565 Harton Circle, Virginia Beach, Va. 23452
Please Text @ 7 5 7 - 8 3 9 - 1 3 2 1
Enrolling now for Fall of 2024
Tree of Life
Child Development Center
A Community Where Kids Learn and Grow Together
All photos on this website were taken at Tree of Life Child Development Center and are exclusively owned and copyrighted.
They many NOT be used in part or in whole, by any other entity, without explicit written permission by
Tree of Life Child Development Center LLC.
Educational Services:
Kindergarten Prep Program
Tuesday - Thursday from 8:30am - 12:30 pm
Tuesday - Thursday from 8:30am - 12:30 pm
Extended hours may be available upon request.
Additional Service Include:
- Tutoring Services K-3rd grade
(Approved VA. State tutor
& accept Virginia Learning Acceleration Grants)
- Parent‘s Night Out Events
- Part-time summer camps for ages 4-10
Meet the Owner
Greetings! I'm Jennifer Stadsvold. I hold an active VA teaching license, and am a graduate of Old Dominion University. I am the proud proprietor of Tree of Life Child Development Center LLC., established in 2020. Since childhood, I harbored a deep aspiration of owning my own my own preschool. However, upon completing my Bachelor's in Interdisciplinary Studies and a Master’s Degree in Early Childhood Education, I opted to embark on a journey as a public school teacher in Virginia Beach. Initially, I found immense fulfillment in my role, but over time, I observed a shift in public education that challenged my principles. The autonomy to design personalized lessons and instill a positive mindset in my students was gradually eroded, replaced by a focus on rigid curriculums. This departure from student-centered teaching to curriculum-centered instruction hindered my ability to engage students creatively and adapt lessons to their unique needs. With support from my family, I made the courageous decision to leave public school, in which I was successful, to pursue my dreams of creating a nurturing environment where children can develop a genuine love for learning.
My Goal for Your Child:
At Tree of Life CDC, I strive to create a school environment that feels like a second home for your child. My classroom is intentionally designed to be open and conducive to a small but vibrant class. Research indicates that smaller class sizes offer children more personalized attention, leading to greater academic success. With my limited class size of 10-12 students, I cater to each child's individual needs while fostering a sense of self-worth and recognition.
I believe in nurturing your child's innate curiosity about the world, which in turn cultivates their self-esteem, creativity, and academic prowess. My lessons seamlessly integrate topics of interest and hands-on experiences into daily activities. As your preschooler embarks on their educational journey with me, they'll learn not just content, but also essential skills such as collaboration, problem-solving, and effective communication.
My approach to learning emphasizes the joy of exploration and discovery, encouraging children to take educational risks and set high expectations for themselves in a supportive, low-pressure environment. My goal is to instill in each child a deep-rooted love for learning that will inspire them to seek out knowledge, explore new horizons, and continue their educational journey throughout life.
Key Concepts
Key concepts in Quarters 1 & 2
·Identifying the letters of their name
·Write their first name
·Recognize letters and phonetic sounds
·Read simple words
·Write letters and numbers
·Sing Songs
·Develop social and interpersonal skills
·Develop concepts of size
·Counting orally
·Colors & Shapes
·Sequencing
·Number recognition
·Develop numeracy
-Patterns
Key concepts in Quarters 3 & 4
·Identifying letters and phonetic sounds
·Begin blending sounds together
·Begin to recognize sight words
·Identifying beginning and ending sounds
·Discern rhyming from non-rhyming words
·Begin learning to read simple CVC words
·Build stamina for writing
·Develop social and interpersonal skills
·Develop concepts of size, weight, and dimension
·Count with One-to-one correspondence
·Math vocabulary
·Extended patterning & Sequencing
·Building numeracy
·Initial addition and subtraction
·And much much more!
Learning Theories
High Scope:
Child-Centered,
Play-based, &
Exploration
Reggio Emilia:
Project-based,
Interest Learning, &
Social Skills
Find what your child needs
At Tree of Life CDC, I recognize that not all children learn through traditional methods of listening, watching, or reading. Instead, I champion a hands-on approach to learning because I firmly believe that every child learns best by doing. My philosophy revolves around the idea that there's no one-size-fits-all approach to education. Especially for young learners, active engagement is key to meaningful learning experiences.
I emphasize what I call "minds-on" lessons, where children are actively involved in manipulating high-quality, purposeful learning materials. By engaging their bodies and minds simultaneously, I activate their learning potential. Rather than adhering to a specific teaching theory or model, I tailor my approach to the unique personalities, strengths, motivations, preferences, and needs of each student.
My instructional approach is informed by a deep understanding of learning theories and multiple intelligences, ensuring that every child receives personalized attention and support to thrive academically and holistically.
Montessori:
Individualized,
Multiple Ages &
Hands-on
Waldorf:
Communication,
Collaboration, &
Creativity
The broader the spectrum of opportunities we provide for children, the deeper their motivations will become, and the more enriching their experiences will be.
The Learning Environment
This nurturing learning environment boasts over 1000 square feet of dedicated space for educational activities, complemented by a secure outdoor play area. Tree of Life CDC offers a welcoming, safe, and enjoyable setting for preschoolers in the Little Neck community and beyond. Led by a seasoned licensed educator, equipped with premium learning resources, and guided by intentional curriculum design, my center empowers children to thrive through play-based learning and enriching experiences.
2024 - 2025 School Year Calendar
Tree of Life CDC will begin on September 3rd. After the adjusted first day of school, Tree of Life CDC will follow the Virginia Beach Public Schools calendar for holidays. Teacher in-service days are not considered holidays and therefore will not result in closures for Tree of Life CDC.
2024:
October 1st – First Day of School
November 28th – Thanksgiving – CLOSED
December 24th – 25th - Christmas Eve & Christmas Day– CLOSED
2025:
June 12th – Last Day of School
June 24th –Summer Camp Starts
(As a benefit, registered students and their siblings are offered
early summer camp registration beginning in April.)
All other holidays are on the weekend or fall on a Monday or Friday (non-operating days).
The Daily Schedule:
8:30 -9:00 Arrival / Outdoor Play (weather permitting) / Indoor Morning activity (30 min.)
9:15- 9:25 Morning Meeting (Social Emotional Skills) (10 min.)
9:25 – 9:45 Morning Message and Calendar (20 min.)
9:45 – 10:00 Circle Time MATH (15 Min.)
10:00 – 10:30 Learning stations w/ Responsive Instruction (30 Min.)
10:30 – 10:45 SNACK (15 Min.)
10:45 – 11:05 Circle Time LANGUAGE ARTS (20 Min.)
11:05 – 11:30 P.E. Inside/Outside depends on Weather (25 min.)
11:30 – 11:45 Story time (15 Min.)
11:45 – 12:00 Journaling WRITING / Hand washing
12:00 – 12:20 Lunch (20 min.)
12:20 – 12:30 Closing Circle / Pack-up / Dismissal (15 min.)
* Science & Social / Civic topics will be imbedded in circle times. When we complete any hands-on science lessons/experiments the schedule will be adjusted to best suit the needs of the students.
* Mini Music / Art Lessons will be done alternately during Story and Journal times on Fridays and the daily story will be read during lunch on Fridays.
I am thrilled to announce that Tree of Life CDC is now accepting enrollments for the upcoming 2024-2025 school year. If you're interested in scheduling a site visit, enrolling your child, or have any inquiries, please don't hesitate to contact me directly via text message at 757-839-1321. I look forward to welcoming you to my community!
Additional Services:
Text Jennifer @757-839-1321 for Rates
Extended Day (When available)
12:30 – 12:45 Brush Teeth / Get Cots (15 min.)
12:45 – 2:15 Rest and Refinement (90 min.)
2:15 – 2:30 Afternoon Snack -Provided (15 min.)
2:30– 3:00 Learning stations / Intervention (30 min.)
3:00 – 3:30 P.E. Inside/Outside depends on Weather (30 in.)
3:30 – 3:45 Closing Circle / Pack-up / Dismissal (15 min.)
Summer Camp
4 years - 10 years old Tuesday - Wednesday 9am - 1 pm
(Pre-registration is required)
Parent’s Night Out Events
4 years - 10 years old one Saturday a month: 5pm - 9 pm
(Pre-registration is required)
Individual Tutoring
Kindergarten - 3rd Grade Tuesday - Wednesday 3:45 - 5:45
summer camp is open to the public
and hosts kids from 4-10 years of age.
SUMMER CAMP SCHEDULE: Tuesday-Thursday 9am - 1am
This is the very basic outline of the schedule we will be following each day. There may be some changes due to weather and /or how long a particular day’s activity may take.
9:00 – 9:30 – Free play outside
9:30 – 10:30 – Introduction to theme or theme review, reading of the themed Book (s) as well as discussion, mini-lesson on what today’s activity will entail. See each specific day’s description on the attached calendar.
10:30 – 10:45 Snack (Will be provided)
10:45 – 12:00 Activity time - See each specific day’s description on the attached calendar.
12:00 – 12:30 Lunch
12:30 – 1:00 Clean-up, Pack-up, Outdoor free time
1:00 Parent Pick-up
*If you are looking for additional hours, please feel free to ask about our options.
Photos From Summer Camp 2023
Photos From Summer Camp 2023
Summer Camp Themes
Important info:
Weeks: Tues. Wed. & Thurs. 9am – 1pm | Theme of the Week |
Week 1 : June 25, 26, & 27 | Growing Gardens/ Going Green |
Week 2: July 2, 3, & 4 | Weird Science *Steve Spangler inspired |
Week 3: July 9, 10, & 11 | Camping Adventures / What’s Cooking |
Week 4: July 16, 17, & 18 | Lego World |
Week 5: July 23 & 24 (short week) | Games Galore |
July 30 – Aug 8 | NO CAMP for 2 WEEKS |
Week 6: August 13, 14, & 15 | Space Camp |
Week 7: August 20, 21, & 22 | Water Olympics |
2 Children - $210 ($30 discount)
3 Children - $290 ($70 discount)
To ensure all campers are receiving the attention they deserve;
SPACE IS LIMITED.
This chart will be updated as spaces are reserved. If you would like to reserve an available space please text Jennifer @
(757) 839-1321
Parent’s Night Out
One Saturday a month I host a themed kids event
from 5pm-9pm.
The specific activities change monthly; however,
there is always:
*Outdoor playtime (weather permitting)
*A story pertaining to the theme
*A make & take craft
*Dinner (Provided)
*Games &
*A Calm down period before going home
Date, time, and cost can be found below &
on my Facebook page each month.
Find , friend, and follow us on:
Facebook @ Tree of Life Child Development Center LLC - Virginia Beach
& Instagram @ Treeoflifechilddev.center