St. Teresa's Tiny Tots Program Shuts Down

When St. Teresa of Avila's full school for kindergarten through eighth grade closed in 1993, the pre-kindergarten Tiny Tots Montessori School stayed open.

"The archdiocese asked us to keep the pre-k open to feed into the Catholic schools in the area," explained Sister Mary Ann Maceda, who has run the program ever since.

The school's annual enrollment is restricted to 24 by state regulations, and for the past four years or so, "it's been up and down, up and down," according to Maceda.

"The archdiocese has been subsidizing and picking up the slack, so to speak," she added.

So, this past June, on the last day of school, Maceda learned the school wouldn't be opening again in the fall.

"I was crying," said Teresa Meija, a 14-year instructor at Tiny Tots. "It felt like a part of my family was leaving."

"We had proposed a plan to try and cut expenses," said Maceda, "but I didn't have enough registration at that point and couldn't guarantee [the archdiocese] I would have 24 students in September."

According to Maceda, the program was unique in that the three instructors, incuding Meija and Maceda, were nurturing of the students' individual passions and interests.

"We try to help the children become as independent as possible and to have a joy for order and a joy for learning," she explained. "We try to follow each child, introduce God into their life and make them aware of their talents."

Meija said the young students were often very anxious at the start of the school year, "but at the end, they don't want to leave."

She cited a particular case where a mother actively displayed her distrust in the program and its ability to care for her "wild" son.

"She was upset at first," said Meija. "She overcame it because her kid had a good experience and we were able to control him."

Maceda said many of her former students have kept in touch with her, even throughout their college years and beyond.

"They let me know how they are doing," she said. "And they have done very well."

While most of the Tiny Tots students live in the villages, some hail from other places like White Plains and Wappinger Falls, while still others have parents who work locally and commute to Sleepy Hollow with their children.

According to Meija, wo lives in Tarrytown, students' parents often recommend the program to their friends with toddlers.

"They know we are doing it for the kids," she said.

"My policy is first come, first served," said Maceda. "I find that God has always given me the exact students he wants me to have."

This past year, 18 students enrolled, but four dropped out soon after the school year started. These students had been three-years-old, which can be a difficult age for some children to handle school-like conditions.

Sebastian, who was three when he enrolled this past year, stuck with the program until June.

"He loved it there," said Maria Goyzueta, Sebastian's mother. "He was so happy to be going to school. Sister Mary Ann is very loving to the children."

According to Goyzueta, who lives in Sleepy Hollow, she was planning to re-enroll her son in the fall.

"I was very disappointed," she said when she learned the news of the closing, adding it has been difficult to find a replacement pre-school for Sebastian to attend in the fall.

"I have to find something else," she said. "I'm deciding between two right now."

But Maceda said not all hope is lost for the Tiny Tots Montessori School. She said there is a possibility the school may re-open in fall 2011.

"The ironic part is, after this very heart-wrenching decision, I've been getting calls all summer," said Macdea, indicating she would have met the 24-student quota if given more time.

Another factor is the church recently acquired a new administrator, Reverend Gilberto Angel, who is still adjusting to his role.

"He said, 'I'm up to my eyeballs, Sister," said Maceda. "'Let's talk about it for next year.'"

Meija said she is skeptical about the program's return, as it will be difficult to essentially start from scratch again.

"I'm hoping, you know," said Maceda. "I don't know what's going to happen, but this September, we're not going to be open."