Our Busy Bees program is for 4 & 5 year olds, and the class buzzes with activity 4 or 5 mornings a week from 9am-12pm.
In the Busy Bee classroom, little minds blossom as children develop cognitive, social, and self-help skills through playful exploration. They dive into sensory delight with water and rice, mold their imaginations with play dough, construct towering creations with blocks and manipulatives, conquer the play equipment, zoom around on bikes and little cars, express themselves through music, and unleash their creativity with art experiences.
Wendy Owens – 4/5s Co-Teacher
Wendy Owens joined the Valley Drive community as a parent in 2012 and her two children are both Valley Drive alumni. In addition to being active within the school while her kids were students, Wendy served on the Board of Directors leading fundraising activities and serving as Board President for the 2015-2016 academic year. Wendy joined our teaching team in 2016 – working in the classroom and helping with science and exploration activities. She loves nurturing our kid’s curiosity and exploration of the environment around them. Her passion for encouraging children to use their individual strengths to grow fits perfectly with our exploration program. Wendy is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker and has an undergraduate degree in psychology from University of Virginia as well as a Masters degree in social work from New York University. Prior to her time at Valley Drive, Wendy was a school social worker with children ages 3-15 in special education settings. When not at work she loves a nice bike ride, a fun run and spending time with her family.
Hillary Moore – 4/5s Co-Teacher
Hillary joined the Valley Drive community in 2025 when her son became a Busy Bee. After serving as a co-op parent, she jumped at the opportunity to join the staff as a Busy Bee teacher. Hillary earned her Masters of Education in School Counseling and Masters of Arts in Psychological Counseling from Teachers College, Columbia University. She worked as a school counselor primarily with elementary aged children. Hillary brings her interests in child development, positive psychology, play-based learning, nature, and a love for children’s books into the classroom. When she is not at Valley Drive you can find her sitting on her front steps chatting with neighbors, reading, baking or doing art with her kids, or cruising around town on her cargo bike.