Legacy – Napa Valley Nursery School

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Napa Valley Cooperative Nursery School

A local tradition since 1950

Celebrating 75 Years

And what a remarkable, memorable, silly, fulfilling, and beautiful 75 years it has been! We have been a staple and leader in our community for the better part of a century, guiding and nurturing the development of confident, able, curious, and kind children - and their grown-ups too! We are a community with roots over seven decades deep, greeting alumni grandparents today with the very same "Hey-lo-di-o-doh" they themselves grew up reciting to their classmates and neighbors. Over the years we've celebrated many milestones together - graduations, anniversaries, birthdays, the arrival of new family members. With that in mind, we're taking this time to reflect on the joy, love, and light that continues to make NVNS a home for all. We hope you enjoy this tribute as we toast to the years ahead.

Walk Down Memory Lane

We Are Napa's Only Play-Based Parent-Led Co-Op

We're different - special even - and we're not afraid to say it. Being a cooperative nursery school means we work, play, and learn alongside one another day-in and day-out, sharing in the hard work and basking in the wonder and glory of raising children. Our pay-based methods mean we're foundationally rooted in the science of child development, providing opportunity and context to learn, explore, and develop within the parameters of playtime. We believe a child's work IS play and so we get dirty, wet, and messy all in the name of education--and fun! Our parent-led community means trusted adults in the classroom, establishing meaningful relationships with the children and developing a core community that is essential for children as they learn to navigate the world. It provides them with a group of loving, dedicated, trusted grownups up whom they can rely, creating a growing, supportive, lifelong community of friends and friend-families.

Read Alumni Testimonials

Our Future is Bright, But Not Guaranteed

After 62 years at our current location in downtown Napa, we're gearing up for the next chapter. With plans in place, our school will be developed into a new multipurpose building serving a variety of people and needs. And with that, our relocation project was born. We've been working around the clock to establish and develop our shared vision in a new space; one that captures both the beauty of our natural environment and the magic of imaginative play spaces. We humbly invite you to join us on this important (and exciting!) journey as we lean into the help and support of this amazing community. Sign up for our newsletter to stay up-to-date on Project Relocation as well as seasonal activities, events, and fundraisers that are fun for the whole family.

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Our History

1950-1959

Preschool is in Session

Our story began in 1950 as the Mt. George Play Center with Director Donna Connell.

In 1957, Mrs. John L. Lucas became the teacher in a different location, and the name briefly changed to St. Mary's Cooperative Nursery School.

1950

1960-1969

In 1962, the school moved to 641 Randolph Street in downtown Napa, its home for 62 years.

Jan Clark became the first director at this location, followed by Mrs. Larry Dybe in 1966.

Jane Whitehair, an experienced kindergarten and first grade teacher, began her tenure as director in 1967. She continued in this position for sixteen wonderful years.

: 1968, Play yard

: 1968, Room 2

: 1968, NVNS Parents

: 1968, Children on a climbing structure

1960

1970-1979

Director: Jane Whitehair

1970

1980-1989

In 1983, the torch was passed to Karen Frisinger, who led the school into the late 80s.

Lori Ware (Mz. Lori) began her tenure as director in 1987, dedicating thirty-four years to our Napa youth and leaving a lasting legacy in our cooperative community.

1980

1990 - 1999

Director: Mz. Lori

1990

2000 - 2010

Director: Mz. Lori

2000

2010 - 2019

Director: Mz. Lori

2010

NVNS Bridges Two Centuries

2020-2021: Covid closures

2021-2022: Teacher Adrianne steps in as school director, hand-picked upon Mz. Lori's retirement.

2022-2023: School reopens, church designates property for new building project, solidifying the end of NVNS at Randolph Street in Spring 2025.

2024: School is thriving as the final NVNS class at 641 Randolph Street learns and grows there.

2020

2024

When One Door Closes, Another Opens

More than 70 classes full of vibrant young Napians have left their mark on our school, each one with it's own beat and style. And while we love our school location dearly, situated in the heart of downtown with so much rich history and liveliness, onward and upward we go!

We'll soon embark on the third location for Napa Valley Nursery School Cooperative School, which we're currently dreaming into fruition day in and day out, working tirelessly as a small community does to ensure that our youngest, most fragile minds can continue to grow and thrive in this gentile school full of wonders.

Present

Building NVNS For Future Generations

Cheers to our next 75 years!

We're dreaming our future now with generations of NVNS grads in mind as we imagine and negotiate our next school location. We need everyone's hands and hearts working together to get us there. The future of NVNS, including our cumulative storied past, is dependent on you - on all of us - in this moment.

How will you contribute to our legacy as we write our next chapter?

2025 -

Future

Securing the Future of NVNS Depends on the Actions We Take Today

Our Stories

NVNS alumni families have deep roots in Napa. Discover how beloved and important the school continues to be across our alumni community.

"The cooperative nature of NVNS paired with an amazing director is magic. Ten years later and we still use parenting tools we learned at NVNS. Our family had the good fortune to be at NVNS with teacher Mama Adrianne. She was one of the most intuitive and attentive parents I have ever spent time with. She has a gift for communicating with children! We loved our time at NVNS; it felt like a gift to be a part of that community. We recommend it to everyone we know with young children.”

“Our family still has many NVNS friends. NVNS encourages every individual who steps foot into their school; teaching them that they matter, have a voice and agency, and are unique individuals with something to offer.”

"My daughter attended NVNS for two years under Teacher Adrianne's leadership, and I cannot say enough good about what a positive effect the school has had on our lives. My husband and I have found some of our dearest friends while working in the classroom, and our families have remained resources for one another. Teacher Adrianne imparted many helpful pieces of information on early childhood development both in the classroom and at the monthly parent education classes, that provided context and background to any issue my daughter was moving through.”

“NVNS is special to our entire family because it was always the place where acceptance, creativity, social and emotional learning, and community came together in a safe and positive space. As parents and children, we all looked forward to NVNS days! As parents, we learned so much about early childhood development through the NVNS monthly parent meetings and being volunteers in the classroom. We continue to draw upon the personal guidance and insights of both Mz. Lori and Adrianne, as they were able to see critical aspects of our daughter's relationship to both their internal and external world that we did not recognize as parents. So much of what we learned at NVNS continues to make a positive impact on our relationship to our children at home and abroad.”

Together We're Better

Help write the next chapter in NVNS’ story.

We need your support now more than ever!

Join us for an evening of dining, dancing, live auction, and merriment as we celebrate all that NVNS has provided our community for more than seven decades. Our fundraising goal will secure a new school for current and future generations, solidifying our presence for many (many!) more years to come.

Tickets to our 75th Anniversary Gala are available now. Visit the link below to purchase your ticket. Or better yet, purchase a table and invite your friends to join us in what is sure to be an event for the ages!

Get Your Tickets Here

NVNS – So Much More Than an Early Education Establishment

“NVNS is a family tradition. As an alumni and parent of two NVNS graduates, I can promise you that the unique caregiver community cultivated year after year is an incredible gift, not only to my family, but to our larger community. Our co-op promotes parent education and opportunities to work alongside your child’s educator. The example of Teacher Adrianne and collaboration with peer parents creates the perfect environment for children and parents to thrive together. Our children grow beyond measure with developmentally appropriate play under Adrianne’s warm guidance, while parents create critical connections with one another.

On a personal level, I have grown my confidence as a parent at NVNS, through exposure to a variety of parenting methods and ideologies. I have formed lifelong relationships with members of the NVNS community, which have provided emotional support, care for my child and an environment that feels like family. I am forever grateful for what NVNS has given to my children, as well as my husband and I as new parents learning to navigate parenthood.

I sincerely hope that this incredible school has the opportunity to continue providing the gift of early childhood education to parents and children in our local community for generations to come.”

M.H.

Alumni: 1984, 2016-2018, 2021-2022