For more than 50 years, Heights Cooperative Preschool has been woven into the fabric of the Cleveland Heights community. While our name, leadership, and location have changed, our commitment has remained the same: to nurture young children through play, curiosity, and connection.

We’ve grown alongside the families we serve, evolving to meet the needs of each new generation. And over the past three years, a new chapter has taken shape, led by our Director, Taryn Kaplan (they/them), known as Mx. Taryn to students and their families. Their vision, supported by a dedicated teaching team, engaged board members, and a growing community of families, has brought intentional, inclusive learning spaces to life.

Classrooms Rooted in Belonging and Representation
When you enter one of our classrooms, you’ll feel the care in every detail. Designed to support development and foster belonging, our learning environments reflect the beautiful diversity of our school community. Inclusivity is not just a value, it’s a practice. It’s reflected in everything from the books on our shelves to the stories we tell, the materials we offer, and the way we plan our lessons.

Classroom spaces feature soft, calming colors and cozy areas for quiet moments. We use open-ended, screen and electronic-free materials that invite children to build, imagine, and explore. Our curriculum is responsive and child-centered, honoring the identities, cultures, and experiences each student brings with them.

We believe children learn best when they feel seen, safe, and celebrated, and our classrooms are built with that belief at their core.

From Parking Lot to Playscape: A Community-Built Transformation
One of the most remarkable changes in recent years has been the transformation of our outdoor space. What was once a simple parking lot has become a dynamic and imaginative play and learning environment, shaped not just by our educators, but by our entire school community.

Under the leadership of Mx. Taryn, the project has grown through collaboration with local artists, carpenters, engineers, and the children themselves. Every new space has been developed in response to the interests and needs of the children using it.

Our gentle nature-loving PreK Class of 2023 helped create the garden beds, and their little painted handprints can still be seen on one of the wooden frames. The play food truck was added to spark dramatic play and bring bright color and big imagination to our yard. In 2024, a rock box was introduced to support a class full of enthusiastic builders and diggers. Most recently, we expanded imaginative play by adding a child-sized marketplace and built an irrigation system to support our garden beds. The irrigation project was created in partnership with the children as part of our construction theme. The children helped construct the layout, and their original drawings can be seen decorating the pipes.
Children now enjoy:

• A child-sized marketplace and play food truck for dramatic play
• Multiple gardens for planting, digging, and connecting with nature
• A bike and large motor area that encourages movement and coordination
• A shaded picnic area for gathering, rest, and shared meals
• ​A rock box construction zone where collaboration and creativity thrive

Each of these elements was designed with intention, offering children space to move, explore, imagine, and build meaningful connections with their peers and the world around them.

And the work continues! This year’s contribution will be a collaborative mural on our fence, bringing even more color and creativity to our shared space. Stay tuned!

Pets as Part of the Learning Experience
At Heights, our commitment to nurturing the whole child includes building relationships with the world around us, including our animal companions. Pets are a beloved and meaningful part of our school community, bringing comfort, joy, and countless learning opportunities into our classrooms.

Adopted at the end of the 2023 school year, Cooper, is more than a friendly face, she’s a certified therapy dog. Her training was tailored specifically for working with young children in a classroom setting, and the process itself became a valuable learning experience for our students. Trainers visited the classroom regularly, working not only with Cooper but also with the children. Together, they learned how to build trust, show empathy, and communicate respectfully.

Cooper now plays a special role in our school: supporting emotional regulation, modeling gentle behavior, and helping children feel safe and grounded throughout the day. Her presence offers comfort, consistency, and a calming influence that is deeply valued by both students and staff.

In the PreK classroom, Glitter the tortoise and Kiwi and Mango, our gentle guinea pigs, teach children about empathy, routine, and care through daily interactions. In the 3/4s classroom, Gingersnap the hamster is often seen snoozing in her bedding or peeking out to greet curious little faces.  

And in our Threes classroom, students recently welcomed a new kind of living guest: a terrarium filled with isopods. This tiny, thriving ecosystem has become a living science station that offers daily opportunities to observe natural cycles, ask questions, and practice gentle stewardship. It’s a powerful reminder that even the smallest creatures can inspire big wonder.

Whether it's feeding, observing, or simply sitting quietly nearby, our classroom pets offer powerful, hands-on lessons in responsibility, compassion, and respect for all living things.
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A Cooperative School Built on Community
At Heights Cooperative Preschool, community isn’t just something we value, it’s something we live, every day. Our families come from a wide range of backgrounds, experiences, and identities, and together they form a vibrant, supportive, and deeply connected school community.

As a cooperative preschool, every family plays an essential role in shaping the daily life of our school. From serving on committees and helping plan events, to pitching in on projects or offering support behind the scenes, our families are not just participants; they’re partners. This shared investment strengthens our relationships and helps create a school environment built on trust, respect, and shared purpose.
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The diversity of our families brings richness to our conversations, creativity to our classrooms, and a true spirit of collaboration to everything we do. By learning, growing, and leading together, our cooperative model ensures that every voice matters and every contribution counts.

We’re proud of how far we’ve come, and we’re even more excited for what’s ahead. Whether you're just discovering us or have been part of the Heights family for years, we hope you'll come see what we’ve created together.
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Come grow with us.

​Want to see more? Check out our virtual tour and photo gallery below to experience the magic of Heights Cooperative Preschool.

Recently, I discovered the music of Mama Nous, and one song in particular stopped me in my tracks. The lyrics to “Worrying Has Never Changed a Thing” struck a chord deep in my heart, especially as we face the uncertainty of a new administration. Hearing it prompted me to reflect on how we can approach the unknown as a preschool community, and I knew I needed to share this message with all of you. 

As we step into an uncertain future with a new administration, it’s natural to feel worried. What will change? How will the decisions made by those in power impact our children, our families, and our community? These are big questions, and the uncertainty can weigh heavily on us all. But as the Mama Nous  song wisely reminds us:

Worrying has never changed a thing.

These lyrics hold an important lesson, one that I believe resonates deeply with the work we do at Heights Cooperative Preschool. As educators, parents, and caregivers, we’re tasked with creating a sense of stability for the little ones in our care, even when we may feel uncertain or anxious ourselves.

A Sense of Steady Calm

When the world feels unpredictable, children look to the adults around them for cues on how to respond. If we model steady calm-grounding ourselves in the present and focusing on what we can control-we provide them with a sense of security. It’s okay to feel worried, but we can’t let that worry dictate our actions or overwhelm our children. Instead, we can pause, breathe, and remind ourselves:

All that I can do is try to bring
a sense of steady calm
’til I know what’s going on.

Gathering Information and Doing It Scared

It’s important to acknowledge our fears while also taking proactive steps. Feeling worried or unsure doesn’t mean we’re helpless-it means we care. Instead of letting that worry paralyze us, we can use it as motivation to act thoughtfully and intentionally. We don’t need to have all the answers right now, but we can take small, meaningful steps to prepare.

This might mean staying informed about proposed policies or decisions that could impact early childhood education. It could look like connecting with others in our community to share concerns, brainstorm solutions, and support one another. Advocacy may mean writing letters to elected officials, attending school board meetings, or finding ways to amplify our collective voice for the good of our children.

Taking action, even when we’re unsure, is an act of courage. It’s okay to feel scared-it’s a normal response to uncertainty. What matters is that we keep moving forward, grounded in the knowledge that every step we take, no matter how small, brings us closer to creating the future we want for our children. As the song reminds us:

I can try to be prepared
and I can do it scared.

Courage doesn’t mean we’re fearless; it means we show up, take action, and try anyway. By modeling this mindset, we’re also teaching our children an invaluable lesson: that it’s okay to feel afraid and uncertain, but it’s important to take steps forward with hope and determination. We can show them that even when things feel big and overwhelming, we can face challenges with resilience and purpose.

Controlling What We Can

One of the most powerful lessons from this song is the reminder that we cannot control everything. We can’t control political decisions, the actions of others, or the unknowns of the future. What we can control is ourselves: our reactions, our choices, and the example we set for our children. By focusing on what’s within our power, we can make meaningful contributions to our community, even in the face of uncertainty.

All that I control is myself
No, I cannot control anybody else.

Trust and Wait

The final message of the song encourages us to trust and wait, even when the path ahead feels unclear. Trust in ourselves, trust in our community, and trust in the resilience of our children. Trust that even when we feel unsure, we are doing the best we can to nurture and support the next generation.

As a preschool, our mission is to create a safe, loving, and inclusive space for every child to grow and thrive. While we may not know what challenges lie ahead, we do know that our community is strong, and together, we can face whatever comes our way.

So let’s take this lesson to heart, for ourselves and for our children. Let’s breathe deeply, gather our courage, and remember:

Worrying has never changed a thing.

Together, we’ll face the future with steady calm, trust, and action.

You can find more music from Mama Nous at the links below
Spotify
Instagram

Taryn Kaplan (they/them), Director, Heights Cooperative Preschool, PreK Teacher, Pawrent
As the Director of Heights Cooperative Preschool and a devoted pet parent, I’ve always believed in the unique lessons pets can teach young children. In our PreK classroom, we also have a full-time therapy dog, Cooper, and a tortoise named Glitter. Their presence fosters empathy, responsibility, and love, shaping meaningful connections that stay with us for a lifetime.

Welcoming Guinea Pigs into the Classroom
When I adopted our class guinea pigs, Sushi and Kiwi, just before my first school year atHeights Cooperative Preschool, I knew they would bring something special to our classroom. I met them at the Cleveland Animal Protective League, choosing them from among many others, and spent the final weeks of summer socializing them and preparing them to meet our students. I named them after Harry Styles songs that made me smile, playful and easy for children to say. From their spot near our classroom door, Sushi and Kiwi welcomed shy children, offering comfort and encouraging them to step inside. They provided a distraction for parents in a rush to leave, soothed tears, and became a meaningful part of our daily routine. One of the children's most important classroom responsibilities was feeding Sushi and Kiwi each day. This task gave the children a sense of purpose and helped them develop empathy and responsibility as they cared for these tiny members of our classroom community.

Over the years, Sushi and Kiwi inspired countless imaginative projects. The children designed elaborate cities and crafted new worlds for them to explore. My favorite was a winter wonderland created by a previous class, built from a large TV box and including bridges, lots of sequins, creative drawings, and cotton snowballs. We still use it today. These guinea pigs were more than just classroom pets; they were companions, calming presences, and friends who played a significant role in our learning environment. While having pets in the classroom is meant to be a learning experience for the children, I have grown to love these girls as well.

Gently Addressing Loss: Supporting Children Through Sad News
One morning, just before winter break, I discovered that Sushi had passed away. My heart sank as I realized how this loss would impact not just me, but the children who had cared for and bonded with her so deeply.

Later that day, after yoga, we gathered on the circle time carpet. I gently shared the news with the children, explaining that Sushi had passed away and would no longer be in the cage with Kiwi. We took time to honor their feelings, answering their questions and validating their emotions. L., age 5, talked about how much he liked watching Sushi eat fruit. T., age 4, drew a beautiful picture of Kiwi and Sushi with a heart between them. A. and L., age 5, spent many quiet, tearful moments by the cage grieving our loss. These tender moments showed just how deeply connected the children had become to our classroom pets.

Helping Children Heal with Stories and Art
To help the children process their emotions, we read The Invisible Leash by Patrice Karst, a beautiful story about the enduring love we feel after losing a pet. The story reassured the children that love remains even when someone we care about is no longer with us.

The children then expressed their feelings through art. They created heartfelt drawings of Sushi, which we used to decorate the area around her cage. This creative activity allowed them to channel their grief into something meaningful, giving them a way to honor her memory.

We also discussed Kiwi’s feelings, emphasizing the importance of giving her extra love and care as she adjusted to losing her companion.

Tips for Families: Supporting Children Through Pet Loss
While this experience happened in our classroom, many families face the loss of a pet at home.

Here are some tips to support children in these situations:
Talk About Death in an Age-Appropriate Way: Use clear and honest language when explaining what has happened. Avoid euphemisms like “sleeping” that might confuse young children. For example, say, “Sushi’s body stopped working, and she has died. She won’t be with us anymore, but we can remember all the good times we had with her.”
Give Children Space to Grieve: Encourage children to express their feelings and reassure them that sadness, tears, and even anger are natural. Creating rituals, like drawing pictures or making a memory book, can help them process their emotions.
Model Healthy Grieving: Share your feelings with your child, too. For example, “I feel sad because I loved Sushi, and I will miss her. It’s okay to feel this way.” This teaches children that grief is a normal part of life.

Emotional Growth in Times of Loss
Through this process, I saw our students grow in ways I hadn’t expected. They comforted each other, showed tenderness toward Kiwi, and learned that even in sadness, love remains. Losing Sushi taught them about empathy, responsibility, and the importance of cherishing the moments we have with those we love. Sometimes, when we help others, we unknowingly heal parts of ourselves that are in need of repair. Reading The Invisible Leash to the children was an emotional challenge for me—not just because of Sushi, but because it brought back memories of my beloved dog, Chance, who passed away the same year I took over the preschool. Chance had also played a special role in socializing Sushi and Kiwi when I first brought them home, and her gentle nature helped them adjust to their new environment. In those moments of grief and healing, I was reminded that the love of a pet extends far beyond their physical presence. Their impact is lasting, shaping not just our days but the way we love and connect with others. Sharing this journey with the children reaffirmed the beauty of these bonds and how they leave an indelible mark on our hearts.

Resources for Families
Here are some helpful resources to support children and families navigating the loss of a pet:
● Recommended Books:
○ The Invisible Leash by Patrice Karst
○ The Goodbye Book  by Todd Parr
○ When a Pet Dies by Fred Rogers
● Articles on Talking to Children About Grief:
  ○ Helping Young Children Grieve: This article from the National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC) offers practical tips for supporting
young children through the grieving process in developmentally appropriate
ways.
  ○ Nurturing Children Through Grief:  Published by the American Psychological Association (APA), New Sesame Workshop, guided by psychological science, this resource helps caregivers support children as they navigate the grieving process.
  ○ Supporting the Grieving Child and Family: This comprehensive guide from the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) provides insight into how to support
children and families experiencing loss, including strategies for addressing grief
in a sensitive and supportive way.
● Pet Adoption:
  ○ Cleveland Animal Protective League 
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Final Thoughts
The loss of a pet is never easy, but it can be a valuable opportunity for growth and connection. Sushi’s legacy will live on in our classroom, not just as a memory but as a lesson in love, empathy, and resilience. Through her, our class learned that even the smallest lives can leave the biggest marks on our hearts.