Sapling School

Our Teachers

Ms. Tess began teaching preschool in Jackson, WY when her oldest son was born in 2011. She earned a Waldorf Teacher Certificate and taught at Corvallis Waldorf School before relocating to work for the Waldorf School of Bend. In 2019 Tess co-founded Wildheart Kindergarten, an outdoor-based classroom on a farm in Bend, Oregon.

After her youngest son was born in 2022, Tess opened a Waldorf inspired, registered in-home school where she works with students of mixed ages to bring warmth, nourishment and a sense of belonging.

Philosophy

Sapling School strives to create an inclusive, nourishing and loving school where children can learn, grow and thrive!

We are a registered in-home school, led by a certified Waldorf Early Childhood Teacher with over 10 years of experience teaching and directing early childhood programs.

We support the developmental growth and well-being of each child, cultivate trust and joy in the learning environment, and bring consistency, compassion and respect within our curriculum.

Location

Conveniently located in SW Redmond off of the first highway exit into Redmond, we’re easily accessible to families from Deschutes County area. We’re near multiple local parks and Dry Creek Canyon, with miles of walking paths, open fields, and play structures nearby.

About our program

We are a play-based in-home school in Redmond, Oregon that offers a true Waldorf curriculum led by a certified Waldorf Teacher and mother of two. The curriculum follows the rhythm of the seasons, celebrating each transition with festivals, academics, crafts, meals and stories that honor each passing season. Outdoor free time, cultivating a school garden, caring for school animals, awakening the senses and child’s sentient experience, and encouraging self-esteem and developmental growth are priorities built into the curriculum. We meet the child where they are and guide them into the fullest expression of themselves, through compassion, inclusion and celebration.

Admissions

We are currently full for the Fall 2025 year. We will add your child to the waitlist and reach out when a spot becomes available, following the order of the waitlist.

Admission is an easy 3-step process:

1. Send a message to [email protected] or through Wonderschool.
2. Visit the school and meet the teacher.
3. Sign the enrollment & tuition contracts and pay deposit.