(Photo by Timothy Park)
Family-Run Facility Opens in Bend’s Growing Discovery West Neighborhood
Educational ties run deep for a mother and daughter business duo who have realized their vision for giving Bend’s youngsters a firm early learning foundation, with the unveiling of the new state-of-the-art Skylark Children’s Academy.
Skylark is now open for the 2024-2025 school year in the growing Discovery West Neighborhood, helping address the critical childcare needs of Central Oregon families. The family-run facility located on Crosby Drive features ten classrooms in a custom-built 9,800-square-foot building, complemented by an expansive 12,000-square-foot outdoor play yard. Designed to cater to up to 156 students, Skylark has opened its doors to children aged from 12 months to five years old, with a mission to create lifelong learners.
School operators Virginia Goss and daughter Erin Maigaard have honed the concept over several decades, originally in California, creating a variety of developmentally appropriate and engaging activities to support cognitive, language and social-emotional development.
Goss started her first venture in the field some 40 years ago, with Erin joining the family business in 2015 following her graduation in Business Administration & Marketing, helping oversee three different schools exemplifying their philosophy of a deep commitment to education and childcare.
Seeking new opportunities in different markets further afield, they scoured potential locations across the West Coast before landing on Bend as an optimal fit, given the growing population and demand for childcare needs, as well as the attraction of surrounding amenities, lifestyle, and recreation.
The purpose-built facility was constructed as one of the first commercial projects in Discovery West by local developer Kevin Spencer through his Empire Development & Construction company, with design by Bend-based Steele & Associates Architects.
Discovery West is an expanding newer neighborhood spanning some 245 acres developed by the same team behind the award-winning nearby Northwest Crossing community, known for bringing a passion for creating healthy, livable communities along with a keen attention to detail.
“I worked in the family business while in college and a while after graduating decided to officially come on board,” Maigaard said. “We were looking to expand into a different market and looked all over before landing on Bend as the best choice, with the opportunity to fulfill a need for high-quality early childhood education. Discovery West is an ideal location for us given its proximity to several public schools and convenience for a growing number of local families as well as being in a beautiful setting.”
“A tremendous amount of thought went into refining our concept, how it functions, and delivering the best solution possible — each school has improved upon the previous wherever we identify areas for enhancement,” Goss added. “We also spent a lot of time on the playground and equipment with a sizeable play area sectioned into different segments based on age groups, and soft cushioned surfaces which are cleaner and safer than traditional bark chip finish.” Goss said the aim was to offer a play-with-purpose environment in which to explore and develop critical motor skills in a picturesque setting.
The family’s experience in designing and building from the ground up was utilized in providing space that intuitively caters to the needs of students and teachers, including accessibility to restrooms from each classroom, and creating an overall environment to promote a seamless learning experience throughout the age ranges.
The Skylark Children’s Academy has also refined a curriculum blending the best elements from a variety of national educational programs, ensuring students receive a multifaceted education tailored to their needs and interests. The school is filling fast and already has a waiting list for toddlers to 2026.
Integrating structure with intuitive learning opportunities and goals, Maigaard says Skylark takes pride in preparing children for kindergarten readiness and offering enrichment opportunities, including Yoga, and Music & Movement.
Steele associate principal Adam Stephen said this was the first commercial building overseen by the Architectural Review Committee (ARC) of Discovery West, requiring something of a higher aesthetic in keeping with an overall design theme.
Newer materials used included “Nichiha” panel siding, a fiber cement product with a finishing process that mimics the look of real wood grain and stain. It has gained a reputation for being low maintenance and resistant to rot, wood-boring insects, fungus, and extreme weather conditions, while the clip installation system can reduce construction time and minimize mistakes.
Stephen said other design elements included brick accents, ample use of natural light and wide hallways, adding, “The clients had a clear vision of what they wanted to achieve in optimizing the space and functionality while also meeting all the necessary Oregon daycare licensing requirements.”
As part of creating a close-knit community of students ready to take the next steps on their educational journey, the school encourages social and emotional learning including participating in a number of environmentally-conscious programs, including through the Roots and Shoots USA — Youth Movement of the Jane Goodall Institute.
Empowering young people to be the change in their communities, the program teaches compassion and environmental stewardship and was started by world-renowned primatologist Dr. Goodall in 1991 after local youth gathered on her front porch in Tanzania and expressed how they felt powerless against the problems in the world around them.
As the students told stories and offered ideas, Goodall realized the solution was right in front of them: their power to create change, and The Roots & Shoots program was born to provide the resources to encourage and motivate young people to take action on issues that matter to them.
Today, the tools and support offered through the Jane Goodall Institute (JGI) program empower youth in all 50 states and over 60 countries to use their voices and ideas to address the issues that matter most to them in their communities. Since its inception, millions of students have taken on the challenge of making the world a better place for people, other animals, and the environment we share.
Goss and Maigaard say Skylark is not only a daycare or preschool, but a place where children are nurtured, empowered, and inspired to become lifelong learners and leaders through their innovative approach inspiring compassionate and responsible children ready to springboard into the future.
“This was a great project with a top team involved all around,” Spencer added. “Virginia and Erin were very knowledgeable and professional clients with a clear vision of what they wanted to achieve, and they are just the nicest people you could wish to meet.
“Kudos also to Brooks Resources for helping with early building permit submittals and to the City of Bend for expediting the process, considering the pressing need for more child care options in Central Oregon.”
skylarkchildrensacademy.com • learn@skylarkchildrensacademy.com
Skylark Children’s Academy
NW Crosby Dr, Bend, OR 97703
Property Owner/Developer: Virginia Goss & Erin Maigaard
Contractor: Empire Construction & Development
Sitework Start: January 2024
Completion: September 2024
Square Footage: 9,900 sq. ft.
Amenities: Designed for 156 students, ten classrooms, 12,000-square-foot play yard
Project Manager: Ellie Murray
Supervisor: Brad Dickamore
Architect: Steele Associates Architects
Principal Architect: Adam Stephen
Structural Engineer: Ashley & Vance Engineering
Civil Engineer: Becon Engineering
Mechanical, Electrical, Plumbing (MEP) Engineer: Solera MEP Designs
Geotechnical Engineer: Wallace Group
Special Inspection & Testing Agency: Wallace Group
Landscaping: Rexius
Subcontractors and Suppliers:
Elite Electric, Bend Heating, Sunset Plumbing
