Our History
Spring Hill Children’s Center was established in 2021 by a group of like-minded parents, educators, and community members who share a core mission: to offer child-centered, nature-based care and education to young children and their families in the greater Monadnock region of New Hampshire.
The Background: A Vision, Realized
In December 2020, the Monadnock Waldorf School announced their plans to close their early childhood campus, grade school, and middle school after 44 years of serving the community. This news created heartache and sadness, but most importantly it also created a need – a critical need for programs designed to enhance the spirit of preschool aged children.
A grassroots initiative immediately formed in order to carry on the legacy and the indescribable magic of the former Waldorf Early Childhood School on Old Walpole Road. What transpired next is a testament to the importance – the irreplaceable value -of a nature-based early childhood program in our area. Inspiration led to action. Interest led to effort. Determination led to attainment.
By March 2021, Spring Hill Children’s Center quickly evolved from a vision to a reality as enough parents, caregivers, and educators embraced the ambitious plan to create a new nature-based setting for preschool children to play, learn, grow, and thrive.
By May 2021, the leaders of the Spring Hill initiative received a generous donation from an angel donor, providing them with the financial support they needed to purchase the magical school property.
The Present: No Challenge Too Great
Opening a new preschool in 6 months against the backdrop of the pandemic has been no small feat. Each day, with our children present in our minds and hearts, we continue to utilize every resource available to us. And with a tremendous amount of assistance from our community – and possibly a little magic from our little school property atop the hill on Old Walpole Road – we have taken huge steps toward opening our doors in the fall.
We are humbled to say that in the initial four months of planning, parents and caregivers have stepped forward to offer their own expertise with fundraising and grant writing, to create our promotional videos, to design our logo and branding, and even develop this very website. Community members, many through pro-bono coaching services at Hannah Grimes Center for Entrepreneurship, have provided counsel for our business plan, legal matters, and offered expert PR and Marketing advice. We have established a non-profit board and secured a fiscal sponsor through Sophia’s Hearth to accept donations, tax-free. Families have already volunteered time and hands to help us prepare the building for the opening of school. This is truly a community effort.
The Future: Planting the Seeds for Success
The journey of Spring Hill Children’s Center is only just beginning, and in order to achieve our goal of welcoming students for the 2021-2022 school year, we will continue to lean into our amazing community to help us make progress each and every day. We are entering our period of start-up fundraising and your financial support will help us meet our key financial milestones.
Please consider making a donation today, for the hearts and minds of our young children.
Spring Hill represents parents, families, and our community at-large. Beyond providing a nurturing environment for our children, we envision our space as a gathering place, where all are welcome to join us for events like pizza nights, yoga, live music, and special celebrations. Please consider joining our board, a board committee, or our parent group to share your voice and expertise and help us build our vision.