The Primrose School of West Bellevue welcomed parents and children at its open house event last Friday and Saturday. The open house allowed families to tour the new preschool and learn more about Primrose’s opportunities.
The two-story building includes 13 classrooms to serve around 200 local children ranging from infant to pre-kindergarten. The school includes an onsite kitchen and a secure playground area that is divided into three separate age-appropriate sections.
Primrose Schools is a national system of accredited private preschools that provide premier early education and child care experience for children and families. Primrose’s Balanced Learning approach strives to nurture curiosity, confidence, creativity and compassion.
Local franchise owners Shannon and Erik Peterson converted the former Bellefield Office Park conference center building into a new preschool for children whose parents live and work in the Bellevue area.
The Petersons have been working to open this franchise since 2013. They were inspired to open a Primrose franchise after struggling to find early education programs for their daughter. They want to have local parents be able to have their children attend a school where they are cared for in more than just education.
“We want our school to provide parents with the peace of mind that comes from knowing their children are well cared for, safe and loved every day,” Shannon Peterson said in a press release. “Our community deserves the type of premier early childhood education program that only a Primrose school can offer, and we are thrilled to be the ones to bring the Primrose experience to our community.”
Primrose’s curriculum focuses on the child’s overall growth as an individual and as a student. Elements of Primrose’s curriculum include “Thumbs Up,” “Rhythm and Notes,” “Mud Pies,” “Mucho Mundo” and more.
“Mucho Mundo is Primrose’s Spanish program where we help the kids develop their language skills by integrating Spanish words and phrases into songs,” Assistant Director Lily Hower, said.
One of the main aspects of Primrose is its Happy Hearts Character Development.
“Each month the kids get to learn about and practice a character development. One month it might be compassion, the next month it might be respect, and so on,” Hower said. “The kids will do many of their daily lessons and activities with the character development trait as the central focus.”
Rachel Porter, one of Primrose’s preschool teachers, is excited to be serving at the school.
“I used to be a live-in nanny for several families around the globe,” she said. “I’m excited to bring my background experience and my education to Primrose.”
This is the second Primrose School to open in Washington with the other location in Mill Creek. There are 378 locations in 29 states and 160 expected to open within the next three years.
Primrose School of West Bellevue is expected to open its doors Aug. 6. Part-time and full-time slots are open. For more information, visit www.primroseschools.com/schools/west-bellevue/.
