In February of 2020, Pando was on the brink of an exiting transition. We were preparing to move from our home at The Source to our new building just a few houses down. We had spent much of the fall and late winter visiting the construction site with our students, all the while exploring what it meant for a building to become a school. Children explored the building’s empty rooms, waded through knee high weeds in the backyard, and wondered about the relics left behind by the building’s prior occupants.
As we now all know, March 2020 turned the world upside down, and our school’s plans with it. We promptly closed, thinking it temporary. Little did we know, we would not be re-opening until September of 2020. Construction continued into the summer with the crew nearly halved, our contractor forced to let most of his team go as the whole world ground to a halt. Teachers and parents pitched in to paint walls and mount cabinets.
Our school (pre-Construction) through the eyes of our students…
Shortly after purchasing the building, we began taking students on trips to the new property in the hopes of fostering a sense of ownership and belonging. With their curiosity, keen observation skills, and a camera, they explored the environment pre-construction. Here’s a glimpse of their first impressions:
Walls as Canvases
To transgform the building from duplex to school, we needed to demolish numerous interior walls. Prior to the tear down, children used them as massive canvases.
What’s New
Our Hours
7:30am to 5pm
Our Classrooms
We will have two classrooms; The Big Room for our older students, and The Little Room for our younger students. There won’t be any hard and fast age-based line between these two rooms. We’ll take a close, holistic look at each child and determine which room will best support their success.
Our Enrollment Options
All students will participate in our Core Hours, 8:30am to 1:00pm, 4 or 5 days a week. Families can then enroll in our full day program if they require additional care.
Little Room (14 students ages 2 to 4)
Core Hours, M-Th, 8:30am-1pm $600
Core Hours, M-F, 8:30am-1pm $650
Full Day, M-F, 7:30am-5pm $1070
Big Room (16 students ages 3 to 5)
Core Hours, M-Th, 8:30am-1pm $515
Core Hours, M-F, 8:30am-1pm $565
Full Day, M-F, 7:30am-5pm $985
All current families will have the option to re-enroll with these new options, or retain their current enrollment plan through the end of the 2020 school year.
What’s the same
Our Philosophy
We’re still the same program we’ve always been - committed to creating a small, vibrant community of learners where children have a right to compelling, real-world learning experiences.
Our Core Team
Melissa, Micci, Megan, and Jen all continue to be the heart and soul of our school - shaping not only children’s experiences, but the school’s culture and future. Even Kristi comes by now and again :)
Our relationship with The Source
Though we won’t be in The Source, we’re just a hop and skip away so we’ll continue to visit the pond, the garden, and the Blue Room.
