No, they didn't sneak onto campus by lying about their age. The Little Falcons - 20 children under 5 years of age - are giving 31 Freedom High School students an opportunity to study aspects of child development while learning how and what to teach toddlers.

The inspiration behind Little Falcons Preschool, a Regional Occupational Program Careers in Teaching class of the Oakley school, is Freedom teacher Elizabeth Rodriguez. According to Rodriguez, the preschool-within-a-school is a laboratory in which high school students considering a career in teaching, pediatrics, nursing, social work or any other field that involves working with children are eligible to enroll as teachers.

"I'm so proud of the students because they have worked so hard to give the preschool children a well-rounded experience in Little Falcons," said Rodriguez. "Because of their dedication and diligence, they have learned so much about a teacher's world and about themselves."

Last Friday was the last day of Little Falcons Preschool for the current academic year, and parents were invited to visit the Freedom campus and see what their toddlers had learned.