named programs · 4 · from sources
What they call their work
2s Class
Early childhood program for 2-year-olds meeting 2, 3, or 5 days per week, focusing on social, emotional, and intellectual development through play-based learning.
3s Class
Full-week program for 3-year-olds emphasizing hands-on exploration, literacy, art, music, and social-emotional growth in a cooperative setting.
4s Class
Pre-kindergarten program for 4-year-olds preparing children for elementary school through integrated curriculum in STEM, creative play, and community-building activities.
Lunch Bunch
An extended-day program for 3- and 4-year-olds that continues learning after morning classes, featuring creative play, art, dance parties, mindfulness activities, and seasonal themes.
activities · 4 groups
What they do
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Play-Based Early Childhood Education 1 activity
- Delivering a developmentally focused early childhood curriculumOffers a comprehensive curriculum emphasizing social, emotional, physical, cognitive, and creative development through play-based learning. Includes structured activities in STEM, art, music, literacy, Spanish language basics, mindfulness, and physical movement such as soccer and dance, with thematic units like the butterfly life cycle and Earth Day.
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School and School-Community Events 1 activity
- Hosting family and community engagement eventsOrganizes annual events to engage families and the broader community, including Back to School Night, Parent-Teacher Conferences, potlucks, holiday celebrations (e.g., Halloween, Valentine’s Day, Purim, winter faire), an art show, auction, pride event, family picnic, graduation, and an Open House for prospective families.
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Early Childhood Education & Development Programs 1 activity
- Operating cooperative preschool programs for children ages 2–4Provides early childhood education and care through a parent cooperative model, offering preschool classes for children ages 2, 3, and 4 during morning hours on weekdays across a full academic year (September to June). Operates three classes with enrollment capped at 12 children for 2-year-olds and 17 for 3- and 4-year-olds, serving over 45 students annually.
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Sliding-Scale Tuition Programs 1 activity
- Providing flexible scheduling and tuition support optionsSupports family needs through flexible scheduling, including early drop-off and extended day options, and offers a 10% tuition discount for families with two enrolled children.
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financials · form 990 · fy2024
revenue
Total revenue$481K
Contributions & grants$4K1%
Program service revenue$465K97%
Investment income$7K1%
Other revenue$5K
expenses
Total expenses$479K
Program expenses99%
Admin / overhead1%
Fundraising0%
Salaries & benefits$377K
Grants paid out$0
Largest expense lineCompensation
balance sheet
Total assets$287K
Cash$249K
Investments$0
Liabilities$108K
Net assets$179K
Liquid reserves6.2 mo
6 years on record · 2019–2024 · YoY revenue -12.3%
leadership · form 990 part vii · fy2024
Who runs it
board members · 12
- Amy Shapiro — Director -Special Events
- Ana Fewell — Director - Diversity Inclusivity
- Brian Langel — Treasurer
- Claire Harris — Secretary
- Dyane Laurin — Director - Hospitality
- Julia Queck — Director - Workshop
- Lauralee Huttenbach — Ombudsperson
- Leigh Reed — Director - Communications
- Meghan Lisson — Vice Chair
- Nina O'Keefe — Board Chair
- Samantha Johnston — Director - Auction
- Sara Heaton — Assistant Treasurer
relationships · 7
Who they work with
- Employers of HNS families Partner — Employers that offer matching gift programs to support the school's fundraising
- First Reformed Church Government — Hosts Hastings Nursery School at its facility
- Grace Church Partner — Hosted the school's initial classes in 1968.
- Hastings Co-Op Nursery School Network — Refers to itself as a co-op, indicating a cooperative structure involving families and staff.
- Hastings School District Government — Aligns school calendar and closures with the Hastings School District.
- Lunch Bunch Partner — Collaborative program or group co-hosting activities with Hastings Cooperative Nursery School
- New York State Department of Education Government — Chartered the school as a nonprofit educational institution.
strategies · 3
How they approach the work
Named approaches extracted from this org’s sources. Where others share an approach, follow it to see the full set of orgs running it.
- Mindfulness-Integrated Early Childhood Educationmethodology: mindfulness_integrated_educationBy integrating mindfulness, breath awareness, and art-based emotional regulation into daily routines, the school supports children’s emotional regulation, focus, and self-awareness because structured yet experiential practices help young learners develop neural and behavioral foundations for long-term socioemotional health.
- Parent Cooperative Modelmethodology: parent_cooperativeBy involving parents in the operation, governance, and classroom activities of the nursery school, the organization strengthens children's learning outcomes and builds community cohesion because active family engagement fosters shared ownership, consistency between home and school, and enriched developmental support.
- Play-Based Developmental Learningmethodology: play_based_learningBy using play, exploration, and hands-on experiences as the primary mode of instruction, the school supports cognitive, social-emotional, and sensory development because young children learn most effectively through active, process-oriented engagement with their environment and peers.