About Us
Statement of purpose
Highland Day School is a Christian school located in the building of Highland Church of Christ. Our mission is to love, play, and teach God's children.
HDS was created to continue the mission of the Highland Children’s Ministry. In a caring and positive atmosphere, we create a warm and happy place for children to learn.
As we bridge the gap from home to school, we guide children to a continued good self-image while building social skills in a school setting.
- We provide care for ages 8 weeks to 4 years
- We offer full-time and part-time plans for students
- We are open from 8AM to 5PM with early care available from 7-8AM
- Families provide their own meals with snacks provided by HDS
- Students must have a birthday prior to August 15th to proceed to the next age level class
- Admissions requirements include:
- Application ($50 fee)
- Proof of immunization (No exemptions accepted)
- $150 registration fee
- Tour of facilities by the families
Meet our Director
Kari Spangenberger, Director of Highland Day School
Kari leads with a deep love for children, families, and faith-based early education. She oversees all aspects of HDS from curriculum and teacher development to enrollment, family communication, and maintaining a safe, nurturing environment where every child can thrive. Kari’s leadership reflects the school’s philosophy of creating a joyful, Christ-centered atmosphere that values process over product and celebrates each child’s unique growth. Her passion for helping children learn, play, and experience God’s love makes Highland Day School a trusted and beloved ministry of Highland. Kari grew up in Rockford, IL, graduated from Freed Hardeman University, got her Master’s, and served as a public school teacher before joining HDS as a teacher. She began serving as Director in 2025. Kari is married to Trey, and they have two children.
We will love and nurture each student as they are masterpieces created by God.
Play will be a central part of each day. We will provide opportunities for our students to learn naturally in a comfortable safe environment.
Each student will learn the academic and social skills they need to be successful in their academic career and throughout life.