One year after introducing seven preschool classrooms into Pond Road Middle School, administrators and educators are reporting overwhelmingly positive outcomes from the integration.
The preschool addition, part of Robbinsville’s new Preschool Expansion Aid (PEA) program, was initially met with logistical concerns.
Those concerns were particularly about maintaining an age-appropriate environment for both the pre-kindergarten and middle school populations.
According to Principal Paul Gizzo, those concerns quickly faded. “The preschoolers in the building are just in awe of the middle schoolers,” Gizzo said.
“They look up to the older students as role models, and the older kids have happily accepted that designation..” he said. “Both sides have gained so much from this new arrangement.”
The preschool classrooms are housed in a separate wing of the school with their own entrance, office and parking area, functioning largely as a standalone unit.
Nonetheless, meaningful interaction between the youngest and oldest students has become a hallmark of the program.
Eighth-grade students, in particular, have embraced opportunities to read to the preschoolers, a highly anticipated activity for both age groups.
Middle school students also participated in a preschool-hosted fashion show, serving as emcees for the event, which celebrated the completion of a themed study on clothing.
Gizzo said that the presence of the preschool students has had a positive effect on middle schoolers, encouraging them to model appropriate behavior and embrace mentorship roles.
“When we first announced that we would be integrating preschool classrooms into the middle school, there was some trepidation on the side of some parents,” said Courtney Snead, Robbinsville Preschool Community and Parent Involvement Specialist.
“However, the feedback has been so overwhelmingly positive that now some preschool parents are even requesting their students be placed at Pond Road,” Snead said.
The program’s success at Pond Road is one example of broader momentum behind Robbinsville’s preschool initiative, which Superintendent Dr. Patrick Pizzo said has become a model for other districts.
“The successful integration of preschool classrooms into our middle school is attributable to the tremendous personnel we have in our district,” Pizzo said. “I am pleased to see this partnership has gone so well, and I look forward to seeing more successful collaboration in the future.”
In addition to the seven classrooms at Pond Road, Robbinsville’s preschool program also operates seven classrooms at Sharon Elementary School. Open to children ages 3 to 5, the program follows a play-based curriculum grounded in best practices for early childhood education.
District officials say it helps students build the social-emotional and cognitive skills necessary for long-term academic success.
The program is free for Robbinsville residents, with limited spots available for the 2025–26 school year. For more information or to register, visit Robbinsville Public Schools’ preschool registration page.
