By Rob Novit
The First Baptist Church of Aiken is revamping its pre-school and 5-year-old kindergarten programs and has hired a veteran teacher to direct the program.
Kathy Samaha taught at Aiken Elementary School for 16 years, including third-, fourth- and fifth-grade and Gifted and Talented Science. She also served as a reading interventionist, assisting struggling young readers.
"They were looking for a new director, and it really appealed to me to try something different," Samaha said. "I was excited about the challenge of coming to a program that has the oldest private 5-year-old kindergarten program in South Carolina and get it thriving again."
The First Baptist program offers child-care for infants 6 weeks and older and up to age 3. In addition to kindergarten, children 2- and 3- and 4-year-old pre-schoolers are also served in classroom settings. The facilities within the church complex are getting an upgrade as well.
The class for 2-year-olds is new, and "nobody else has one" in the area, Samaha said.
"We also have a new curriculum for the 2-year-olds," she said. "It's Christian-based 'Wee Learn' with bible stories and lots of activities for centers and stations. We'll expose them to all kinds of experiences, including science, math and literature."
The church had a group of families are who are church members, Samaha said. Their 2-year-olds had come to Parents' Day events and were comfortable in that environment. A class for the children will provide them more structured play opportunities, Samaha said.
That process will continue for 3-year-olds. Similar to other church schools, the 4-K class provides basic awareness of print and technology, concepts like opening a book and also the sounds of letters.
Samaha announced that educator Susan Myers will serve as a program consultant. She taught 4-K and 5-K for many years before retiring from East Aiken School of the Arts last spring.
The academic program is now registered through the Department of Social Services. That, in part, will allow First Baptist to extend hours for child care. The church school operates from 8:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. on weekdays.
"It's going to be exciting to see kids coming in as infants and then be with us in the 2-K program and beyond," Samaha said. "It will be fun to see them grow. I will miss the classroom, and I'm really hoping to do a read-aloud with every class. I want the kids to know me."
Samaha has an undergraduate degree from Mercer University in early childhood education and earned a Master's degree from the University of Georgia. She is married to Ahmed Samaha, USC Aiken's assistant vice chancellor for student life. They have two sons.
For more information about the First Baptist program, call the church office at 648-5476. Classes will begin Aug. 20, with the calendar conforming to that of the public schools.![]()
The First Baptist Church of Aiken is revamping its pre-school and 5-year-old kindergarten programs and has hired a veteran teacher to direct the program.
Kathy Samaha taught at Aiken Elementary School for 16 years, including third-, fourth- and fifth-grade and Gifted and Talented Science. She also served as a reading interventionist, assisting struggling young readers.
"They were looking for a new director, and it really appealed to me to try something different," Samaha said. "I was excited about the challenge of coming to a program that has the oldest private 5-year-old kindergarten program in South Carolina and get it thriving again."
The First Baptist program offers child-care for infants 6 weeks and older and up to age 3. In addition to kindergarten, children 2- and 3- and 4-year-old pre-schoolers are also served in classroom settings. The facilities within the church complex are getting an upgrade as well.
The class for 2-year-olds is new, and "nobody else has one" in the area, Samaha said.
"We also have a new curriculum for the 2-year-olds," she said. "It's Christian-based 'Wee Learn' with bible stories and lots of activities for centers and stations. We'll expose them to all kinds of experiences, including science, math and literature."
The church had a group of families are who are church members, Samaha said. Their 2-year-olds had come to Parents' Day events and were comfortable in that environment. A class for the children will provide them more structured play opportunities, Samaha said.
That process will continue for 3-year-olds. Similar to other church schools, the 4-K class provides basic awareness of print and technology, concepts like opening a book and also the sounds of letters.
Samaha announced that educator Susan Myers will serve as a program consultant. She taught 4-K and 5-K for many years before retiring from East Aiken School of the Arts last spring.
The academic program is now registered through the Department of Social Services. That, in part, will allow First Baptist to extend hours for child care. The church school operates from 8:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. on weekdays.
"It's going to be exciting to see kids coming in as infants and then be with us in the 2-K program and beyond," Samaha said. "It will be fun to see them grow. I will miss the classroom, and I'm really hoping to do a read-aloud with every class. I want the kids to know me."
Samaha has an undergraduate degree from Mercer University in early childhood education and earned a Master's degree from the University of Georgia. She is married to Ahmed Samaha, USC Aiken's assistant vice chancellor for student life. They have two sons.
For more information about the First Baptist program, call the church office at 648-5476. Classes will begin Aug. 20, with the calendar conforming to that of the public schools.