Small World Preschool – is soon opening where Mount Si Montessori is now located at 485 Maloney Grove Ave SE Road in North Bend.
Susan Lenihan, retiring owner of Mt Si Montesorri says, “After 33 years in the Snoqualmie Valley, Mt Si Montessori will be closing at the end of June 2022. The school was started by Liz Lind, whom I worked with for 15 yrs. and then bought the school from her in late 2007. It has been a wonderful experience for us all at MSM to have touched the lives of so many children in the valley during this time.”
“I have always been grateful for the wonderful staff I have had over the years; they are truly the biggest part of any early childhood education program. Several parents of our recent families were also students at MSM and have brought their children back for the same wonderful experience. As life marches on, so has my time to retire. It’s a very bitter-sweet time of life for myself, my staff and the families we serve. There is no good time to close a business that serves the community. I hope that we will see more Montessori schools open in the area as it is a tried-and-true educational philosophy.”
“Best of luck to Jami and Ryan in their new endeavor.”
New local owner Jami Hildebrand is excited to share her program, a play-based preschool with an emphasis on outdoor time. Hildebrand has worked with kids for over twenty years but started teaching preschool eight years ago in Snoqualmie. She realized then that teaching preschool made her heart sing.
Says Hildebrand, “I respect and appreciate the responsibility of Small World being the first stop on most of my students’ academic journey. This is something I take pride in. I hope the Small World environment will be a place every student is excited to come to. I feel confident in my ability to love children where they are at and celebrate them there.”
Raised in Issaquah, Hildebrand and her husband Ryan, a Mt Si grad, have lived in Snoqualmie since 2010. He has owned and operated a landscape construction company, J&R Rockscapes, that has served Snoqualmie Valley residents primarily since 2005 and will work his magic on their outdoor play areas.
The Hildebrands have two children, Mia, a 7th grader at SMS, and Ryan, a 4th grader at SES. Both kids are active in sports, and Jami is currently coaching her daughter’s 7th-grade select basketball team.
Also joining the fun is the family’s 4-year-old yellow lab, Walter Disney, who will be working every day with Hildebrand at preschool. Walter has been working in a preschool classroom since he was seven weeks old. He is always around for a snuggle, a game of fetch, or to help a child eat their lunch. Walter is thrilled to get his job back after a year off from working.
Small World preschool will open for Summer Camps in July of 2022 and for the 2022/2023 school year in September. Registration for the school year is open on the website. Summer Camp registration will open in March.
If you’re interested in learning more about Jami’s new business or want to meet Walter. She will be having a meet and greet at Centennial Park- 39903 SE Park St Snoqualmie, WA 98065- this coming Saturday, February 26th from 11-1. Visit the events Facebook page for more details here.
Welcome to North Bend, Small World Preschool – and good luck!
