Primrose School of Bloomingdale Now Enrolling

Construction is proceeding on the new Primrose School of Bloomingdale.

But it can't be too soon for franchise owner Ami Gohil.

"I can't wait for it to open," she said. "I'm really excited."

Currently a pre-kindergarten teacher at the Primrose School of Westchase, Gohil is looking forward to opening her own Primrose School in Bloomingdale.

The new 10,570-square-foot school is under construction at 1280 Bloomingdale Ave., Valrico. When completed, it will have 10 rooms, four playgrounds and will accommodate up to 186 students with 30 teachers.

Part of a national franchise, the new school, slated to open in July, is geared to preparing children for kindergarten, said Gohil. It participates in the Voluntary Prekindergarten Education Program (VPK), which provides a free education to eligible children.

"We have a themed curriculum that we follow each day, and our pre-kindergarten classes are geared to preparing the students for elementary school," she said.

Prekindergarten students wear uniforms at the private school where extracurricular activities include visits from theater troupes, firefighters, local dentists and police.

"We really try to get the community involved in the school," she said.

The school also will offer an after-school program for older kids and a summer curriculum," said Gohil.

She noted that students graduating from the preschool consistently score above average for school readiness.

"Our job is to prepare them for kindergarten and, at Primrose, we usually exceed the requirements," she said. "Our kids begin practicing writing skills as early as age 2."

The school's theme-based curriculum is accredited and features a different theme each week, often involving the school's animal mascots, Percy the rooster and Og the bookworm.

Infants are nourished in a loving environment that encourages exploring, bonding with others and a sense of security while toddlers flourish in the environment that fosters a love of learning and a positive self-image.

For after school, the Explorers Club reinforces daily classroom learning with homework help and fun activities.

Gohil can attest to the effectiveness of the curriculum. Both of her daughters, age 5 and 8, attended the Primrose School of Westchase.

"I think because I already work at a Primrose School and have children who attended school there, I'm even more excited to bring this school to Bloomingdale.

Gohil is currently accepting applications for teachers, a director and an assistant director.

"Right now I'm looking for strong, passionate people to serve as teachers," she said.

Anyone interested can contact Gohil at amigohil@primrosebloomingdale.com or visit the Web site at primroseschools.com/Bloomingdale.