Open Hearth (OHASK) Preschool

The Open Hearth Afterschool Kids (OHASK) preschool program, located at the Waitsfield School, has been providing supplementary care for Waitsfield and Fayston preschool students since 2021. 

Our goals for the program are to provide a safe and fun learning environment for young children, to offer days and hours that coordinate with community needs, and to be the program your child is excited to attend. Your child's experience is central to designing our curriculum and environment. 

We work to provide a space and classroom community that is safe, playful, child-led, and nurturing. Social-emotional growth is the cornerstone to any happy classroom community, and it is in everything we do. Each challenge is a growth and learning opportunity, and supporting preschool children requires patience, presence, understanding. A safe space and classroom community starts with being proactive. This means introducing large and small group activities that promote a cooperative classroom climate, communicating with parents, anticipating individual needs, and making sure each child feels seen and supported. Parents are the expert on their child, so our staff are happy to make themselves available for a phone call, email, or in-person meeting. The Open Hearth board, which includes parents and community members, meets once a month, providing the opportunity for anyone to join in the conversation. 

If you have any questions, feel free to contact prek program director Jessica Knoop at ohaskpk@gmail.com