NORWICH — The Norwich YMCA is starting their nursery school program once again after being shut down by the pandemic for nearly a year and a half.

Registration is currently open for three- and four-year-olds. Preschool Director Katie Voss said the children must be turning three by November 30 of this year to be eligible for enrollment. The program allows for 18 students total, according to Voss.

"We allow up to 18 [children], to keep it manageable. We'll have myself and an assistant, and then if we have the full 18 we'll have another assistant as well," said Voss.

Class schedules are flexible, and parents can choose one of three options for enrollment. Currently, the YMCA Nursery School offers Monday through Friday, Tuesday and Thursday, or Monday, Wednesday, and Friday schedules. Class times are from 8:30 to 11 a.m.

Registration packets are available at the YMCA front desk, or online at www.norwichymca.com. The enrollment deadline is September 1, and the first day of class is September 9.

Voss said parents can expect an enriching environment for their children, where there is a focus on hands-on learning and interpersonal skills.

"We'll do community field trips, we do a lot of learning through play, exploratory learning, and there's a lot of sensory hands-on learning that we'll do. We'll do early letter and number recognition, literacy skills, math problem solving," said Voss. "And just a lot of social skills, learning how to get along with others, and how to navigate the world with other people, and diversity."

The YMCA Nursery School also utilizes the YMCA facilities to provide exercise for the kids, as well as teach them motor skills.

"Some other activities we can offer are the Kid's Gym, which is great. It's an indoor playground for the kids. We also have the big gym which we make use of, we can do some gross motor activities," Voss explained. "We play outside a lot when we can. I love to get them outside and do some exploratory learning as well. So a lot of it is hands-on learning."

It is important to Voss that parents know the program is available again, despite the long shutdown spurred by the pandemic.

"We don't want people to forget that we're here and that we're offering the program. Because usually enrollment numbers are, you know, coming all in and it's just- now we're seeing a trickle," said Voss. "So we'd just like to get the word out that we're here, we're open, we're ready to start back up again."

Since children have spent so long at home with family, Voss said she does anticipate some resistance from kids to leave their parents at first. But, she also said this is not unusual even without a pandemic.

"Nursery school is the first learning experience away from home, typically," she said. "So parents are usually very nervous, the kids are usually very nervous, and it takes some time to learn how to separate a little bit and feel comfortable and safe in the classroom."

Overall, Voss said she is not too worried, as she feels "kids are resilient." Once they move beyond any initial apprehension, Voss said she loves seeing her students learn and grow in the nursery school program.

"I think just those 'aha' moments when kids get something, they learn a new skill, and they are so proud of themselves. That to me, makes me feel super proud of them and it's just a really nice feeling to see them learning through their discovery," said Voss.

"Their personalities and their curiosity and love for learning is just, it's reassuring and it's a hopeful position to be in as a teacher. To see the young children exploring their world and learning new things, and the excitement that they bring," she added. "It's a happy place to be."