The Shopper Features Apple Tree Learning Center Story
Recently, The Shopper magazine featured the Apple Tree Learning Center Story.
Heidi Riden, President and Kevin Thomas, Executive Director
Apple Tree is a Christian learning center that started in a small church on North Battlefield Boulevard 30 years ago. It uses a blend of the Abeka and Pinnacle faith-based curriculums and provides full-day
learning experiences for infants through Pre-K students, as well as a full-day Academy program for K-5th. Summertime is filled with adventurous Summer Camp activities that involve weekly field trips, in-house events, cooking projects, art projects, and water play fun.
Above, clockwise from left: Center Director Judi Gray, President Heidi Riden, HR Director Zach Huffman and Executive Director Kevin Thomas. Photo by Michele Thompson
The families at Apple Tree are especially excited about their new location at 1141 Executive Boulevard in the Greenbrier area. The 16,000-square-foot building with all new amenities for the students is home to two separate educational zones—the K-5 Academy wing and the Early Learning section for infants to Pre-K.
Kevin Thomas, Executive Director, proudly states, “We have newer technology and so much more space. We have big, beautiful classrooms and a gorgeous new playground with stunning green artificial turf surfacing. The children love the playground so much that when they’re out there playing, we can hear their excitement from a distance.”
With child-sized furnishings throughout, Apple Tree’s new location is built to be kid-centered. “It’s their space and they need it to work and function for them,” Judi Gray, Center Director says. But the facility’s crowning achievement is the brand new 5000-square-foot multi-use gym with half-tile and half-carpeted flooring. “This allows for the students to participate in activities like indoor soccer, basketball, and to have quality physical activity indoors when weather is cold or inclement,” Judi adds.
“We’ve also installed brand new batting cages in the gym,” Heidi says excitedly. “They’re handy for youth baseball travel teams who are in need of indoor training space when weather isn’t conducive to outdoor batting practice. Being able to support other youth programs in other areas such as sports allows Apple Tree to extend its ability to reach more youth and families in positive ways throughout Hampton Roads. This is the Apple Tree difference we want to make in our community.”
Despite the growth with the new facility, Heidi is quick to point out that Apple Tree is a locally-operated non-profit. “Because of our size and footprint in this area, sometimes families think we are a franchise or chain. We don’t have a CEO in another state making decisions. We’re here. The wonderful thing about Apple Tree is that we offer a high-quality education at prices that are actually lower than many of our competitors.” Longtime parent of the program, Erin Simeone, proudly states, “Apple Tree has become our second family. We are greeted each day as if we are family to Apple Tree, not a customer. The personal touch that the teachers and directors put into their center is genuine and heartfelt. Our son loves coming here and he adores his teachers. As an educator myself, I feel confident when I drop off my child each day that he is in an environment where he is loved and academically challenged.”
and foster good relationships
with our parents.
They know us and reach out to us.”
Source: https://theshopper.com/
Article written by Cristi Sanchez
