Wawasi follows a Montessori-inspired approach to encourage learning through play, self-respect, and diversity. We offer year-round care with flexible enrollment options, focusing on building strong relationships with both children and parents.Â
Choose Wawasi for personalized attention, a holistic education philosophy, and a community that celebrates the uniqueness of each child.
Hours & Policies
Wawasi provides care from 8am-5pm, Monday-Friday, and accommodates full-time and part-time enrollment. We accept students ages 2 to 5, and occasionally have slots available for younger babies. We accept children at all stages of the potty training process, from diapers to fully potty trained. We enroll no more than 14 students at any time. Depending on the students' ages and schedules, we typically have a staff-to-student ratio of 1:3 or higher. Wawasi fosters an active community. We encourage parents and caregivers to support our school by providing snacks on a rotating basis, volunteering for tasks as needed, and visiting the school to spend time with the children (such as by reading books). We also host several events throughout the year, including potlucks, a pumpkin carving, and an annual light ceremony.
Learning & Playing
We generally structure our curriculum around different units, such as plants and animals, the human body, and outer space. While we are non-denominational, we also like to teach students about different cultures and holidays. Our program is bilingual (English-Spanish).
Our days are filled with arts and crafts, reading, singing, meditation, exercise, dress-up, gardening, and playtime in the backyard. We sometimes have visiting teachers who offer physical education and music classes. We also like to take walks around the neighborhood to see the local chickens, admire holiday decorations, visit the local library, and play in our neighborhood parks.
Healthy Meals
Wawasi provides homemade breakfast and lunch every day, as well as two snacks and a daily smoothie filled with organic greens and frozen berries. Families take turns providing snacks for the week (about once every three months). We use organic ingredients as often as possible. We do not serve dairy (except cheese and occasionally yogurt). We generally accommodate dietary restrictions and other needs; however, we are not a nut-free environment.
TK Aftercare
We offer aftercare for students enrolled in TK at Cornell Elementary--just one block away! One of our teachers handles pickup at Cornell every day at dismissal, carefully walking the students back to our school for the afternoon. Once back, the kids can enjoy a yummy snack, a rest if they'd like some quiet time, or else playtime in the backyard.