We are a cooperative preschool for three and four-year-old children located in Northeast Portland at Hancock & 16th Ave. We utilize facilities inside the Westminster Presbyterian Church, where we have four classrooms for the kids to explore, banks of windows that fill the rooms with light, and a beautiful enclosed courtyard where the children can safely express their exuberance. Our secure building is handicap accessible.

We have two classes: the three-year-old “Red Class” meets Tuesdays and Thursdays, and the four-year-old “Blue Class” meets Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays. Both classes are held from 9:30 AM to 12:00 PM. There are 18 students in each class. After-school Spanish and yoga classes are also available.

Since 1984, Hancock Street Preschool (HSP) has been inspiring the wonder and joy of life-long learning for children and adults. We believe that children are curious, competent individuals. We understand that children are capable of constructing knowledge through play and meaningful real-world experiences. We believe in the importance of relationships and community, and we value the uniqueness of each child and family.

At HSP, the teacher and families work together to create an environment that facilitates play for deeper interaction and inquiry. We encourage young children’s play by valuing their eagerness to learn, by providing them with space and time, by paying attention to their spontaneous interests, by presenting new inquiries and exploration activities, and by offering support as they problem solve. Children are compelled to connect with one another and are genuinely fascinated with one another’s words, ideas and actions. We encourage and respect those social connections and the resulting growth in social skills.


 
The important thing is not so much that every child should be taught, as that every child should be given the wish to learn.
— John Lubbock