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Show iiimiii ma r?iiittriiaTifraV'ar Wlatt rrtt8ilt3Ml Iwi j A Castle for Youngsters "I enjoy states T ruus working here," Allart, dietician. "Mr. Steinfeldt has a winning way feel the with the children. school is well organized and I really approve of the approach to cleanliness, good manners and harmony that preceed each mealtime." "Enrollment is purposefully structured to include children from as wide a variety of home backgrounds as possible to by Laura Briggs "Fatherless homes." I percent of the enrollment of our school comes from homes where the mother is the head of the house," states Paul J. Steinfeldt, owner and director of the recently opened "Seventy-tw- o Castle Kindergarten and located on 1st Avenue West and 7th North, near Wasatch Springs Park. Steinfeldt, who has 16 years of early childhood development Pre-schoo- l, represent this area," states Steinfeldt. He continued to say that the school has children from middle income, culturally rich homes and pupils from lower income and welfare families. Ethnic representations include Greek, Chicano, Black, Korean, Japanese and Caucasian children. In addition to the usual range of age from 2 to 8 years, Family and public school teaching experience, endeavors to make his presence significant to his tiny pupils, many of whom have minimal daily experience with male authority and concern. The "castle" looks like its name and is an imaginative setting to intrigue the creative and explorative minds pre-schooler- Services has requested placement of a few children with special of The gaint s. problems who don't fit in other schools in the area. Castle Kindergarten was originally an L. D. S. Ward building. It was subsequently sold to another church group, who for some unknown reason, never used the building. Steinfeldt, in August of 1971, felt the edifice was perfect for the realization of his vocational dream of a school to playroom on the main floor the berth of what would seem to tiny Noah's voyagers to be a life-siz- e Ark. It's taller than a man and accomodates a crew of twenty or thirty wiggling, active kids at one time. Colorful, airy classrooms are nestled amid the towers and turrets. The basement includes, in is addition-t- o ql ass rooms, bathrooms, a hot lunch area, a real stage for drama, recitation and dance expression. "If a child comes from a class all clean and neat, he hasn't been doing anything, Steinfeldt tells his teachers. His philosophy of education for pre-schoole- rs includes exposing his pupils to every kind of rich, creative environment he can devise into his , curriculum. Baking bread, using the telephone, making butter and ice cream, taking nature walks and learning to play with and handle small animals are but a few of the experiences the children become involved in at Castle Kindergarten. Steinfeldt states he changes classrooms, teachers, experiences and the pace of the day frequently in order to avert boredom and restlessness among the children. Staff at Castle Kindergarten includes four certified teachers, one aide and a rs t!i5 I fOodjf : r I i Mt 0 ?'" t j C v - r - eats n ire ; rr ' . "Electric wiring, plumbing f i i? ') 1 '$ O A 1i and heating systems are all new and according to specifications," Steinfeldt verifies. "An extensive, complete fire protection system was installed. The entire grounds are landscaped and surrounded by safety steel fencing." "I feel my school the personnel are from the immediate Captiol Hill area. When the Kindergarten is developed to its capacity of 100 children, the staff will round out to 14 persons. "My aide came to me seeking a chance to work with children, reveals Steinfeldt, "and think the children love her most. She I seems to have a special empathy because of certain situations in self-imag- e improves daily and the children adore her. is an asset to the Capitol Hill neighborhood," declares Paul "Not only is it the only school of its concept in this part of the city, but plan to Steinfeldt. I introduce lectures and programs which will benefit, not only parents of these youngsters, but the entire community. These days, education cannot be limited to a teacher-studerelationship. Parents and the community must realize their vital roles." nt Steinfeldt's personal dietician, according to Steinfeldt. Three of her own life. Her help develop in a more individualized manner. He negotiated for purchase and the renovation and decorating began in April of 1972. background would seem to qualify him as some kind of authority on early childhood development. His own children, five in number, range in age from 5 to one week. Mrs. Steinfeldt, who has been profoundly deaf since birth, mothers her own group at home and could probably give an interesting interview on how she manages to pre-scho- ol "hear herself think." "I get up with pre-schoole- work and play with them all day, then go home and to bed with them at night," laughs Steinfeldt. |