Meridian Hills Cooperative Nursery School & Kindergarten

Hi neighbors! 👋 I’m Miss Jennie, and I teach the Kinderbirds class at Meridian Hills Cooperative Nursery School.

I wanted to pop in here because I know that sometimes, when the school year starts, you realize... this just might not be the right fit for my kid.

Maybe your child is coming home exhausted from a full day. Maybe the transition has been harder than you expected. Maybe you've been wishing there were a little more time to play, move, be outside, and just be five.

Or maybe you had no idea that part-time kindergarten programs still exist!

We have a rare opening at Kinderbirds for this school year, and I wanted to make sure local families know about it. 💚 We start September 9, 2026!

A little about Kinderbirds:
🌿 For children who are 5 by September 1
⏰ Tuesday, Wednesday & Thursday, 9:00–2:00
👩‍🏫 Small class with a 1:6 adult-to-child ratio
🌳 Lots and lots of time outside; in all kinds of weather, and yes, sometimes in the mud
🍂 We explore Holliday Park once a month, returning throughout the year to witness the changing seasons
📚 Curriculum framed by the Indiana Kindergarten Academic Standards, but taught in ways that follow the children's interests
🎵 Music every week
🇪🇸 Spanish twice a month
🚌 Field trips!
🤝 A cooperative school where families are an important part of our community

I'm in my 12th year at Meridian Hills. My own children attended the school for seven years, and this is my fifth year teaching. I studied Early Childhood Education at Indiana University and Elementary and Special Education at WGU. What I love about teaching Kinderbirds is getting to meet children where they are and teach five-year-olds like five-year-olds.

And when I say we're play-based, I don't mean we play instead of learning. 😊 I mean play is one of the ways children learn best:

🧠 Critical thinking: trying ideas, testing theories, and figuring out how things work
🧩 Problem-solving: encountering a problem and finding a way through it; often more than once!
⚖️ Risk assessment: learning to make decisions about what their bodies can do and what feels safe
🤝 Social-emotional skills: negotiating, collaborating, handling conflict, and practicing empathy
🔄 Making learning stick: getting to practice new skills in meaningful, hands-on ways
💚 Less anxiety, more curiosity: learning without feeling like they have to sit still, perform, or get everything right the first time
We absolutely work toward the Indiana standards. We just might do it while building something, investigating bugs, creating art, writing a story, putting on a show, or getting gloriously dirty outside. 🌳🐛

Each year, the children's interests grow into a big project they share at the end of the year. Past classes have made a movie based on a favorite book, held a science fair, created a larger-than-life papier-mâché bug exhibit, built a zoo, written and performed an original play and musical, and even written a book.

And if you have a younger five-year-old, Kinderbirds can be a wonderful bridge year. If your child misses the public-school August 1 cutoff but will be 5 by our September 1 cutoff, they may be able to spend this year with us before heading to public kindergarten in 2027-2028.

So if you've been sitting with that little feeling of “Maybe this isn't quite working...”, or you're just surprised to learn that a part-time option like this exists, I'd be happy to talk. ❤️

💬 Feel free to comment here or email me at [email protected]. I'm always happy to answer questions!

Still looking for the perfect fit for your Kindergartener and family?

We have availability in our '26-'27 Kindergartener program. We are a nature and outdoor focused, part-time, cooperative school offering a different approach to a traditional kindergarten.

PM or email [email protected] to schedule a tour for Wed 8/26 10am & 11am!

We've got until 10pm! That's plenty of time to hit our goal! There are a few items that are still waiting for bids, so this is the perfect time to head over to the auction site! Thank you for all of your generous bidding, and support!

https://32auctions.com/MHCNS2026
Link also in bio!

See you this Saturday! 💛

The wait is almost over! Our Silent Auction opens tomorrow, April 27th at 9am and runs through May 2nd.

Here is your link to bid!
32auctions.com/MHCNS2026

Audrey Harrison Travel, your go-to for all things Disney vacation planning, has put together the perfect gift basket for any Disney lover. The basket includes a Disney Frozen themed Loungefly wallet and scarf, Elsa and Olaf rubber ducks, Nightmare Before Christmas cozy socks and candle, Disney princess reusable tote, and a $100 travel voucher.

Bid on this and other exciting items in this year's Annual Silent Auction! Bidding begins April 27th at 9am! Auction site will be posted shortly before bidding begins. You'll find it in our posts and bio.

We still have a few spots left for the 2026–27 school year and we'd love to welcome your family! Come see our space, meet our teachers, and get a feel for our community. Message us today to schedule your tour- [email protected]