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Bowers School House Preschool & Learning Center
A NEW SCHOOL IN A FAMILIAR PLACE
For many who looked at it, the Bowers School House— one of Peters Township’ s original oneroom school houses— was a lost cause. The 110-year-old, 30-foot by 40-foot school had seen better days, and people could not see its potential... until Tom Robinson came along in 2016.
“ My father-in-law purchased the building in October of that year, hoping it would be a before- and after-school program and it just grew from there,” said Mary Robinson, owner of Bowers School House.
Robinson added a 30-foot by 80- foot, two-story addition that blends in seamlessly with the original structure, restored to its former glory. And the function of the building will continue to be education, starting Sept. 1.
“ Our school will serve the community with classes for kids aged 3 years old through kindergarten, and a before- and after-school program for kids in first through sixth grades,” she explained.“ The key to our curriculum is learning through play. Our early education curriculum prepares children for elementary school and beyond by developing important academic, social and emotional skills, while our kindergarten program will give students additional hands-on practical implementation of their public school curriculum.”
With 15 students and two teachers in each classroom, and roving teachers’ aides to assist where needed, Bowers School House promises attention to students not found at other facilities.
“ As a mom of two who couldn’ t find what I was looking for for my kids in our district, I decided to bring this to the area.
We want to be hands-on with students, and our job and goal is to teach kids their best way of learning to ensure future classroom success,” Robinson said.“ Not all kids learn the same way, and by having the smaller class sizes with a higher teacher ratio, we can give that to them.”
Other benefits to students include direct busing to Bowers School including midday transportation for half-day kindergarteners, two dedicated playgrounds, a nut-free facility that offers meals and snacks that all exceed state nutrition guidelines, and more. All teachers are certified with the state and up-to-date on their clearances. They are also available as early as 6:30 a. m. for drop-off and until 6:30 p. m. nightly for working families. During those times, students can do homework, have active playtime, or take on an additional STEAM
program depending on what their parents want them to focus on.
This new take on preschool and education fits in perfectly with the renovated school house, continuing its history of excellence in education in Peters Township, which was by design, according to Robinson.
“ The goal wasn’ t to be 100 percent new. We chose to refinish and reuse items from the previous location. I’ m a small business owner and can take the opportunity and expense to have a larger impact on the community and smaller impact on the environment through creative planning and reuse,” she said.
“ Our students will be able to learn the history of the school through our photos of the building, former students, as well as writings of former students capturing life in the early 1900s. In the end, we have a modern facility that features its history and recognizes the huge role this building has had in the community for over a century.”
For more information on Bowers School House Preschool & Learning Center, go to the website at bowersschoolhouse. com or call 724.260.6442 to schedule a tour. The school is located at 451 Bower Hill Road in Venetia, 15367.
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