Basketball Demos, Mother’s Day Tea Parties and Beaming Kids at WELA’s Spring Into Summer Open House
On the morning of May 16, Westcliff Early Learning Academy threw open its doors for its Spring Into Summer Open House, welcoming several prospective families to explore the campus, meet the educators and experience firsthand what makes WELA one of the most distinctive early learning environments in Orange County. What unfolded over three hours was equal parts celebration, discovery and community, a morning that gave families a genuine, unscripted look at what learning looks like when curiosity leads the way.
A Morning Built for Every Kind of Kid
WELA designed the event with a clear goal in mind: making sure every child who walked through the door found something that felt made just for them. Outside on the campus grounds, Westcliff coaches led live basketball and soccer demos and drills, turning the outdoor space into a mini sports academy. Little athletes ran, laughed and showed off their skills while parents looked on, many of them seeing their children light up in ways that only happen when a child feels truly free to play.
Inside the classrooms, the playfulness shifted to something quieter but equally powerful. Children gravitated toward Montessori bead work and stamp painting stations, losing themselves in the kind of deep, focused exploration that defines a WELA school day. One little girl stood at an easel in a sun-filled classroom and carefully drew a portrait, a smiling figure with purple hair, completely absorbed in her own creative world. Nearby, a parent crouched beside her toddler at a play kitchen, both of them discovering the space together for the first time.
Jasmine Boller, Director of WELA, said the morning captured exactly what the academy is built around. “What stood out most was how natural everything felt. Families were participating, connecting and experiencing the environment the way children do every single day here. That kind of authentic engagement is what we always hope for, and Saturday delivered it beautifully.”
A Special Celebration for the Mom-Figures
The timing of the open house – just days before Mother’s Day – gave the morning an undeniable sense of celebration. WELA created a dedicated Mother’s Day celebration woven throughout the event, starting with a charming outdoor tea party where children with freshly painted faces poured cups and giggled with the adults in their lives.
Inside, a stunning photo station anchored by a pink balloon arch, a teapot balloon and a “Happy Mother’s Day” banner became one of the most popular spots of the morning. Families lined up to capture the moment, printed keepsakes and decorate-your-own frames in hand, creating memories that went home with every family who attended. It was a thoughtful touch that reflected something WELA holds deeply: the belief that families aren’t just welcome at this school, they are central to it.
A Glimpse Into What’s Ahead
Beyond the activities and celebrations, the open house gave families a chance to ask questions and get a closer look at what makes WELA’s curriculum genuinely different. Educators walked parents through the Montessori and Reggio Emilia-inspired classrooms, explaining how the blend of structured and child-led learning works in practice and why the environment itself is considered part of the teaching.
Families also got an early look at WELA’s Summer Adventure Program, which includes Dual Language Immersion, Montessori and Reggio class time, STEAM Lab, dance, pickleball and more. Excitement was also building around the upcoming launch of WELA’s Infant Program, which will extend the academy’s reach to the youngest learners and complete the full continuum of early childhood education on campus.
The Door Is Still Open
WELA’s Spring Into Summer Open House was a reminder that the best way to understand what this school offers is simply to walk through the door. The laughter, the focused little faces bent over Montessori materials, the parents deep in conversation with educators who clearly love what they do, none of that can be captured in a brochure.
Enrollment is open for children ages 18 months to 6 years, and a limited number of Founding Family spots are still available. Families who enroll before new tuition rates take effect this summer may receive:
- Lower tuition rates than families enrolling in the future
- Complimentary Vietnamese Dual Language immersion for eligible programs
- Priority placement in upcoming classrooms, including the new Infant Program
Founding Families who enroll before rates are updated lock in their current rate for the duration of their enrollment across all programs, including Toddler, Primary and the upcoming Infant Program. Spots are limited and will be filled on a first-come, first-served basis.
Families interested in learning more are encouraged to reach out directly at (949) 810-1455 or visit westcliffearlylearning.com.
