WEST ORANGE, NJ – A ribbon cutting ceremony was held on Sept. 21 to celebrate the opening of the West Orange Early Childhood Learning Center at the Community House on Main Street.

With the recent announcement that the West Orange School District would receive annual state aid to establish a preschool program, the Community House is one of the partners that will house four general education preschool classrooms to accommodate 60 students in the first year of the school district’s five-year plan. Children from the Hazel and Washington neighborhoods are the first to be placed, with the expectation that all of the projected 900 preschool-aged children in West Orange will be enrolled by or before the five-year goal.

Excitement was high as Assistant Superintendent Eveny de Mendez cut the ribbon with K-6 ELA Supervisor Beatrice Hanratty, West Orange Council of PTA’s President Tez Roro, board President Jenn Tunnicliffe, board Vice-President Gary Rothstein, and board member Brian Rock. Also present were Community House owner Paul Cito, Mayor Robert Parisi, soon-to-be Assistant Superintendent Hayden Moore, and Community House board member Jerry Guarino.

Families and staff then entered the building to meet their teachers, enjoy refreshments, and receive an overview of the preschool program.

The full-day classes are set to begin on Sept. 28.

See all the photos from the ribbon cutting HERE.

K-6 ELA Supervisor Beatrice Hanratty, Asst. Superintendent of Curriculum and Instruction Eveny de Mendez, West Orange Council of PTA’s President Tez Roro, board President Jenn Tunnicliffe, board Vice-President Gary Rothstein, and board member Brian Rock  

District faculty and new preschool instructors