Barnes Early Childhood Ctr. at a glance

Barnes Early Childhood Center opened in September 1999 when school officials decided there were enough preschool programs across the district to justify combining them into one building. Two programs are hosted at Barnes: a preschool/daycare program and a program for children with special needs. Together they serve 80 to 100 students per year.

Barnes was originally an elementary school. It opened in September 1956, but closed in November 1983 when budget cuts forced the district to reduce costs. The following year, the school opened as a community education center. The building was used like this for 15 years until Barnes Early Childhood Center was opened.

The special education program at Barnes supports children from birth to age five and prepares them for the transition into elementary school. Teachers can work with parents to set up an appropriate curriculum depending on the child’s needs.

“The program is unique in that research tells us early intervention has a positive effect on these children’s futures,” Principal Sue Banner said. “We work more on an individual basis and get at those deficit areas early.

“Often times, students and their parents are with us for two, three, four years at a time. When it’s time to leave, it’s hard for them to break away and it’s hard to see them go because you get to see the students come so far.”

The school was named after John R. Barnes, who became superintendent of Grosse Pointe Schools in 1947.  

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