GILL — After a year of construction, Northfield Mount Hermon School opened its new Bolger Center for Early Childhood Education this month, replacing the campus nursery that operated for decades on the school’s former Northfield campus.
Until now, the nursery school remained in Northfield even after NMH consolidated to the Gill campus in 2005, with the school leasing the building from the National Christian Foundation, the Northfield campus’ current owner. Starting in 2014, NMH began planning for the new center, which cost $2.4 million to build.
Stephen Porter, spokesman at NMH, said the school wanted to offer a more modern, convenient child care experience in hopes of attracting and retaining skilled teachers with young children.
“A driving factor was the need to offer quality child care to the children of our faculty and staff members,” Porter said. “The facility on the old campus was too small, it was old and wasn’t as convenient as having a child care center on campus.”
The new center is in the southeastern corner of campus on Mount Hermon Road, and is named for NMH alumnus David F. Bolger, who kicked off fundraising for the building’s construction with a $250,000 matching gift. According to an NMH press release, the new center contains large classrooms, ample office and storage space, and includes a 2,700-square-foot playground.
Carol Kennedy, who has directed the nursery school since 2010 and is now the director of the Bolger Center, said “the difference between the old and new facilities is like night and day.”
The new center offers basic design elements that make for a better experience for teachers and students, Kennedy said. For example, the windows are low enough for both children and teachers to enjoy a view of the river, and a radiant floor heating system keeps teachers and students warmer, especially during their extended time spent on the floor. Kennedy said the old nursery school buildings tended to be drafty and cold.
“One of the most significant benefits is the sense of reconnecting with the NMH community,” Kennedy added. “All four classrooms are now in one building (when) previously we were spread over two buildings. The combination of being on campus and in one building gives us a much stronger sense of community and connection.”
Faculty and staff families can easily access the nursery, and according to the release, NMH students will be invited to volunteer in the toddler and preschool classrooms. Toddler and preschool students will also be able to take advantage of campus resources such as NMH student performances, world language lessons and visits to the NMH farm.
Kennedy and seven teachers lead programs for infants, toddlers and preschoolers, with 38 children ranging in age from 3 months to 5 years currently enrolled, according to the release. The center, which officially opened on Jan. 3 and serves families in surrounding towns as well as children of NMH employees, has the capacity for 45 students.
Kennedy said the Bolger Center’s developmentally based program includes time for free play and exploration as well as teacher-directed activities in art, science, cooking, music and movement.
Families interested in learning more about the Bolger Center for Early Childhood Education can contact Kennedy by phone at 413-498-5097 or by email at ckennedy@nmhschool.org.