Wheaton Sunshine Preschool closing doors after 44 years

On a recent morning, the children at Sunshine Preschool in Wheaton worked on Mother's Day gifts, played dress-up and practiced writing their names — all mostly unaware of the sadness that was hanging over their teachers.

The preschool, housed in the basement of Wheaton Evangelical Free Church, is closing later this month, after 44 years of serving an estimated 3,500 children ages 3 to prekindergarten.

“It's the end of something special,” said Sara Beilfuss, a former director and teacher who now serves as a volunteer at the school.

Interim Director Linda Krier said the decision to close the school was made several months ago because of declining enrollment and building renovations that were needed, but too costly to complete.

Krier has seen a lot of tears in recent weeks, especially from the teachers who have been at the school for many years. But, as longtime assistant teacher Dawn Davis said, they are finding comfort in the fact that “the Lord has a plan for us.”

Originally called a nursery school, Sunshine opened with 15 children. At its peak, there were more than 100 students enrolled and waiting lists at the beginning of each year.

A lot has changed since then, including the addition of a new playground, a new classroom and people coming and going, Beilfuss said.

“We have a drive-up procedure, and when we first started there were no car seats, so that went faster,” she added. “Parents were less busy, and they could be more involved. Now we see more dads and grandparents than we did when we were first operating.”

Although the school is Christian-based, Krier said it increasingly drew students from other religions and many ethnicities in recent years.

Quite a few of the current students, she added, don't speak English, or don't speak it at home.

“It's been really fun watching them and teachers breaking through with them,” she said. “It's really exciting to see so many languages of the kids who are here.”

Dozens of former students and parents attended a gathering earlier this month to celebrate the school's history.

Mary Choate of Wheaton remembers hearing about the preschool from a neighbor and figured she would enroll her children, too. Now, her grandson attends the school.

While the basement looks different, with a new classroom and rearranged spaces, Choate said her grandson is getting the same great love and care from the teachers that her children did.

“They just all were really great,” she said. “I give them a lot of credit. You have to have a lot of patience because there's a lot going on in preschool.”

Choate, like many of the other parents, was upset when she heard the school was closing.

“I really felt sad because it really is so wonderful,” she said. “I've talked to other moms whose children went here and ... it made us all remember. It's sad, but it's life.”

Tiffany Ordogne, of Carol Stream, was among the many guests circling the gym to take a look at dozens of class photos hanging on the wall.

Ordogne attended the school in the mid-1980s and said walking into the gym brought back memories of an annual Pioneer Days event and Thanksgiving feast.

She enrolled her daughter, Olivia, at the school this year in hopes of her having a similar, positive experience.

“We drive the extra few minutes to come here because it was that special to us,” she said. “I wanted her to be here.”