Bellefonte Playschool celebrates ‘deep roots’ and long history after 50th anniversary

Although the toys, books and furniture within the Bellefonte Playschool look modern, there are hints of the preschool’s long history throughout the space — an original wooden chair, doll clothes dating back to the 1970s and hundreds of photographs of former teachers and students.

The Bellefonte Playschool, a preschool program now part of and located within the Faith United Methodist Church at 512 Hughes St., celebrated its 50th anniversary in August, inviting former teachers, parents and students to reminisce about times at the school.

Director Amy Confer dug out albums of old photos, toys and attendance records from the playschool’s early days for former students and teachers to see.

“The playschool just has these deep roots and all this history,” Confer said. “Not to mention, I think we have every toy ever made.”

Expectations for what students learn in preschool are vastly different from when the Bellefonte Playschool started, Confer said. The school’s goal is to help students grow socially, emotionally and academically so they’re as prepared as possible for kindergarten.

“Playschools changed a lot over the years, when they first opened there was a lot different expectation as to what a child should know going into kindergarten,” Confer said. “And now kindergarten is like what first grade used to be.”

Although Pennsylvania does not require nurseries or preschools under a religious authority to register, the Bellefonte Playschool has stayed licensed since its official opening.

“We’ve always felt it’s important to have that accountability and to have those guidelines that the state updates over the years for what’s important for children at each age level to be learning,” Confer said.

The playschool officially opened in 1972, two years after its conception by Mary Shiffer and Elaine Ebeling. The preschool did not start as a partnership with the church, operating as a separate business renting space from the church.

Although Faith United Methodist hosts both the playschool and daycare, the two are separate entities. In the 1980s the preschool merged with the church, becoming part of its ministry. That merger has helped the playschool weather the economic ups and downs of the last four decades, Confer said.

But what kept the playschool successful over the years is the long-standing tradition of former students sending their children, she said. Most of the preschool’s advertising is word of mouth, relying on former students and parents spreading the word about Bellefonte Playschool. The preschool hosts four classes, with 43 students total this year and has already filled its spots for next year’s pre-K classes.

“We may be 50 years old but what we’re doing now probably looks nothing like what they were doing in the beginning,” Confer said. “I look at some of the pictures and they’re not things that anybody would have expected that we would be doing now.”

This story was originally published February 25, 2023 at 10:00 AM.