Our Pre-Kindergarten program welcomes children ages 4–5 into a warm and nurturing school community. For some children, this may be their first experience away from home in a school setting, and we recognize what an important transition that can be for both children and families.
Our days offer plenty of time for play, movement, stories, artistic experiences, practical work, and time outdoors. Children are invited to explore at their own developmental pace while becoming increasingly comfortable participating in the rhythms and relationships of a school day.
Emerge Pre-Kindergarten is a state-licensed program.
Our Emerge Community
Pre-Kindergarten Program
Kindergarten follows the same Waldorf-inspired rhythm and Reggio Emilia-inspired curriculum found throughout Emerge. Children are surrounded by a familiar rhythm while their ideas, questions, relationships, and experiences help shape the life of the classroom. There is time for play and inquiry alongside stories, artistic work, time outdoors, practical experiences, and meaningful work within the community.
Kindergarten/Bridge Program
Bridge is our second-year, or transitional, Kindergarten experience—a “gift year” that honors the value of giving children another year within this rich environment. It meets the growing child with opportunities for greater independence, perseverance, responsibility, and challenge. Rather than rushing children toward the next stage, the gift year allows us to recognize that a child who has already experienced a year of Kindergarten is ready to engage with familiar experiences in new and increasingly complex ways.
Homeschool Co-op | Grades 1-4
At Emerge Preschool and Beyond, we believe learning is rooted in relationships, curiosity, and a deep sense of belonging. Our homeschool co-op offers children in grades 1–4 a welcoming community where friendships grow, ideas are shared, and learning is shaped by the interests and wonder of childhood.
Inspired by Waldorf and Reggio Emilia philosophies, our co-op brings children together through meaningful experiences, creative expression, hands-on exploration, and collaboration. We value the many ways children think, communicate, and make sense of the world, leaving room for their questions and ideas to guide our shared experiences.
Together with families, we are creating a community where children are known, valued, and celebrated, and where the joy of learning alongside one another remains at the heart of each day.
Our co-op is forming and evolving based on community needs. Please reach out to us for more information and with questions.
Our Teachers
Erica Knox
Director & Kindergarten Teacher
erica.knox@lakewoodnaz.org
Veliana Agrait
School Technology Coordinator
veliana.agrait@lakewoodnaz.org
Dani Vanauken
Homeschool Co-op Teacher
emergehomeschool@gmail.com
At Emerge, we believe a school grows through the people who bring it to life each day. The Emerge educator community is part of shaping a shared philosophy through their experiences with children, families, and each other. We want Emerge to remain a place where the adults are growing alongside the community they are helping to create. The same image we hold of children, as capable, curious, and full of possibility, guides the way we see the people who make Emerge what it is.