Valley Stream nursery school celebrates milestone anniversary

Former and current teachers of Grace United Methodist Nursery School shared many memories on March 4 during a celebration for the school’s 40th anniversary. They were joined by past students, parents, directors and church and local officials.

About 100 people came to the gathering and many spent time looking at the class pictures, dating back to the early 1970s, which filled a bulletin board in the school gymnasium.

“It was the best years of my life,” said Harriet Cassidy, who served as the director of the nursery school for 25 years. “The teachers that we worked with were not only great teachers, but we also became good friends.”

Cassidy said her favorite activities each year included the Halloween parade, a visit to the Henry Waldinger Library and the pumpkin picking trip. They also would go to the Bronx Zoo. “We looked forward to everything,” she said. “We did so many things with the kids.”

Linda Hurley started as a helping mom in 1997 when her children attended the school, then went on to teach there for nine years. She loved all the holiday celebrations, and said that children left the school well prepared to enter kindergarten.

“This was the best place to work,” Hurley said. “I still miss it terribly. I miss all the kids and all the teachers. It really is children first here.”

Christina Breen, who has taught there for 13 years, said she looks forward to graduation each year because the children are so excited to go off to kindergarten. It also gives her a chance to reflect on how much they’ve grown and learn during their nursery school days.

One alumni of the school in attendance, Nicholas Condelles, said he learned all the basics at Grace United Methodist Nursery School. “I have a lot of appreciation for what they gave me,” he said. “I want to be a teacher myself.”

The 20-year-old college student said his fondest memories are of the Halloween parties and music class with teacher Diane Panzarino.

Today, Panzarino is the director of the school, a position she has held since 1996. She oversees about a dozen classes and nearly 200 students, plus her staff, which she describes as “a family.”