Apple House Kindergarten
Apple Blossom programs engage the head, heart, and hands to cultivate inner joy, reverence and wonder for the earth, and a deeper connection to our local community and the world.
Enrollment begins February 3, 2025. Indigenous Scholarship available until funds are used.
Apple House Multi-Age Kindergarten Includes:
Seedlings Preschool Class for children turning age 3 by March 1, 2025 (must be 3.5 by Sept 1 and fully toilet trained). Preschoolers join the Kindergarten Class 2 mornings a week from 9 - 11:50 am on Mondays and Wednesdays.
Blossoms Class for children turning age 5 after June 1st but by September 1st, children with late spring and summer birthdays (young 5’s or Transitional Kindergarten) M - W 9 am - 12:30 pm or 9 am - 3 pm.
Stars Class age 5 by June 1st or turning age 6 over the school year, or may start the year as a young 6 year old with a summer birthday. M - W 9 am - 3 pm. Stars may add Thursdays Multi-Age Enrichment Program for 6 - 12 year olds once they have turned age 6 and are developmentally ready to be with the older kids, and have completed one month of Kindergarten.
Our Curriculum is Earth Conscious and multicultural. Indigenous Values of care for the earth and all living beings are woven into our days together.
We have a full time Kindergarten Teacher and a part time Preschool Teacher on staff plus our teaching staff for the Tree House Grades Class is right next door. Our class size for Multi-Age Kindergarten is 8 - 12 students. Each day children are engaged in outdoor exploration, games, and tasks making deep connections with nature and learning life skills. Our Multi-Age Kindergarten is play based, building a strong foundation for later academic skills. Each day comes with an Activity of the Day, Circle Time, and Oral Storytelling and Puppetry.
*We believe in multi-age learning! full day Kindergartners combine with first and second graders for specialty classes each week such as Handwork, Games, Spanish, and Singing.
Thursdays we offer our Growing Together Class from 9:30- 11:30 am for birth to age 6. This class is included in your child’s Preschool or Kindergarten enrollment for no added fee. Join your child on Thursdays to experience the wonder and joy of Apple Blossom together! This class is also open to the community for a fee.
Thursday Multi-Age Homeschool Enrichment Class for ages 6 - 12 years can be added to the M - W curriculum once your Kindergartner turns 6 and shows signs of readiness. Forest Day at Lake Bemidji State Park once a month plus local field trips and guest teachers happen on Thursdays to compliment our curriculum and bring our studies to life! Parents are welcome to share a talent or help chaperone a field trip. More info HERE
*If before or after care beyond our hours is needed, parents are encouraged to help each other with arrangements. We are a Microschool (Private school/Homeschool hybrid). Students can arrive 10 min before or stay 10 min after by special arrangement if the Teacher’s schedule allows and if space is available. After care programs beyond what we can offer may be offered at local childcare centers or home childcare programs, or the Boys and Girls Club.
We provide a daily morning snack modeled after the German “second breakfast”, incorporating seasonal foods that we harvest, foods native to Minnesota, and cultural foods according to our curriculum. Our curriculum includes harvest, preservation, and cooking. We eat organic when possible and we are able to accommodate gluten free and dairy free diets.
Options and Cost
2 Morning Preschool (3.5 until age 5 - see Preschool page)
3 Half Day Kindergarten (age 5)
Fall Sept 2 - Dec 17
$1400 due August 25
Spring Jan 12 - May 20 with a week off in March
$1750 due December 15
3 Full Day Kindergarten (age 5 by Sept 1 - age 6)
Fall Sept 2 - Dec 17
$1540 due August 25
Spring Jan 12 - May 20 with a week off in March
$1925 payment due December 15
Growing Together Class on Thursdays 9:30 - 11:30 am
No extra charge to enrolled Preschool and Kindergarten families
Fall Session Sept 4 - Dec 11, Spring Session Feb 5 - May 14
Thursday Multi-Age Enrichment Class for 6 - 12 years (may be added once your child is age 6 and shows signs of readiness).
Monthly payment is available or pay the whole year for 3% discount. Sibling Discount of 10% off is available.
Seasonal Festivals are part of our Nature Curriculum and develop awe and wonder for young children.
We encourage family involvement. Children in the Grades classes often have a special role in creating or helping with parts of the festivals as part of their learning and community involvement. Please plan to participate in some way. These are beautiful traditions that your child will talk about for years to come!
New this year: Family Day on the last Thursday of each session. Bring the family and enjoy activities together! Times may vary depending on activities offered.
Festivals Include: Harvest Festival, Enchanted Halloween Fundraiser, Lantern Walk, Winter Spiral Festival, March Puppet Play, Spring Celebration, and Midsummer Fest
*We have high behavior expectations in our developmentally appropriate Multi-age Kindergarten. We are experienced and nurturing early childhood teachers with a variety of educational backgrounds and experience. Apple Blossom teachers also have training in Waldorf philosophy and curriculum. We know children are still learning and we have developmentally appropriate expectations. Our staff have been through Peacemakers Resources SEL modeling and training and we provide many opportunities to learn skills throughout our play filled days. Due to our unique set up with yurts as classrooms and outdoor play yard, and no Special Education staff onsite, we can accommodate a variety of learning styles, but we are not equipped to accommodate high behavior needs. Children must be able to be safe with their bodies, appropriate with their language, and listen to teacher directions in order to attend.
*Simplicity Parenting Article Waldorf Early Childhood Education
Come Grow with us!
Apple Blossom provides a beautiful home-like environment that is protective, predictable, and secure. Our goal is to develop the whole child; the physical, social, emotional and creative skills that support later success in life and school. This child-centered approach matches current research on how our youngest children grow and develop. We are offer a haven from the hustle and bustle of the world and a no screens approach to learning.
Storytelling
Our mornings together include:
a nurturing home-like atmosphere in our cozy yurt
consistent teachers
small class size of 8 - 12 students
daily outdoor time and nature exploration
a language rich environment through oral storytelling and puppetry
music and singing
imaginative play
visual arts
natural wood toys and fibers
practical life activities (baking and making soup, woodworking, washing and gardening)
German traditions through Waldorf curriculum, Spanish Language, and Ojibwe language and culture through guests and seasonal learning
More info on our Curriculum Page