Little Eagles, Big Lessons at Brandon High

By Ralph

When most people think of Brandon High School, preschool probably isn't the first thing that comes to mind.

But tucked inside the Brandon campus is a program that brings some of the community's youngest learners together with high school students preparing for their own futures.

Little Eagles Preschool is preparing to begin its new session on September 15, and Brandon High School is currently accepting applications.

The preschool is part of Brandon High's Early Childhood Education program, giving high school students an opportunity to move beyond textbooks and gain practical experience working with young children.

For the preschoolers, that means an educational environment where they can learn, play, socialize and begin developing the skills they'll eventually carry into kindergarten.

For the high school students, the classroom becomes something more than a place to take notes.

They get an opportunity to learn firsthand about childhood development, lesson preparation, classroom responsibilities and what it takes to work with young children—experience that can be especially valuable for students considering careers in education or childcare.

Learning Goes Both Ways

Programs like Little Eagles demonstrate one of the advantages of career-focused education: students can begin exploring a profession before graduating from high school.

Instead of simply wondering whether early childhood education might be right for them, Brandon students can gain exposure to the field while they're still deciding what comes next.

And at the same time, local families gain another early-learning opportunity right here in the Brandon community.

Brandon High announced on August 20 that applications are being accepted for this year's Little Eagles program, with preschool scheduled to begin September 15.

A Classroom With Two Generations

There is something fitting about preschoolers and teenagers learning under the same roof.

One group is taking some of its first steps into education. The other is beginning to decide where education might take them next.

At Little Eagles, both get a chance to learn.

They just happen to be doing it from opposite ends of the classroom.