GILROY
– Diane Kirkpatrick, director of The Vineyard Christian
Preschool, has seen hundreds, if not thousands, of local youngsters
graduate from the program during her 25 years with the school.
GILROY – Diane Kirkpatrick, director of The Vineyard Christian Preschool, has seen hundreds, if not thousands, of local youngsters graduate from the program during her 25 years with the school.
Now, she’s seeing many of them come back, all grown up.
“Some of the students who were here when I was a secretary have come back with their own children,” Kirkpatrick said. “One of my grandchildren is attending the school right now.”
Kirkpatrick has been with the 29-year-old school almost from the beginning. She joined The Vineyard, run by Good Shepherd Lutheran Church at 1735 Hecker Pass Hwy., in 1979 as a school and church secretary.
She began teaching at the school in 1988 and was named director shortly thereafter.
“Number one, I love the people that work here – and the setting,” Kirkpatrick said. “It’s a nice, peaceful setting and the type of program that we have here … is a much more caring atmosphere.”
After operating in the church social hall for seven years, The Vineyard moved into its own classroom building in 1982. Located behind the church on the fringes of west Gilroy, the building is tucked into a hillside next to a vineyard.
Through more than two decades with the preschool, Kirkpatrick has seen some natural shifts in the program to keep up with what’s expected of students in Kindergarten. As the school grew – it now enrolls 96 students each year – there were other changes, as well.
“Of course, we’ve added classes in the afternoon that weren’t always here; we’ve been able to acquire more playground equipment and change things around,” she said. “We’ve added a garden so the kids can work on gardening, but of course, we still have our ‘Jesus time’.”
One thing that hasn’t changed, however, is the staff. Besides Kirkpatrick, the seven other teachers and staff members have each been with the school anywhere from seven to 17 years.
“They’re wonderful, they’re my family,” Kirkpatrick said. “There’s no better place to work.”
The Vineyard will celebrate Kirkpatrick’s 25 years of contributing to the school with a potluck dinner on May 15 at 5 p.m. All Vineyard alumni are invited. They are asked to RSVP with Vicky at 847-8463, Mondays and Wednesdays from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. and Fridays from 12 to 2:30 p.m.
