Introduction to School
Designed as a gentle introduction to school, we like to keep things very simple for our youngest friends! Children practice sitting together at circle, communicating with each other and teachers, and exploring all areas of the classroom. Verbal and social skills are developing through play, song, and exploration.
Ages: 2 1/2 years old by September 1st through age 3
Schedule: T, TH 9:00am - 12:30pm
Children have snack and lunch at school.
Teachers
Wendy Edwards
Birch Classroom Teacher, Preschool/Intro to School
Wendy has been with the River School since 2021.
She finds immense beauty in the imagination of childhood and nurtures it as a pathway for growth and discovery. She delights in guiding children as they explore their own passions and curiosities. Wendy embraces both the Waldorf philosophy of experiential, play-based learning and the Reggio Emilia approach to child-led exploration, believing that nature itself is one of the greatest teachers. She takes deep pride in supporting the social and emotional development of young children and in fostering meaningful connections between children, teachers, and peers.
A Portland native, Wendy now lives in Sanford with her husband, two children, and their beloved dog, Ruby. She brings a strong sense of community to all she does—both in the classroom and beyond. Outside of school, she shares her joy for movement and connection by teaching Salsa and Bachata and organizing local dance socials. Wendy carries that same vibrant, life-filled energy into The River School classroom each day.
Miranda Bellefountaine
Birch Classroom Teacher, Preschool/Intro to School
Miranda has been with the River School since April 2025.
Miranda is a native Mainer with a lifelong passion for nurturing and caring for young children. From an early age, she was fascinated by child development, a curiosity that led her to a career in international education. Over time, her work expanded to include early elementary special education, where she deepened her belief that early childhood is a sacred and foundational time in life.
Miranda’s path into education began with the realization that no matter where she was in the world, children share a universal language of play. She is continually amazed by the ways children can teach and expand the consciousness of the adults around them—if we are open to learning from them.
Before joining the River School team, Miranda worked in both international and special education settings. She lives in Falmouth with her husband and daughter, who also attends River School. In her free time, she enjoys gardening, practicing yoga, listening to music, and spending time with family and friends.
Lindsay Johnson
Assistant Teacher & Extended Day Teacher
Lindsay joined The River School in 2025.
Lindsay is an environmental educator and has worked with toddlers and children since 2023. She graduated from Colorado State University in 2021 with a degree in Human Dimensions of Natural Resources and has since worked in a variety of nonprofit and school settings, including in music education clubs with the Apt 4 Music Foundation and teaching with Rad Roots Nature School. She is thrilled to join the River School team and seeks to model interconnection and respect for ourselves, each other and the world around us. Her teaching style leans into nurturing children’s naturally occurring interests through play, art and storytelling. She hopes to offer lessons and activities to students that are not only engaging but also set a foundation of confidence in and respect for the environmental community we all belong to.
