Wayland School for Toddlers Closing After 15 Years

Little Dove Early Childhood Center opened to Wayland and other local families about 15 years ago at Peace Lutheran Church.

At the end of May, the school for toddlers will close its doors.

Peach Lutheran Pastor Jeff Johnson said times have changed since Little Dove opened, and enrollment just hasn't kept pace.

"When we started, it was really the only school for toddlers and that's why we did it," Johnson said. "Now there are a lot of programs like that."

Johnson said the Little Dove board of directors made the decision to end the program about a month ago, citing enrollment as the reason for the closure.

"Despite offering a consistently high-quality program, under the direction of Kathleen Sawyer, Little Dove is unable to enroll enough children to keep the program open," an announcement from the board reads.

Johnson was quick to stress that the closing of Little Dove does not mean that the church will stop seeking ways to serve the children and families of Wayland and other nearby towns.

"We're trying to figure out what's needed now," Johnson said. "I'd like to have some other more permanent group or organization here. There may be another kind of program for preschoolers in some way."

The board of directors also indicated in its announcement a commitment to finding a new way to serve area children.

For now, Johnson said, the church and Little Dove want to offer families a chance to say goodbye to a program that, according to the website, has touched "almost 200 toddlers and 130 families" in its 15 years.

On Sunday, May 5, the church's regular 9:30 a.m. service will end with a prayer time for Little Dove. Following that, Little Dove will hold an open house to which residents and former families are invited to come and say their farewells.

"It will be sad, but it's a new beginning then," Johnson said. "We'll think of something else."