Play-based preschool in St. Cloud
Heather Shore is a small preschool for children ages 3 and 4, near the lakeshore. Mornings of free play, a long stretch outdoors and a story to finish, from the first leaves to the last snow.
Dressed for the day
Children go outside every morning, so the right layers matter more than anything else on the list. Teachers send a note home when the weather turns.
Rain boots that pull on easily
A fleece or sweatshirt for layering
A warm hat for cool mornings
Clothes that can get muddy
Snow pants and a warm coat
Waterproof boots with room for thick socks
Waterproof mittens and a dry spare pair
A warm hat and a neck warmer, not a scarf
A rain jacket and rain pants
Rain boots for puddles and mud
Two spare pairs of socks
A light hat for bright afternoons
A sun hat and light long sleeves
Closed-toe shoes that can get wet
A water bottle with a name on it
Sunscreen on at home before school
A full spare set of clothes stays in your child's cubby all year. Please put a name inside every coat, boot and mitten.
Programs
3-year-olds
Short routines, long play and a first year away from home for many
4-year-olds
Bigger projects, more talk and the year before kindergarten
Summer mornings run in June and July for both ages, Tuesday to Thursday, 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m.
Sample programs.
Gallery
Leaf piles in fall, mud in spring, an easel above the lake, and the coat room where every day begins.
Sample photos.
Safety and license
Licensed by Minnesota DCYF
Child care center license · MN License # 000000Verify
1 adult to 10 children
3-year-olds
Group size: 20
1 adult to 10 children
4-year-olds
Group size: 20
Group size
Up to 20 children
with 2 adults
Capacity
40
Ages 3 years to 5 years
Children are outdoors every morning for a long stretch, and again in the afternoon on school days. The length depends on the temperature, the wind and the ground, and teachers decide before the morning begins.
Teachers check every child's layers at the door before going out, and a basket of spare mittens, hats, socks and rain pants waits by the coat room.
Two adults go out with every group. We count heads when we leave, at each stop and when we come back, and our walks stay on the path above the shore, away from the water's edge.
The yard is fenced, and a teacher walks it before children go out to check the ground and the play structures. Mud, snow and puddles are part of the day; ice and standing water are not.
On warm days children play in the shade, wear hats and drink water through the morning. Families put sunscreen on at home, and we reapply it with your written permission.
A teacher greets every child at the door. At pickup a child goes only with the people on your list, and we ask to see ID until we know you.
A child with a fever or a contagious illness stays home. If a child becomes ill at school, we call you right away and a teacher stays close until you arrive.
Tell us about allergies at the tour, and we ask for the details privately once you enroll. We ask families not to send nuts.
Ask us about child care assistance
Sample details.
The team
Six adults work at Heather Shore: a lead teacher and an assistant in each room, a floating teacher who covers the yard, and an administrator.
Director and Fours room lead teacher
Katrin started Heather Shore and leads the Fours room. She is at the door most mornings, in boots from October to April, and she is the one who answers when you call the school.
Threes room lead teacher
Njeri leads the Threes room, where snow forts, the mud kitchen and long pretend games fill the morning. She keeps the basket of spare mittens full and knows whose are whose.
From a first question to a first morning.
Call the school or send us a message. Katrin or the office answers within one working day.
Pick a weekday morning. A tour takes about an hour, you see the yard as well as the rooms, and children are welcome to come along.
The application takes a few minutes and asks about your family and the days you hope for. Applications open in January.
Families hear from us in March, by phone and email, with a place or a spot on the waitlist.
Once you accept a place, you finish enrolling with the forms we need, asked for privately.
New children start with a short morning, and a parent stays close by. Bring the layers for the season and a full spare set of clothes.
Tours run all year, in the morning while the rooms are working and the children are outside. Book a time, or call the school and we will find one that suits you.