Arminta Street Early Education Center

Over the past year, we’ve been focused on sustaining and thoughtfully adding to our Nature Explore
Classroom to keep it engaging, inclusive, and aligned with the children’s interests. We continue to care for the space daily, making sure each area stays inviting and functional. Our team regularly refreshes materials, swaps out loose parts, and listens to the children’s ideas to guide small but meaningful updates.

We’ve made several enhancements that have had a big impact. We added an art shed to make creative materials more accessible to students and encourage open-ended expression outdoors. A new block shed now houses a variety of building materials, giving children more opportunities for construction and collaborative play. We’ve also created designated sensory areas to support children with differing needs, offering quiet, calming experiences for those who need a break or just want to engage in a different way.

In terms of natural elements, we planted two new trees to add shade and beauty to the space, and we’ve incorporated new plants around the school to create a more vibrant, nature-rich environment.
One of the bigger structural changes was the creation of a sandbox with an accessible entrance, designed to ensure that all children, regardless of ability, can enjoy and participate in sensory play.

We’ve also worked closely with families and staff to care for the space—parents helped during school
beautification days, and several families helped sand and seal benches to maintain safety and extend their life. These efforts not only help sustain the environment physically, but also reinforce our sense of community ownership and pride in the space.

Overall, our goal has been to nurture the classroom so it grows along with us—adding where needed,
maintaining what works, and always making sure it reflects the joy, creativity, and curiosity of the children who use it every day.