Teacher’s aide Jayne Genta, at St. Mary School, Mattoon, motions the 3-year-old preschoolers to spread out as they gather for story time around their classroom’s colorful area rug. “Sit like a pretzel,” calls out teacher Barb Kirts. MATTOON — Preschool classes for 3- and 4-year-olds at St. Mary School in Mattoon were expanded this school year to offer a choice of full- or half-day classes, and a choice of class days per week. A before- and after-school program is also available at St. Mary for students in preschool through fifth grade. St. Mary’s is the only preschool in the area to offer all-day classes.

The preschool was moved from the church basement into two large classrooms in the school building, which were transformed into multiple work and play stations, including custom-built lofts in both the 3-year-old, and 4-year-old classrooms.

The preschool classes are taught by degreed and certified teachers, with the assistance of teacher aides. Two St. Mary teachers volunteered to run the school’s before- and after-school program, which is held in the school gymnasium. Money generated from the after-school service funds the program.

“We had heard from a number of parents who said they wanted to put their kids in our preschool, but they told us they could not get back here to pick up their child at 11 a.m., when the preschool got out,” said Father Dennis Kollross, pastor at Immaculate Conception Parish.

After much discussion and research, the decision was made to offer parents the option of a half day or full day of preschool, as well as a choice of three, four or five classes a week.

“Some of our students are signed up for three mornings a week; some come all day, five days a week; others come four days a week,” said Barb Kirts, who teaches the three-year-old class. “Some of the students have been in daycare. For others, this is their first experience in a structured school classroom.”

Fees are charged according to the number of class days per week and hours per day.

It did take some adjusting to get used to the new flexible numbers in a class on any given day.

“The first day of preschool this year, we were blown away,” said Kirts. “We learned to make a list of who stays, who goes and when.”

Mary Ellen Martin, an aide in the 4-year-old preschool class, has been with St. Mary’s preschool since it opened in 1995. “Things are going well. I think for the most part everybody really likes the move from the church basement into the school. This is a bright, cheery room.”

Principal Michele Buerster said, “Our older students are happy the little ones are here in the school. I think it has raised the energy level of the school and the staff.”