Member News

I’m pleased to announce that we’ve set a date for the public unveiling of the completely renovated Early Childhood Center in the Maplewood Richmond Heights School District.  

Please join us at 6 p.m. on Wednesday, Sept. 6, at 2801 Burgess Avenue, Maplewood, MO. 63143.  We’ll be showing off our $9 million-plus building, which features a gut remodel of all classrooms, including nine new ones.  Features include a large multi-purpose room, dozens of new parking spots, enhanced sprinkler and HVAC systems, and improved sidewalks and streets to make drop off/pickup easier.  In all, the ECC will boast more than 15,000 square feet of new and renovated educational space.

The MRH Early Childhood Center program is inspired by the fundamentals of the municipal preschools in Reggio Emilia, Italy.  In those schools, children, family and teachers are co-researchers pondering big ideas and important questions.  Understandings gained from collaboration, dialogue, and exploration are documented in many forms: panels, portfolios, videos, and full-scale exhibits.  MRH students, parents and staff learn together how to make this work meaningful in the context of the community.  

The Sept. 6 ribbon-cutting will feature remarks from MRH Superintendent of Schools Karen Hall, principal Dr. Cynthia Hebenstreit, school board president Katie Kaufmann, and musical entertainment by ECC students.

S. M. Wilson provided construction management services for the ECC; Bond Architects designed it.  Ground was broken in October, 2016.  Funding was made possible by voter passage of Proposition K in April, 2015.

Plenty of parking is available on location. Hope to see everyone there!