A Brief History

Founded in 1987 by Diane Rooney and Louise H. Piché, Heartworks School began as a private, non-denominational, home-based preschool in Shelburne, Vermont. It has since expanded to a new location in Shelburne, in addition to opening two other schools in Williston (in 2002) and Burlington (in 2004). As the Heartworks community in Shelburne grew larger, the need for an elementary school became clear. In 1994 Louise Piché and Diane Rooney founded The Renaissance School as an approved independent elementary school for kindergarten through sixth grade located on Shelburne Farms.

What's in a name?

The name of Heartworks was chosen to reflect the heartfulness of working with young children. With an open heart, we approach the young child with the tenderness reserved for the petal of a flower. We hope to enrich the child with trust, faith in the goodness of humanity, reinforcing the compassionate experience with home, family, teachers and peers. Often the bravery needed to extend oneself in learning comes from the security of knowing one's place in the community of friends and associates. Knowing that one is loved and cared for encourages the young child to try and try again, to experiment, to question, to move forward, with hesitation perhaps, yet by putting one foot in front of the other the child finds the way to success and achievement. All the while, friends and peers are there to bring support and an open heart. We, as teachers at Heartworks, work together with parents to establish the foundation of love and security for the young child. Thus the name Heartworks, “Works of the Heart”, was selected to reflect our work in helping to build a secure foundation beneath the feet of the emerging confident being.

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