by Kayt Carpenter |

It may be hard to believe that Liberty High School offers more than just a high school education. Every year while students are enrolling in classes, anxious preschoolers are making their way down to Blue Jay Junction.
“It’s a lab school setting for the family and consumer science classes. I’ve had students in here, some high school students who are now teachers for the district. I think that is so neat, because I feel like they started out in here, and figured out what they wanted to do,” Preschool teacher Megan DiLonardo said.
But this is not an everyday preschool where anyone can drop off their children.
“[Blue Jay Junction is for] anybody in the district. I’ve had grandkids, I’ve had nephews, I’ve had nieces,” DiLonardo said.
Members of the Liberty School District not only find this a convenient and safe place for their children, but some would not even look at other programs, like guidance counselor Amy Tuso who chose Blue Jay Junction over any other public pre-school for her three year old son, Warren.
“It’s run on best practice, and that’s really important to me. There are reasons why there are standards, and I knew those would be met here without question,” said Tuso. “Not only do I think that it’s the best of the best, but it’s like getting the most for the least. And it’s here so it’s really easy to bring him and take him home. Cost wise, it’s comparable and cheaper than other day care.”
She also explained how there is absolutely nothing she dislikes about Blue Jay Junction.
“Really, there was no reason not to bring him here. In addition to that, I think it’s really important that the students that are in Child Development have the opportunity to learn. If there weren’t any kids available, then that program wouldn’t be able to work.” Tuso said.
Preschooler Warren Tuso said, “I like to play play-doh. I like to play with the house with my friends, and we eat popsicles.”
It may seem like a good time, but Blue Jay Junction is not all fun and games.
“I guess it’s what they’re exposed to, we want to keep them little. We don’t want them to be exposed to adult things. I have to watch when I take the kids down the hall because they see and hear things they shouldn’t sometimes, so I really have to watch that bell and be careful with what we expose them to,” DiLonardo said.
Although the challenges are sometimes unavoidable, parts of the day are devoted to cal waves in the form of students taking over the classroom. They read, do arts and crafts, and even take over with their own lesson plans on certain days.
“Oh, when y’all [Child Growth and Development students] come in here and work with the kids. I get to sit back and relax and watch the interaction!” DiLonardo.