About Rosebud Playschool
Our Approach
At Rosebud Playschool childhood is honored and held sacred. It is a place where the young child is empowered to feel free while simultaneously having the sense of being lovingly held and protected. We offer an environment and practices based upon Ms. Zoë’s deep understanding of child development through both mainstream and anthroposophic lenses (anthroposophy is the philosophy out of which Waldorf Education arose).
Here we explore the world through our senses, engage in purposeful work, express our creativity, experience the joy and wonder of nature, allow imagination to flourish, learn how to be in reciprocal relationship with others, and foster reverence and gratitude. Each child and family is respected and received with non-judgmental warmth.
Community is fostered through parent evenings, seasonal festivals, parent-teacher conferences, potlucks, and more.
Our Teacher and Founder
Ms Zoë has been working with children from birth to age seven and their families for over 20 years, including 8 years teaching and serving in leadership roles at the Asheville Waldorf School. She celebrates each child as a radiant being with their own unique destiny on Earth; her desire is to nurture each individual’s gifts while supporting them to work through any hindrances to healthy development. Sharing in the pure presence that young children bring to every moment is her greatest joy. Zoë and her two teenage children love finding hidden swimming holes and exploring wild spaces together. In addition to her work with children, Zoë mentors Waldorf teacher trainees and new teachers throughout North Carolina.
A lifelong learner, she has a strong foundation in understanding typical child development and has also studied the varied and diverse ways in which children may need extra support. Zoë holds a B.Ed. in Child Development and Family Studies from UNC-CH, a Waldorf ECE teaching diploma from Sunbridge Institute, a certificate from Nurturing the Roots via The Denver Center for Anthroposophic Therapies, and is currently a graduate student at Antioch University in the Transdisciplinary Studies in Healing Education Masters Program. She is also working towards an iARTe certificate in Art Therapy through Kairos, a program of the Center for Anthroposophy.
Our Curriculum
The primary needs of the young child are unhindered movement, nourishing sensory experiences, the freedom to engage in self-initiated play, and warm loving care and protection.
Important elements of the program include:
- Story brought through verbal telling, puppet shows, and play-acting
- Seasonal crafts and celebrations that connect us to the cycles of nature
- Shared mealtimes of organic, whole foods
- Sensory experiences with sand, water, mud, and other natural materials
- Intentional, respectful caring of the physical body: development of self-love and respect/care for others
- Artistic activities such as drawing, watercolor painting, clay modeling, plant dyeing, and crafting
- Practical work activities such as chopping vegetables, raking, sewing, kneading dough, processing herbs, and building fires
- Connection to nature through time in the forest in all seasons and weathers, caring for domestic animals, gardening, and honoring the cycle of the year
- Modeling of kindness, empathy, reverence and gratitude
- Abundant opportunity to engage in the true work of early childhood: child-initiated/directed play
2024-2025 Offerings
Offering a Waldorf-based curriculum for children aged 2.5-5
CURRENTLY ACCEPTING APPLICATIONS FOR 2024-2025
Located in Mars Hill, 5 minutes off 1-26 exit 11
20 minutes from West Asheville, NC
40 minutes from Johnson City, TN
School year: September 4, 2024 - June 5, 2025
Summer camp 2025 info coming soon
Please inquire about opportunities for partial tuition remission in return for work-trade arrangements (application linked under "resources" below)
4 mornings/week
Monday-Thursday: 9am-1pm
Limited availability for extended day
Annual tuition: $8,000
Supply fee: $400
New family enrollment fee: $50
2 mornings/week
Monday/Tuesday or Wednesday/Thursday 9am-1pm
Annual tuition: $4,400
Supply fee: $300
New family enrollment fee: $50
Convenient to Marshall, Barnardsville, Weaverville, Woodfin, Asheville, Burnsville, and East Tennessee.
Visit us
Please use the contact form below or email zoe@rosebudplayschool.com to express your interest in visiting.
