Horizon marks opening of preschool

Horizon Education Centers and Constellation Schools celebrated the official opening Jan. 9 of a new preschool in Lorain.

The preschool is located at 1110 W. Fourth St., and Horizon will operate it.

“The preschool is ready to go, and students start Monday (Jan. 14),” said Heather LaMore, center director for Horizon at the Lorain Community location. “It is a continuation of our great partnership with Constellation Schools.”

LaMore said Horizon already had a space at the Constellation school for expansion.

“We, through the 21st Century Learning Grant from the state of Ohio, have already been operating an after-school program here for students,” she said. “It has provided students with extra academic and youth leadership help.”

LaMore said both Horizon and Constellation felt like a preschool would be great for both sides.

“We already had the space here and Constellation

was looking to increase enrollment, so we both felt it would be a good place to start,” LaMore said.

There are clear benefits to a Horizon preschool education, she said.

“We provide kindergarten readiness for kids,” LaMore said. “They will follow a curriculum that prepares them for what they will have to do in kindergarten.”

Tom Babb, chief financial officer at Constellation

Schools, said the preschool provides that extra option for parents.

“Parents with younger kids now have a quality preschool in the area,” Babb said. “It also helps us because it makes it easier for parents to send their children to the Lorain Community Constellation School.

“It makes it more of a natural transition and keeps the student in the same building as they continue on with us from kindergarten through eighthgrade.”

Babb said he looks forward to how the new preschool will work out.

“It will, hopefully, be beneficial for both parties,” he said. “Horizon has been here for six years, and they have been a great partner in providing quality education for our students.”

ZACHARY SRNIS — THE MORNING JOURNAL Representatives of Horizon Education Centers, Constellation Schools and the city of Lorain, cut the ribbon to officially open a new Horizon preschool at 1110 W. Fourth St. in Lorain.

ZACHARY SRNIS — THE MORNING JOURNAL Jacob Velez, 3, of Lorain, plays with blocks during the Horizon preschool ribbon cutting. Velez is one of four students who have enrolled in the new preschool at 1110 W. Fourth St. in Lorain.