A class of Trinity Treasure Kids learns how to carve a jack-o-lantern this past fall.

SHEPHERDSTOWN — Thirty years ago, Trinity Treasure Kids enrolled its first preschool class of children. Among that class was Shepherdstown resident Kelsie LeRose.

“I have so many memories coming back, now that my own daughter is in Treasure Kids. It’s kind of a full-circle thing!” LeRose said of her three-year-old daughter.

Both she and her daughter have been able to benefit from the small class sizes and conscientious care of the weekly Christian education program at Trinity Episcopal Church for children ages 2-4. They have also been able to enjoy the fact that being in the program has allowed them to spend more time with their mother and grandmother, Kristin Henson, who was one of the teachers to help found the program.

“Mary Lee and I started the program. She came to me and asked me if I would like to teach!” Henson said, mentioning she recently returned to teaching at the preschool, after a few years’ break. “We only had five kids when we started! It was simple beginnings.”

For founder Mary Lee Blue, seeing the preschool grow into a popular educational program over the years has been encouraging to see. And, she hopes that it will continue for many years to come.

Blue

“It is exciting for me, to reach this anniversary,” Blue said. “I hope that it lasts beyond me! When I retire, I hope that it will continue on — and I think it will.”

At the time the preschool was founded in Oct. 1994, Blue said there was only one other preschool in the town. And, rather than simply adding another preschool just like it to the area, Blue wanted to create a preschool that brought something different to the table.

“They do developmentally appropriate activities for twos, threes and fours,” Blue said, mentioning the programming includes teaching the children Bible stories and developing their fine motor skills and gross motor skills. “Different age groups come on different days, so that we can use the same staff members. We started with one day a week and now we’re up to four days a week!”

Classes are held, Monday through Thursday from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m., giving the children’s caregivers a much-needed break once a week. And their children are, at the same time, learning and growing together in a health-centered, nurturing environment.

“We do field trips that we can walk to. We’ll walk to the Little House and we’ll walk to Rumsey Park and down to the Town Run — that kind of field trip,” Blue said, mentioning this ensures the children learn to enjoy spending time in nature. “Almost every day, we go outside, as long as it is not freezing cold. Otherwise, we bring the tricycles and other equipment into the church’s fellowship hall and play.”

According to Blue, Trinity Treasure Kids has lasted for so many years, because of the positive relationship she and its teachers maintain with parents and their children.

“I have a relationship with the families,” Blue said, mentioning staff members are all carefully vetted and people who she personally knows well. “I’ve heard parents say, ‘You’re the only one I would leave them with.’ That kind of thing, is because they know me. Even if it’s a very reputable school, if parents don’t know those in charge, they worry.”

She noted that there are a couple of other reasons for the preschool’s success, including its affordable pricing and excellent educational results.

“I’ve had kindergarten teachers tell us that they can tell when a student of theirs was a Trinity Treasure Kid,” Blue said. “They can know that they will be well-prepared when they get to kindergarten.”

Additionally, Blue said the program has flourished because of two members of her original staff.

“Diane Hammett and Susan Lamp were teachers at the beginning of our program and have remained dedicated and faithful for all 30 years,” Blue said.