- Overview
- Programs
- Our Team
- Accreditation
- Reviews
- Schedule Options
About Cadence Academy Preschool, in Clive, IA
Infants, toddlers, preschoolers, and pre-kindergarteners all have a special place at our preschool and we love working with the families of Clive and Waukee to provide children the very best daycare and early educational experiences. Previously known locally as Apple Tree Children’s Center, the preschool center at Cadence Academy Preschool, Clive has six classrooms and we constantly customize each room to address the development needs of every age group.
Our Programs
- Infant Daycare (ages 6 weeks to 1 year)
- Toddler Daycare (ages 1 to 2)
- Early Preschool (ages 2 to 3)
- Preschool (ages 3 to 4)
- Pre-Kindergarten (ages 4 to 6)
Ascend Curriculum
Thanks to the flexibility of our Ascend Curriculum, we take an individualized approach to early childhood education and encourage every child to progress towards age-appropriate goals at their natural pace. New skills are introduced sequentially in 9 different learning domains each month and activities are modified to fit the interests and current skill level of each child. This skill-based approach to early education ensures that every child feels engaged, supported, and challenged and makes learning fun!
Kind Child Program
Another significant part of our curriculum is our Kind Child program. Kind Child is a year-long program for children ages two and older that helps our teachers nurture and strengthen every child’s social and emotional skills. We have found that when we focus on the emotional well-being of each child in our care, we strengthen our school as well. We are confident that Kind Child will continue to strengthen the culture of our entire preschool center by elevating every child’s feelings of happiness, improving their well-being, and enriching their friendships.
Family Involvement
We believe that children thrive when families partner with us in their child’s care. We’re always available to talk about your child’s progress and offer a variety of communication pieces to keep you informed about your child’s day and academic progress.
We also work closely with Waukee Community School District to understand elementary school expectations to ensure that your child is prepared for the transition to kindergarten. We have a number of events throughout the year so you can meet other families at our school and to get to know our Cadence Academy family better too! Some of our favorite events are our Family Picnic, Fairy Tale Ball, Thanksgiving Luncheon, Ice Cream Socials, and Iowa vs Iowa State Day.
Cadence KickStart™ Soccer
Big Fun. Little Players. Growing Confidence.
Cadence KickStart™ Soccer is a high-energy enrichment program designed to build confidence, coordination, and teamwork through fun, age-appropriate soccer play. Led by the teachers your child already knows and trusts, it’s seamlessly built into the school day.
Program Highlights:
Designed for ages 3–5
12-week program (once per week)
40–50 minute sessions
Builds balance, coordination, and motor skills
Encourages listening, teamwork, and confidence
Integrated into your child’s daily schedule
Talk to your School Director today to learn more and enroll.
Kids Cafe Preschool Cooking Program
Cooking Up Confidence, One Recipe At A Time!
Kids Café is a hands-on cooking program where children explore new foods, build confidence, and develop essential life skills through fun, guided kitchen experiences.
Program Highlights:
- Designed for ages 3+
- Weekly sessions over a 12-week program
- Hands-on cooking activities and kid-friendly recipes
- Builds teamwork, sharing, and communication skills
- Encourages problem-solving and following directions
- Supports early math, literacy, and critical thinking
- Includes a take-home cooking kit for continued fun
Talk to your School Director today to learn more and enroll.
Getting To Our Preschool
Our Clive center is located at 14300 Hickman Rd, Clive, IA 50325, at the corner of Hickman Rd (US-6) and 142nd St across from CVS. Proudly serving families across Clive, Waukee, Urbandale, and West Des Moines, we are conveniently close to Crestview School of Inquiry, Shuler Elementary, and neighborhood shopping plazas, making morning drop-offs, school transitions, and daily errands quick and seamless.
Positioned directly on Hickman Road with fast connections to Interstate 35/80 (I-35/I-80) and University Ave, our center provides an easy daily commute for working parents traveling throughout the greater Des Moines metro area.
Programs Offered
Our Team
Alecia Pardekooper
School Director
Alecia Pardekooper is the School Director at Cadence Academy – Clive, bringing a lifelong passion for working with children and creating environments where every child feels safe, valued, and encouraged to be themselves. She joined Cadence Academy in 2021 as Assistant Director — famously starting the role at 38 weeks pregnant — and has since grown into her current role as School Director. Prior to Cadence, Alecia gained experience across a wide range of positions, including multi-age teacher, assistant teacher, lead teacher, and most recently a KinderPrep teacher in Ankeny.
Alecia believes children learn best through positive relationships, hands-on experiences, play, and plenty of encouragement. Her goal has always been to help each child build confidence, independence, social skills, and a love of learning, and she values open communication with families as the foundation of a strong support system for every child. Outside of work, Alecia is married to her high school sweetheart and together they have a daughter named Oaklynn and two dogs, Brantley and Olive. She loves traveling, exploring new places, and winding down with a good book.
Ms. Monica
Teacher of the Year
Ms. Monica was born and raised in Albert Lea, MN, and earned her degree in Education from the University of Northern Iowa after attending Waldorf College, where she met her husband, Jeno. She’s a proud mom to Landen, who plays football at UNI, and Maggie. Outside the classroom, Monica enjoys shopping, boating, and cheering on the Cyclones. She finds great joy in watching her students grow and develop, and feels honored to be part of each child’s learning journey. Her favorite children’s books are those written by Jan Brett.
Accreditations
NAEYC Accreditation
Every child deserves access to high-quality early learning experiences. NAEYC (National Association for the Education of Young Children) has set 10 standards for early childhood programs that can help families make the right choice when they are looking for a child care center, preschool, or kindergarten. The standards and criteria are also the foundation of the NAEYC Accreditation system for early childhood programs. To earn NAEYC Accreditation, schools must go through an extensive self-study and quality-improvement process, followed by an on-site visit by NAEYC Assessors to verify and ensure that the program meets each of the ten program standards, and hundreds of corresponding individual criteria. NAEYC-accredited programs are always prepared for unannounced quality-assurance visits during their accreditation term, which lasts for five years. In the 30 years since NAEYC Accreditation was established, it has become a widely recognized sign of high-quality early childhood education. More than 7,000 programs are currently accredited by NAEYC—less than 10 percent of all child care centers, preschools, and kindergartens nationally achieve this recognition.
Reviews from Parents
Cadence Academy Preschool, Clive
Leave us a Review
We want to learn about your experience with Cadence Academy Preschool, Clive. Please take a moment to share your experience with us and let us know how we are doing.
Childcare Schedule Options That Work With Your Life
Every family’s routine is unique — and your childcare should be too. With Cadence Education, our Family of Schools may offer various schedule options designed to fit your life.
Each of our school’s are unique, and may not offer all of the options listed below. Talk with your School Director to learn what options are available for your family at this location.
FlexiPass — New Flexible Care Option!
When schedules change, or the grandparents cancel, or life just gets busy, FlexiPass gives you five prepaid days of care that you can use whenever* you need them, one at a time or all at once. No registration fees. No ongoing tuition. Just dependable care when you need it most.
Schedule a Time to Tour Our School
Our online scheduler is currently unavailable in this browser.
