As noted in the city’s ongoing budget process, Seattle’s city-run community centers offer a lot more than you might realize. If you think they are just places to go play basketball or hang out – you’re missing some of their well-kept secrets. At High Point Community Center (which has a city-organized public meeting tonight), the Small Scholars preschool program is under new leadership. We talked on Friday with Marquita Mosby, who took over Small Scholars this fall. The program (run by the Associated Recreation Council) is for ages 3-5, 9:30 am-1 pm on weekdays, with options for 2-, 3-, or 5-day participation. Marquita says she and her team pack a lot into those hours, from preschool traditions like circle time and play time, to language-learning (they’ve been working on Spanish).

With the expansive park and field grounds right out the door, the preschoolers take nature walks, too. When they show a particular interest, the curriculum responds, she explains – lately there’s been a lot of talk about volcanoes, so they’ve been talking about real-life volcanoes and checking out the ever-popular science-fair staple, the baking-soda-and-vinegar variety. There are openings in the program right now; find out more by calling 206-684-7422 (you can also reach Marquita directly at 206-321-7952).