ABOUT US
OUR MISSION
The young child's main source of learning is the home. Our purpose is to supplement the home by giving additional encouragement educationally, socially, and spiritually by providing activities and experiences that will promote the growth and development of the whole child. Our curriculum content and methods of instruction are consistent with those used at the elementary schools in the Central Dauphin School District.
We want childhood to be a relaxed and happy time. It is our goal to contribute to this happiness by helping preschoolers understand that the process of learning can be a joyful experience.
Our teachers and director are eager and willing to discuss any problems with you. We cannot over-emphasize the importance of communication between home and school.
Charlton Preschool admits students of any race to all the rights, privileges, programs, and activities generally accorded or made available to its students and does not discriminate on the basis of race in the administration of its educational policies, admissions policies, scholarship and loan programs, and other school-administrated programs.
FAMILY INVOLVEMENT
We recognize that our families are very busy and it can be difficult for parents to volunteer time in their child's classroom every month. Our safety policies comply with the "Safe Sanctuary" policies of The United Methodist Church. In order to meet both of these needs, Charlton Preschool no longer uses parent aides on a daily basis as they have in the past. The Preschool employs a teacher's aide for each of our classrooms.
Charlton Preschool understands that parents play an important role in their child's preschool experience. It is our policy to have parents provide snack for their child's classroom on a rotating basis. Teachers will post snack lists monthly, in advance. The date assigned is also your child's show and tell day, as well as a day you are welcome to stay and observe.
The Preschool relies on parents to plan and run a variety of programs including holiday parties, field trips, special activities, special story times, and the end of year picnic.
OUR STAFF
Trish Wagner, Director/Teacher
Trish Wagner, Director/Teacher
Trish Wagner, Director/Teacher
Trish Wagner is the director of Charlton Preschool and teaches the 4 year old class teacher. She has a Bachelor's degree in Psychology from Millersville University and over 16 years working with children. Before having children of her own, Trish was a special education teacher and then program coordinator for The Vista School in Hershey
Trish Wagner is the director of Charlton Preschool and teaches the 4 year old class teacher. She has a Bachelor's degree in Psychology from Millersville University and over 16 years working with children. Before having children of her own, Trish was a special education teacher and then program coordinator for The Vista School in Hershey, PA. Trish and her husband Ben have 2 young children, Bryce and Kayla. She enjoys reading, cooking and spending time with her family.
Jennifer Ponicsan, Teacher
Trish Wagner, Director/Teacher
Trish Wagner, Director/Teacher
Jennifer Ponicsan is a teacher for the 3 and 4 year old classes. She has a background in Psychology from HACC and Penn State Harrisburg. She was a flight attendant for USAirways before motherhood. Since then, she has been an active member of the East Shore Mom's club for 5 years. Currently, she volunteers with Saint Margaret Mary's PREP p
Jennifer Ponicsan is a teacher for the 3 and 4 year old classes. She has a background in Psychology from HACC and Penn State Harrisburg. She was a flight attendant for USAirways before motherhood. Since then, she has been an active member of the East Shore Mom's club for 5 years. Currently, she volunteers with Saint Margaret Mary's PREP program, Girl Scouts, Boy Scouts and Northside Elementary PTA. Her belief is family first. She enjoys sharing new adventures with her husband and two children, traveling, hiking and reading. Jennifer has thoroughly enjoyed watching and helping her children grow and looks forward to doing the same here at Charlton.
Lauren Creznic, Class Aide
Heather Brumgard, Class Aide
Heather Brumgard, Class Aide
Lauren Creznic has worked with children for many years and now as a mother of two, she continues to enjoy seeing life through the eyes of her children. As a musician, she loves to incorporate music and learning. Her passion is to develop lifelong learners by associating fun with the learning experience.
Heather Brumgard, Class Aide
Heather Brumgard, Class Aide
Heather Brumgard, Class Aide
Heather Brumgard was an Aide at Paxtonia Elementary before joining us at Charlton. She has two kids of her own, Kaden and Kaelyn - with her high school sweetheart, Kyle.
While working with preschool children, she discovered her passion for helping them learn with creative activities, games and crafts. She believes anything can be mad
Heather Brumgard was an Aide at Paxtonia Elementary before joining us at Charlton. She has two kids of her own, Kaden and Kaelyn - with her high school sweetheart, Kyle.
While working with preschool children, she discovered her passion for helping them learn with creative activities, games and crafts. She believes anything can be made fun to learn.
Her two greatest passions are children and photography. She believes pictures allow us to capture moments that would otherwise be forgotten, and since childhood goes by so fast - every moment matters.
When she’s not photographing, she enjoys spending time with her family and reading mystery novels.
Testimonials
This is what some of our families are saying about us ...
We decided to send our daughter to Charlton’s preschool due to the learning-through-play, faith-based, and social interaction focus of the three-year-old program. The 2-day, 3-day, and 4-day schedules provide flexibility at an affordable monthly rate while the 2.5 hour days give our daughter a solid preschool experience without exhausting her for the rest of the day. Our daughter is learning rapidly and flourishing in the energetic environment. We love the teachers and look forward to sending our daughter back for the four-year-old program as well!
-- The Barr Family
I’ve had two children attend Charlton Preschool. I absolutely love the one on one attention they received. My kids loved going to school because the teachers made learning fun. Plus the teachers were so warm and caring. From field trips to crafts, to lunch bunch, to pajama day, my kids have so many great memories.
-- The Sisson Family
Being new to the place I was fortunate to put my daughter in this school. She loved going to school every day and would fondly recollect her experience after coming home. Her teachers made her feel at home, along with teaching good manners, introducing educational fun activities and helping her learn English. Thank you Charlton Preschool for making my daughter’s schooling so enjoyable.
-- The Kannabiran Family