October 15, 2024 Submitted by Wilder Memorial Nursery
At nearly 400 years old, the town of Hingham is rich with history, and that includes the oldest continually operating cooperative nursery school in the United States: Wilder Memorial Nursery.
This school year, Wilder Memorial Nursery School is celebrating its 100 th anniversary. Wilder, as it’s known among the community, was started in 1924 by a group of Hingham mothers who believed in the benefits of cooperative education for the littlest of learners. Since its first year, the school has been housed at Wilder Memorial Hall at 666 Main Street – a building is overseen by the Trustees.
Today, as a cooperative nursery school, Wilder fosters growth and development during the first years of a child’s education with age-appropriate activities and play, music enrichment, Spanish enrichment, and Heggerty Phonemic awareness curriculum to prepare students for Kindergarten. Keeping in line with its cooperative roots, today’s school is run by a Director, an Assistant Director, a wonderful teaching staff, and a Board of dedicated parents.
Director Mallory Wuori, M. Ed., joined Wilder as the school’s new director last year, and has three generations of Wilder graduates in her family: her mother-in-law, husband, and three children are Wilder graduates. “It’s such a joy for me to come to school every day,” Wuori said. “We have two rules at Wilder – have fun and be a good friend. Kids at Wilder learn and play while developing fundamental skills for grade-school.”
Wuori and her staff work in partnership with parents to create a warm, nurturing environment while continuing Wilder’s wonderful traditions to give little learners the best experience. The level of parent involvement helps set the school apart and makes it feel like a community.
Wilder offers each class at least one field trip throughout the year – where parents are welcome – and gives every caregiver the opportunity to join their student for two days in the classroom through the Parent of the Day program. The school also sends a weekly wrap-up email with quotes, pictures, and learning updates from all classes, and all teachers send class photos from the week along with regular updates on social media and via family events.
As a historical part of the community, and a school that has housed many generations of Hingham families, an essential part of Wilder is its many traditions and celebrations – some of which have been around since the 1920’s. Students at Wilder celebrate a variety of holidays including birthdays, Halloween, Thanksgiving, Christmas and Hanukkah, St. Patrick’s Day, as well as special “Wilder Days,” such as the annual Wilder Rodeo, Sweetheart Dance, Wilder Fair, and Camp Wilder.
In honor of its 100th Anniversary, Wilder will be hosting a gala on Friday, October 25 at Black Rock Country Club welcoming Alumni and current families to attend and raise money for the next 100 years of Wilder. The event will feature historical images of children and families from their Wilder days going back many decades, along with images of past events and celebrations. Additionally, the event will include a silent auction and raffle with gifts and prizes donated by several local businesses.
For community members who would like to support Wilder, there are several other fundraising opportunities throughout the year, including event sponsorships, and the purchasing of a brick that will be set on Wilder grounds during the 2024-2025 school year to commemorate the anniversary and the wonderful families who have been part of the Wilder community for 100 years.
For those interested in learning more about Wilder or considering sending their little one, the school will be hosting an Open House on Sunday, November 3 from 10:30 am – 12:30pm. Teachers and current parents will be onsite offering tours of the classrooms and additional information about what makes Wilder so special. Community members are encouraged to stop by and see why the school’s motto today still remains, “Have Fun and be a Good Friend!”
“I have thoroughly enjoyed every aspect of being Wilder’s Director over the last year and a half. Getting to know the children and their families has been at the top of my list. I especially enjoyed witnessing the trusting relationships children form with their teachers and the amazing milestones they each hit throughout the year.”
Visit www.wilderschool.org or follow on Instagram at @wilderhingham to stay updated on all 100-year activities.
Thank you Wilder Hingham for supporting local news through sponsoring this article.