Katie Heuman is grateful her daughter had the opportunity to be part of the Chancellor Livingston Elementary School community a year before starting kindergarten. Her daughter, Ellie Lake, is in the district’s first pre-K graduating class and participated in the first ceremony that featured students performing in two plays.
“I think Ms. (Rebecca) Staats is an absolutely exceptional teacher,” said Heuman. “She’s so well-rounded in play-based and child-based education. She really allows children to explore play and creative learning in the most innovative fashion.
“It’s been the most incredible year.”
Lake, who enjoyed coloring in class, said she chose to be a pig in “The Three Little Pigs.”
“I like the story. It’s fun,” she said.
Staats chose “The Three Little Pigs” and “The Three Billy Goat Gruff” for the students to perform, but gave students the opportunity to choose the parts of the stories to perform. Students also prepared their costumes and the stage scenery.
“It was a resounding success,” Staats said of the first year program. “I think they showed their joy of learning and their joy of friendships with each other today. I think I saw a lot of happy faces of parents, grandparents and children together.”
Following the performances, students and their families enjoyed some refreshments that included coffee, water, bagels, donuts, cookies and fruit.
Brett King, principal of CLS, shared his impressions of having full-day pre-K in CLS and discussed the addition of a second pre-K class for the 2025-2026 school year. He added the district’s collaboration with Staats and her Rhinebeck Community Nursery School has been a success.
“I thought it was an amazing experience, there’s not even a doubt in my mind that we want to expand the program,” he said.
“You could see Rebecca and her entire staff, the care and the love they have for these kids. You know why they do the work. It’s been a pleasure having them here. I love it.”
King added he may transition pre-K students to having lunch in the cafeteria during the 2025-2026 school year.
Staats shared the pre-K students became friends with their reading buddies in third grade. The pre-K students and third graders met for an hour each Friday to sing a song and read.
“They have some really good friends in third grade, and those relationships may last all the way through their school careers,” she said.