St. Michael-Albertville High School

Big Woods Elementary teaches grades 1 to 4 for St. Michael-Albertville Schools (District 885), about thirty minutes west of Minneapolis. Families stay close to classrooms through grandparent and special guest lunches, an active PTO and a school store. Student support is staffed inside the building. Four special education teachers and two speech teachers work with students on IEPs, a reading specialist supports early readers, and we take part in Minnesota Reading Corps, which adds trained literacy tutors for students working toward reading well by the end of third grade. Our school social worker leads social emotional learning and behavior support, and a CanvasHealth school-based therapist is on site five days a week so children can get mental health care without leaving school. English learners receive language support as well. Fourth graders perform in an evening music concert, students donate winter gear through the Giving Tree each December, and district meals include Farm to School days with food from local farmers plus a weekend meals program.

Happee Hollee's Preschool & Childcare, located in the heart of St. Michael, Minnesota, is dedicated to nurturing the unique potential of children aged three and older, particularly those with diverse learning needs. The school's mission revolves around creating a warm, loving environment where every child feels valued and supported. With a small group size of just 12 students, Happee Hollee ensures individualized attention that fosters close friendships and enhances social development. The curriculum is thoughtfully designed using elements from Creative Curriculum, Reggio-Emilia, and Montessori methods, promoting child-directed and play-based learning that emphasizes the importance of exploration in reaching developmental milestones. Each week features engaging themes that enrich children's learning experiences across various domains, including literacy, art, music, and sensory exploration. Unique learning centers provide opportunities for dramatic play, science experiments, math activities, and more within a literacy-rich environment filled with over 1,000 books. The school also embraces cultural diversity through its Passport program, allowing children to to different countries monthly while learning languages such as English, Spanish, and American Sign Language. What sets Happee Hollee apart is its commitment to eco-friendly practices as the first family childcare in Minnesota certified as Eco-Healthy Child Care (EHCC), alongside providing nutritious organic meals. The facility boasts a spacious fenced yard equipped with climbing structures and nature exploration areas. With over 25 years of experience in early childhood education and a strong emphasis on family partnerships through service-learning projects and community events, Happee Hollee's Preschool & Childcare stands out as a nurturing haven where children can thrive academically and socially while developing essential life skills.

10 Acre Wood Nature Preschool, located in Lakeville, Minnesota, is a nurturing and play-based educational environment designed for children aged 33 months through kindergarten. With a core mission centered on fostering a love for nature and environmental stewardship, the preschool offers both full-day and part-time enrollment options within a maximum group size of 12 students, ensuring an intimate learning atmosphere supported by a low student-to-teacher ratio of 6:1. The preschool's unique approach incorporates outdoor exploration across its expansive 10-acre property, which features woodlands, wetlands, and native prairie. This immersive setting allows children to engage in hands-on learning experiences that promote curiosity and discovery. The school's commitment to environmental education is reflected in its use of an environmentally-friendly converted pole barn as the main facility. What sets 10 Acre Wood apart is not only its dedicated focus on nature-based learning but also its emphasis on creating strong connections with families, fostering a community that supports each child's growth and development.