Welcome to ECFE: Where learning begins, and families thrive. ECFE supports parents and children (from birth to age five) on a journey of growth and discovery.
We offer screening appointments at three convenient locations: Arbor View Early Childhood Center; Brooklyn Park Library and Willow Lane Early Childhood Center
*School Year - Before and/or After School Child Care K-5 **Summer - Child Care entering K-5
From October 1 - October 11, you have an opportunity to voluntarily make a tax-deductible donation to District 279 Foundation, Greater Twin Cities United Way and/or a non-profit of your choosing through Osseo Area Schools 2024 Employee Giving Campaign.
Osseo Area Schools Early Childhood & Family Education offers affordable, high-quality Preschool and PreK programs that support your child’s development.
Designed for families with children birth to age five. Play, learn, and grow together. Parent discussions focus on real-life topics. Separation time is flexible, based on group needs. Register based on your child’s age when the class starts.
Conéctese, aprenda y comparta en Español. Para familias que hablan Español en casa y quieren crecer y reflexionar juntos a través del apoyo y la conversación para padres.
Our ECFE summer program is packed with adventures that will make your little one's eyes sparkle. From outdoor exploration to creative play, we've got everything to make this summer special. For families with children ages birth up to 5 years old.
Connect, play, and learn with your baby in a space made just for infants. Explore songs, routines, and parenting topics—all with your baby by your side. Register based on your child’s age when the class starts.
Play, explore, and grow with your one-year-old. Parent time covers real-life topics like safety, language, and routines. Separation based on group comfort. Registration is based on the age of the child at the start date of each class.
Parenting support from the comfort of home. Connect with others and a licensed parent educator on Google Meet. Class details and login info will be emailed before the first session.
One-time Saturday classes for families with young children—indoors, outdoors, and always full of fun. Explore hands-on themes, yoga, and nature play together. Register based on your child’s age when the class starts.
Play, connect, and grow together. These classes are for curious toddlers and caring adults ready to explore and learn side by side. Register based on your child’s age when the class starts.
Your toddler is growing fast—and so much is changing. Explore, play, and connect in a supportive class designed for this stage. Register based on your baby’s age when the class starts.
Yoga for every stage—baby, toddler, preschooler, or young child (ages 4–8). Stretch, move, and connect through playful, age-appropriate yoga. No experience needed. Register based on your child’s age when the class starts.
You are scheduling an Early Childhood Screening Appointed located at: Arbor View Early Childhood Center 9401 Fernbrook Ln N Maple Grove, MN 55369 763-391-8777
You are scheduling an Early Childhood Screening Appointment located at: Brooklyn Park Library 8500 W Broadway Ave Brooklyn Park, MN 55445 763-585-7330
You are scheduling an Early Childhood Screening Appointment located at: Maple Grove Library 8001 Main St. N Maple Grove, MN 55369
You are scheduling an Early Childhood Screening Appointment located at: Willow Lane Early Childhood Center 7020 Perry Ave N Brooklyn Center, MN 55429 763-585-7330
Class will take place on Zoom, free online software. Participants will receive instructions on how to access the class prior to it starting.
Gather the whole family and join in the fun as you bake and build a show-stopping gingerbread house from scratch during this festive family bake-along experience. Together, you'll combine the wonderful flavors of gingerbread and use the dough to create the pieces used to “build” breathtaking houses. You'll also whip up the perfect batch of stiff royal icing which is the edible “glue” that holds everything together and is used to decorate the houses with candies and delicious treats.
You'll receive a professionally made PDF ingredient list and prep packet a week in advance to allow time for shopping and preparation. The packet also includes Tess's “gingerbread house specific” recipe that she has tested time and time again to ensure the cookie pieces are delicious but strong enough to hold the weight of the icing and decorations. A template you'll need to print and cut out before class is used as the “pattern”. Equipment needs: large sheet pan, parchment paper/non-stick baking mat, rolling pin and mixer will be needed. Other items and ingredients will be listed in the handout received a week before class. Whether you are starting a new family tradition, or continuing a beloved one, this joy-filled experience will leave you smiling and, maybe, sneaking a few gumdrops. Build sweet memories to last a lifetime!
While cooking-along is loads of fun, and highly recommended, it is optional. A list of ingredients and class details will be received in advance of the class with enough time for shopping and preparation. Your instructor’s personal recipe from this class is included in a professionally made PDF packet you'll receive after the class. Tess's recipes are copyrighted and are only shared with those who register for this class. As a bonus, Tess created a private and public group on Facebook for class participants. Everyone will receive an invite; joining is optional.
Note: one registration fee for this virtual interactive class can include immediate family members living full-time in the same home only. If children are participating, adult supervision is required. If friends, adult children, or extended family members are gathering for a fun night together, each household must register separately even if participating together.
Tess Georgakopoulos, also known as “Chef Tess—Culinary Artist”, has been cooking and baking for well over 45 years since she was roughly 6 years old. Born into a Greek family, the art of cooking traditional meals using ones own hands and creativity was and continues to be an expression of love in her home. Her father was also a trained chef who brought the magic of food to life in another form on the weekends as they cooked elaborate family meals together. As an accomplished cook and baker and always working towards expanding her culinary repertoire, Tess enjoys experimenting in her test kitchen daily creating new recipes, creative culinary techniques and building “Gold Standard” culinary experiences for communities across Minnesota and beyond.
Tess is proficient and experienced in creating cook-along experiences and curriculum for conventional cooking, baking, pressure-cooking, air frying, pizza making, Mediterranean Cooking, and meal preparation as well. More recently, she has expanded her creativity and experience in the creation of Cooking Master Classes!
She has been teaching both in-person and on-line cooking classes through community education for a number of years, and is currently working with almost 60 public school districts in and around the Twin Cities, in many corners of Minnesota, in addition to school districts in Wisconsin, Missouri, New York, and Oklahoma, having worked with just over 5000 participants over the years. Through her teaching, Tess has helped people of all skill levels increase their confidence and expand their skills in the kitchen reaching heights of their own personal creativity that they never new existed, all while having fun and creating memories to last a lifetime.
Her motto, eloquently put, is to make “dishing” delicious, and simple. Tess has recently started writing her first cookbook, and her food blog is also in the works! Some of her creations can be seen on her Facebook page, “Dish it up Good”, https://www.facebook.com/dishitupgood/ or on her Instagram Feed.
Tess Georgakopoulos
