25_years

Nursery school has 25th birthday

By CYNTHIA D. TROMBLEY Contributing Writer, Mount Olive Chronicle

Preparing Kids

MOUNT OLIVE TWP. - The first toddlers to attend Fun 'N Friends Nursery School on Drakesdale Road in
Flanders are now adults, as the school is celebrating its 25th anniversary.

Students and teachers celebrated the private, non-profit school's anniversary on Thursday, May 26.

The school was founded by Kathy Coogen in the United Presbyterian Church at 58 Drakesdale Road, where
it still remains.

Coogen remained at the helm until the school got so big that she was unable to continue in her dual role of
church secretary and school director, the current director, Kolleen Adams of Clinton Avenue, Budd Lake, said
in an interview on Tuesday May 24.

Adams was hired to take over the directorship 19 years ago, she said.

Fun 'N 'Friends originally started out as a play group for a mom's group in the church. As it grew, the
organization worked its way towards certification, which it achieved in 1985.

"I had been a second grade teacher in Roxbury, then I took this job and I've been here ever since," Adams
said.

Over the years the school has expanded to offer two, three and four day morning and afternoon programs to
the community as well as church members, and serves approximately 125 students, ages 2 and one-half to 5.
It is currently the township's largest and oldest dedicated pre-school.

The popularity of the school has grown to the point that the board was forced to revise the registration
process. Registration begins at 9 a.m. in February.

"They (the parents) used to line up at all hours of the morning, in order to get one of the first numbers so that
they could get their kids into the session that they wanted," Adams said. "I think the earliest we ever had
someone show up was at 11 p.m. at night; they camped in the parking lot."

As a result, the school now allows parents of enrolled children to re-enroll first. New parents must attend the
morning registration.

She said the center is non-denominational but operates form a Christian basis as it celebrates a Christmas
pageant and children say a prayer before snack.

"We've grown to the point that church members are actually a small portion of the school's overall
population," Adams said.

Adams said the program is popular because of its preparation.

"We really strive to prepare the kids for kindergarten, that's our primary goal," she said. "But we do it while
maintaining a balance between education and socialization to keep it fun for the kids."

The program includes several field trips and special event days.

"In the fall we go to Ort's Farms (in Long Valley) for pumpkin picking, and of course have our Halloween
parade and party, then there's the big Thanksgiving feast in November, and the Christmas pageant in
December," Adams said.

Other events include Pajama Day, Beach Day, Dad's Night, a Mother's Day luncheon, Mother Goose day for
the 2 ½ year olds, and a year-end trip and picnic to Land of Make Believe Trip in Hope.

The 2005 session culminated in graduation for the pre-K kids on Wednesday June 1.

"The ceremony has become really elaborate," Adams said. "Where we used to have the slide show before the
singing and diploma (distribution), now we use the computer for the presentation and burn CD's for the
parents so that they can take home a whole year's worth of pictures, which is nice for them."

The school's original pastor, the Rev. Robert Kotter, was very involved with the school until he died in
September 2000. Several of the school's teachers have also been employed by the pre-school for many
years.

Emily Garrabrant, who was with Fun 'n 'Friends at its inception, retired only four years ago, after 21 years.
Also among the long-timers, is Debbie Bolcar, of Woodsedge Drive in Budd Lake. Bolcar has been with the
pre-school for 18 years, and has no intention of leaving.

Bolcar was hired when her youngest daughter entered first grade. Her daughter played soccer with Adams'
child and though the two women graduated from Trenton State University in the same year, they had not
previously known each other.

Adams approached Bolcar about a teaching position, Bolcar was hired, and she's been there since, Bolcar
said.

"My husband keeps asking me 'When are you going to get a real job?" And I tell him I've got a real job. How
may people can say that they really like what they do? I do. It's like and old sneaker for me. It's comfortable
and it fits," Bolcar said.

"Fun'n'Friends has been there for 25 years and it's going to be there for another 25, I hope, anyway. It's a
good school, good people, good friends and good families," she said.

Melissa Verrone, of Flanders, and mother of four soon to be Fun 'n 'Friends graduates, felt the same.

"My youngest, Gina Marie is graduating next week. I think it's going to be harder for me to leave the school
than it is for them. I'm sad to be leaving, the kids have become so emotionally attached to the school,"
Verrone said.

She said she found the school by chance.

"We'd just moved in, and I realized I didn't have a spot for (my son) Nick. I was pregnant with Frankie at the
time," she said.

Verrone and her kids, Nick 11, Frankie 10, Anthony 8, and Gina Marie 5, have been a constant presence at
the pre-school for the past eight years.

There are still a limited number of spots available in all age groups. For information call Adams at
(973)584-0365.