Round Hill citizens who used to have to drive to Bluemont to take classes at the Bluemont Community Center will continue to enjoy the shorter trip to the Round Hill Center on High Street for another two years.

According to Rick Gleason, manager of the Bluemont Community Center, the county is still working on plans for renovations to the center’s building in Bluemont. Current plans have the project put out to bid this fall, with construction starting in December 2010 or January 2011. Once started, the renovation is expected to take 14 months.

"The renovation to the original 1923 building will include a small addition, with an office, kitchen and an elevator," Gleason said. "Some parts of the old building, such as the gym, are being reconfigured. Downstairs, where the offices used to be will be a new child care room, and a new bathroom will be put in between the classrooms."

To ensure they would be able to use the Round Hill Center during their renovation, Bluemont Community Center moved in to the Round Hill Center as soon as Loudoun Valley Community Center returned to its Purcellville location after the renovation of its building was completed in August of 2008.

Gleason says that there have been advantages to being at the Round Hill Center. "The classrooms are bigger, and it is closer to home for many of our students and parents, as many of them live in Round Hill."

Gleason misses the larger playground in Bluemont—the playground at the Round Hill Center was added when LVCC moved there—but overall, he said, "the building has worked out great!"

Kathleen Genaille, a Round Hill resident who has had two children in classes at Bluemont Community Center while it has been in Round Hill, has enjoyed having it here and appreciates the impact it has had on the community.

"To me, it just makes Round Hill so much better," she said. "I really like being able to live in a community where you can get the stroller out, get the kids, and walk to school."

Genaille has been impressed with how professional and child-centered the staff and programs are, the research-based curriculum, and how thoughtful the management has been in their decisions about the people they hire, who she feels "really have the kids in mind first."

"We feel we offer a fun, educational and affordable experience for your child’s first school experience," Gleason added.

Bluemont Community Center is currently accepting registrations for six preschool classes for the 2010-11 school year. For elementary-aged children, the center operates after-kindergarten, first-graders and kids’ club programs.

Bluemont also offers full- and part-time child care for ages 3-5. Child care operates from 7:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. daily.

For more information, call (540) 338-4485 or stop by the center at 20 High Street.