Hanover Nursery School

For the past 40 years, the Hanover Nursery School & Day Care Center has served students and their families. Although the paint colors have changed along with a few familiar faces, owner Ann Maczpacay said much about the school’s philosophy has remained. Graduating hundreds of students and even inspiring a few teachers, the school has always had a secret to success: TLC. “We have a nice cozy feeling and we have fun, but we also have strong academics,” owner Ann Maczpacay said, describing what makes her school unique. With just 24 students per session, Maczpacay said her students get personalized attention from teachers throughout the day. The close-knit group of students and teachers forms a second family for her students, she said. “We have a closeness with the families that they really appreciate,” preschool Director Fred Fuller agreed. “We have families come back for generations.” Karin Whitten of Rockland said she sent her two children to Hanover Nursery because she appreciated the school’s welcoming environment. “I grew up in Hanover so I knew it was there from driving by. When I started to look at nursery schools, it had the best price and it was personalized – not a chain,” she said. “When I went in, they made the registration process easy. I felt like my kids were really welcome, and as parents we were really welcome.” But besides the family-like environment, Fuller said his school is also known for its emphasis on learning. “Preschool education is very important,” Fuller said. “If you start a child in an academic environment young, they will perform better socially and academically.” From science and math to phonics and reading, Fuller said he fuses traditional learning with elements of music and art to create an engaging and well-rounded learning environment for his students. “We expose the students to all kids of things in order to build into the curriculum a well-rounded education,” Fuller said. “It is all accentuated with fun, because learning should be fun,” he added. On Friday, students were decked out in their Patriots gear, ready to celebrate the recent Super Bowl win with a pizza party. Parties are a usual thing at Hanover Nursery, as teachers use holidays and events to teach students about different cultures and religions. “We are a very fun school, but we also base our curriculum off of the elementary schools, so our students go to kindergarten fully prepared and even with a little edge,” Assistant Director Ashley Stevens said. As students built towers from blocks and painted Valentine’s cards for their families on Friday, and all were eager to talk about their favorite times in school. “We do a lot of stuff together. It’s a special place,” Nolan Frawley, 5, of Hanover said as he built a castle for one of his teachers. Maczpacay said her school has survived all these years because of its special mix of family, education and love. “Our longevity is based on our stability, but also because we are very affordable in a tight economy,” Maczpacay said. The school, which serves as both a preschool and day care center, offers a variety of programs at differing prices. But operating as both a preschool and day care facility can lead to long days for some of her students, making the family-oriented atmosphere all the more important, Maczpacay said. The center is open daily from 7 a.m. until 6 p.m. “Some of these kids see more of us than their parents and that’s why we like to keep it a family-like atmosphere,” she said. Maczpacay has been at the helm of Hanover Nursery for 13 years and is the school’s second owner. Although she purchased the school from its founder, Penny Reid in 2002, she first became acquainted with the preschool as an assistant teacher in 1985 while attending Bridgewater State University. For five years Maczpacay worked alongside Reid, learning the ins and outs of early childhood education. It was Hanover Nursery that would spark a passion for teaching and learning in Maczpacay and eventually, she would return to the school to continue the work of her mentor, Reid. “It was like fate,” Maczpacay said. After earning her undergraduate degree in education and moving away to go to graduate school in Indiana, she lost touch with Reid. She returned to Brockton, her hometown, to teach first grade. About a decade after Maczpacay left Hanover Nursery to continue her own education, she happened to drive by the school and spotted Reid in the playground. She hopped out and reconnected with her old boss, letting her know that if ever Reid wanted to sell, she would be up for the challenge. Three days later Reid called to tell Maczpacay she was ready to pass the reigns. Ever since, Maczpacay said she’s been focused on bringing in the best team of teachers to bring the best – and most fun – education to her students. “We are able to do it because we love what we do,” Maczpacay said. Hanover Nursery School & Day Care Center, located at 17 Silver St. inside Riley Hall, accepts students 2.9 years to 5 years old and is open year-round from 7 a.m. until 6 p.m. Fulltime students cost $190 a week and a tiered payment schedule is available for half-time students. For more information, visit hanovernurseryschool.com or call 781-826-8604. Follow Erin Tiernan on Twitter @ErinTiernan.

Additional Information: Education Level(s): Associates Degree