada, Suzy Quirk, Terri Hevrin, Margie Tuckerman, Sonja Buzzi Sona, Alane Pytlik, Tracy Sizer, Ange Ciempa, and Kristen Waltamath. “[It] has been a great joy working with many co-workers over the years,” said Edie.
Many people who have gone to the school speak about the lifelong friendships that started there. My own son, Simon, and his best friend, Jake, “graduated” from HCNS in 2005, and just graduated from Haddam Killingworth High School together in 2018. “Lifelong friendships have grown among the children, parents, and faculty,” said Marsha. Amy Jacques-Purdy, whose son attended HCNS 2003-2005, said her son Sam is still best friends with Michael Mercier, whom he met at HCNS.
Katie Bodak and Heather Lonergan met when their older children, Meara and Kelsey were enrolled at the nursery school in 2006. Their younger children also attended the nursery school, and all four children remain close friends over 10 years later, as well as their parents. Katie and her husband moved to Haddam in 2003. “Before the co-op, Haddam was a place that I lived. After the co-op, it was a place I called home….with a community of friends that raised our kids together. To me….the co-op experience was priceless,” said Katie.
“It was exactly what you’d hope preschool to be in a small town – close knit, family involved, and play based,” said Amy Jacques-Purdy, whose son, Sam, attended 2003-2005.
Laura Roman said she first got involved with HCNS in March 2000 when her third child was born and she stopped working to become a full-time stay-at-home mother. “I enrolled my oldest daughter, Nikki, in for the last few months of the 4 year old program. That Fall, I enrolled my second child, Danni, in the 3 year old program. And then, 3 years later, my youngest, Andi.” She echoed the sentiments of others, ” I met someone who has been one of my dearest friends, Kathy Hinds, at HCNS!” Being active on the Board for the Cooperative sometimes leads to other volunteer opportunities. “I also honed my event organizational skills as Chair of the Snoopy Fair for a couple years (later going on to become a Girl Scout leader, Chair the Fall Fundraiser at BES, Middle School Craft Fair and finally Project Graduation),” said Laura. “I made wonderful friends as did my kids! Congratulations to Marsha and her family and team of teachers.”
Five of Karen Revis’ seven children attended Haddam Cooperative Nursery School in the years between 1997-2008. “I moved to town in 1997 when two of my children were 3 years old and one was 2 months old,” said Karen. “As a stay at home mother, I was looking for a nursery school for my children and a place to meet other mothers from town. Haddam Cooperative Nursery School was perfect as it also gave me the opportunity to participate in the school. Over the years, three more of my children attended. I have made life long friendships that I still have 21 years later, including Marsha Brielmann who has become one of my best friends. Haddam Cooperative Nursery School was the perfect beginning to school for my children and I am so glad I found such a wonderful school for my children!”
Edie says, “It has been a great journey and a great privilege watching the children and families grow and then having the children of children.” Marsha concurs, “What I have enjoyed most about teaching at HCNS is meeting so many new families from Haddam, Higganum and the surrounding towns. Children I had in school have come back and enrolled their own children over the years.”
Photos of current students by Sally Haase. Black and white photos provided by Edie Rochette. Other photos provided by Katie Bodak, Karen Revis, Kathy Brown, and Amanda Lisitano.
