The Little Laurelhurst Preschool at NECC
A Play-Based Educational Preschool
Northeast Community Center is excited to partner with Nancy Jameson, owner of The Little Laurelhurst Preschool, to bring a play-based educational preschool program to NECC! The mission of The Little Laurelhurst Preschool, is to provide a loving, diverse, safe, and enlightening preschool experience for each child.
Cooperative play, exploration of the arts, and kindergarten readiness are incorporated through fun filled activities that inspire imagination and promote self confidence. Our teachers strive to instill a love for learning while nurturing each students unique qualities. Northeast Community Center Preschool is a recorded program recognized by the Oregon Department of Early Learning and Care (DELC).
To join, please apply below. Our preschool applications are accepted on a rolling basis. Submit yours now, and you’ll hear from us soon.
Program Details
- School Year: September 8 through June 4 for the 2026-27 school year
- Days: Tuesday through Friday – the program follows the Portland Public Schools Calendar. Once a month, on early release Wednesdays, Preschool will release at 11 am.
- Times: 9:00 am – 1:00 pm
- Pricing for 2026-27 School Year: $860 per month for 4 days a week (Tuesday-Friday). We only offer a 4-day-a-week option at this time. Once accepted into the program, you are required to pay a $250 non-refundable deposit and materials fee. To maintain a simple billing process for families and a balanced budget, all months have the same tuition fee, regardless of the number of days, including December and June. Families are automatically billed on the first of the month.
- Ages: 3-5 years old and must be fully potty trained.
- Snack: NECC provides one snack time daily – Applesauce, fresh fruit, fruit leather, seaweed, crackers, and more. We are not a nut free facility but depending on student need, we are flexible. Please bring your own water bottle.
- Program Size: The Little Laurelhurst Preschool has a high staff-to-child ratio and a maximum of 10 children per day.
- Program Spaces: Our preschool program is hosted in our soon to be renovated Child Watch Room! With fresh paint, new furniture, updated flooring, and a wide array of preschool and STEM toys, the majority of renovations will be completed in June 2026, with finishing touches completed by August 2026. Children will also enjoy our historic gymnasium with tumbling mats, balls, parachutes, and toys, or our multipurpose room with a speaker system and full wall of dance mirrors. There is plenty of room for active play, motor skill development & creative exploration. Please note that Northeast Community Center is unfortunately not ADA accessible.
- Community Agreements: Safety is a top priority at Northeast Community Center. All children and families are expected to adhere to our Youth Programs Agreements & Facility Agreements and Code of Conduct.
- Scheduling & Registration: Registration is completed once annually. Monthly payment plans are the default, with 10 equal amounts automatically withdrawn on the first of the month. Northeast Community Center uses the software MindBody to administer its Preschool Program. All Families will need to have an account in MindBody and must be accepted into the program to register.
- Accommodations: To inquire about special accommodations, please reach out to our Lead Teacher, Nancy Jameson. We are prepared to care for neurodivergent children and work with families to meet children’s specific needs. Please note, our program allows kids to have extended periods of free time, which can be challenging for children who succeed with more structure or more individualized guidance and redirection. If you would like to discuss if this would be the right fit for your child, please reach out to the program manager
Daily Schedule
- Below is an example of a typical day. The schedule is subject to change based on the needs and temperament of the group
- Check in
- XXX
- XXX
- XXX
- Check out
Student Drop-off and Pickup
- Convenient Parking: NECC owns the parking lot directly in front of the center on 38th Ave. There is also limited street parking in front of the building for quick drop off and pickup.
- Pick up and Drop Off: Please sign in and out of the Child Watch room adjacent to the NECC Lobby. Adults picking up must be on your approved pickup list and show a valid ID.
- Please note – Our Front Desk staff are not involved in the administration of the Preschool Program, so if you have any registration, billing, or MindBody account problems, please reach out to youth@necommunitycenter.org.
- Additional Questions? Please contact our Preschool Lead Teacher, Nancy Jameson, at nancy@necommunitycenter.org.
Our Teachers
Meet Nancy
Nancy Jameson has over 20 years experience teaching preschool age children. Prior to opening The Little Laurelhurst Preschool in 2016, Nancy was lead teacher for the City of Portland at East Portland Community Center. Nancy has a light-hearted and compassionate approach to relating with children and has a natural gift for working with children’s individual learning style. Nancy attended Oregon State University and completed her Early Childhood education in Leavesden , Hertfordshire, England.
Nancy is a current member of NECC and grew up coming to the center back when it was a YMCA. She still lives in the neighborhood with her husband.
“I truly enjoy teaching and strive to make every day a new, fun, and magical experience for each child. Preparing little ones for their eventual entrance into kindergarten is something I take great pride in. As an artist I encourage creativity and self expression in our daily activities. Seeing children grow into self assured individuals that love to learn is the best part about teaching preschool!“ ~ Nancy Jameson, Preschool Manager & Teacher
Meet Elisa
Elisa Leverton has over twenty five years experience teaching preschool and school age children. Elisa received a Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of Oregon and has previously worked as an Artist in Residence for PPS. Elisa brings her artistic flair providing fun filled. , imaginative activities.
LLP is fortunate to have such a talented and enthusiastic teacher. Elisa is a mother or two grown children and a proud grandmother.
Parent Reviews
“We have been so happy at Little Laurelhurst Preschool! Nancy has an authentic and natural way about relating to young children. Fun field trips, beautiful artwork, and a calming/playful environment… it has been a year of great friends and enriching activities! We are so grateful to have found The perfect preschool for our daughter. ” -Trista P.
“My two children have been in Nancy’s preschool classes for a total of three years and I feel so fortunate to have had such a wonderful experience with her. Nancy makes every day of class such fun for the kids, and the love she has for her students and her work is so very evident. I know that my kids have an outstanding foundation for learning due to their preschool experiences. They both love going to school each day and that is, without a doubt, thanks to Nancy!” -Carrie C.
“My kids have been going to Teacher Nancy for a few years now and we couldn’t be happier. She is an amazing teacher. My son who is now in her Pre-K class has grown so much since his first day of preschool. Our other son started kindergarten this year and was more more than ready and prepared due to teacher Nancy’s guidence. You can truly see she loves her job and enjoys being such a great influence in our kids lives. My family has been amazed to have found such an intimate preschool that truly focuses on the children’s needs and well being. We couldn’t have asked for a better teacher than Nancy.” -The Rivers Family
“My three children are successful in Elementary School because of Mrs. Jameson. Their conduct has been complemented as well as their readiness for school. Mrs. Jamison’s love for her profession is evident in everything she does. She cares deeply about each and every child’s education an emotional stability.” -Gretchen G.
