Celebrating Early Childhood Education
at Celebree School

Vakul Goel (far right) opened Celebree school of Henrico in 2022. His wife Shivi (far left) and their two children regularly help at the school. 

Since 2022, young children in Henrico and the surrounding area have had a warm and welcoming place to learn and grow. Vakul Goel opened Celebree School of Henrico with the mission to ensure every child is protected, nurtured, and educated.

“We want parents to feel confident that their kids will be safe when they drop them off at our school,” Vakul says. “But that goes beyond physical safety. Our kids are nurtured from the moment they enter the doors as they are welcomed with warm smiles. A nurturing environment is essential to learning social, emotional, and educational skills.”

Celebree School of Henrico is part of the overall Celebree School organization, founded by Richard Huffman on the belief that success in early childhood development is equal parts curriculum and a connection that extends beyond the classroom to address the needs of the whole child and family. Each Celebree School is a village comprised of parents, children, and educators focusing on curriculum-based care that prepares children for kindergarten and beyond. 

Vakul explains that children are encouraged to develop a strong sense of self, recognition of others, a positive outlook, and a healthy sense of humor. “We are here for them in every way, encouraging them to explore, instilling a love of learning, building confidence, and becoming their biggest fans.”

The Celebree School of Henrico focuses on nurturing and educating young children from six weeks to five years old. 

Celebree School of Henrico accepts children from six weeks to five years old, and Vakul has plans to open a kindergarten at the school in the future. About 105 children attend Celebree. “We’ve been fortunate that the community has accepted us. They like what we do, and our families give us a lot of referrals. That’s how we’ve grown,” Vakul says. “We’re not just another early age school, but rather a community that is dedicated to helping children soar.” 

Small and large group activities are available for children. “We harness their natural curiosity by letting them explore on their own in purposefully designed spaces. Many of our activities are child-led, scaffolded and enhanced by our teachers,” Vakul says. “We have stations for math, science, art, and a variety of things so they can learn about different aspects of life. Who knows, we might have an Einstein sitting in our school today!”

Vakul and his wife Shivi made Richmond their home in 2004 and have two children, 14 and 10. They all love helping out in the community and look for places to volunteer.

Arlen Penfield, TowneBank vice president and private banker, connected with Vakul as he opened the school. “Arlen is such a nice guy. He asked if he could help us and I liked the idea of personalized banking,” Vakul says. “We were with a bigger bank, and it was not working for us. I was looking for someone who was local and could provide the support that we need. I’m so happy and now I tell all my friends that I love TowneBank.”

For more information visit Celebree.com/Henrico-VA.