Preschool

Program Description

Click Here to Complete the Request for Enrollment Form

The EJRP Preschool is a fully licensed, 5-STAR accredited early childhood program operated by Essex Junction Recreation & Parks and located in the historic Park Street School in Essex Junction, Vermont. The EJRP Preschool is a Universal Pre-K and ACT 166 partner with surrounding school districts. Established in 2009, the program serves children ages 2–5 that offers full-day preschool in the old Park Street School in Five Corners. The program includes structured classroom learning, outdoor play, literacy-rich activities, and hands-on exploration within developmentally appropriate learning environments. EJRP Preschool features fenced outdoor play spaces, experienced early childhood educators, and a curriculum designed to support children’s social, emotional, physical, and cognitive development while preparing them for kindergarten. As part of Essex Junction Recreation & Parks, EJRP Preschool is deeply connected to the local community and values strong partnerships between school and home.

Program Philosophy

At the EJRP Preschool, we believe every child is inherently kind, curious, and capable of extraordinary growth. We nurture these qualities by creating safe and engaging learning environments where children feel empowered to be their authentic selves, take meaningful risks, and reach their fullest potential. We cultivate a supportive and inclusive community through meaningful relationships among children, teachers, and families. Rooted in the Responsive Classroom approach, our program emphasizes open communication, cooperative learning, problem-solving, and thoughtful reflection to support both academic growth and social-emotional development.

Through class meetings, predictable routines, positive self-talk, mindfulness practices, real-time problem solving, literacy-rich experiences, and opportunities to explore the natural world, children develop the skills to be safe, respectful, kind, and adaptable—the foundation upon which our classroom community is built.

We believe children learn best through active, hands-on experiences. Our program provides a wide variety of manipulatives, open-ended materials, and engaging activities that spark curiosity, inspire creativity, and encourage self-directed exploration and discovery.
At the heart of our program is a dedicated teaching team committed to fostering the growth of creative, capable, resilient, and compassionate children. We value critical thinking, self-reflection, meaningful dialogue, connection, and collaboration, and strive to cultivate a learning community where every child feels seen, supported, and inspired to thrive.

EJRP Preschool Offers:

Play-based, emergent curriculum
Socialization skills
Positive educational and learning environment
Fun, educational field trips to extend learning
Caring, nurturing staff
Low staff to child ratios
Full-year coverage
Convenient Essex Junction locations
Licensed by the state of Vermont Child Development Division

Program Details

OUR LOCATION: 21 Park Street, Essex Junction, VT 05452; The historic Park Street School. We have three classrooms and a large multifunction space.

REGISTRATION: Complete the “Request for Enrollment” form linked above. If we are able to enroll your child, there will be an opportunity to schedule a tour of our program space and/or participate in one of our Open Houses. There will be a $500 non-refundable payment to confirm registration ($100 for a registration fee and $400 that will be automatically applied to the first round of billing for the year).

AGE: 2-5 years old, child must be 2, 3 or 4 by September 1

DATE: Monday-Friday, year-round

TIME: 7:30am-5:00pm (Explorers 3/4 and Discovers 4/5); 8:00am-4:00pm (Adventurers 2/3)

FEE: Please contact us for the current weekly tuition rates for City of Essex Junction residents and non-residents

We are pre-qualified for Act 166, which allows us to partner with local school districts so that families can benefit from financial assistance towards your school-year tuition.

Preschool Director

Kristin Cobleigh - Preschool Director

My name is Kristin Cobleigh (otherwise known as Miss Kristin), and I am the EJRP Preschool Director! I am new to the preschool scene, but I have worked in EJRP’s licensed childcare programming for seven years. I have over 13 years of experience working in recreation and childcare, with more than half of that time in a kindergarten-focused leadership role. I have my BA in Elementary Education, and I am currently working on my M.Ed. in Curriculum and Instruction. In my free time, you can find me coaching cheerleading, working on an organization project, hanging with my dog, or reading multiple books at once. I cannot wait to explore the world through the eyes of your children!

My Philosophy of Education:

I believe in building a foundation of lifelong learning through igniting curiosity, empowering independence, and validating a child’s most authentic self. My goal is to create an environment where questions are welcomed, exploration is encouraged, and children feel safe to take intellectual risks. I am committed to leading a team of passionate and reflective educators and fostering strong partnerships with families and our community. Children will leave my care confident in themselves and their abilities, and they will be well-prepared to take the next steps in their education.