LITTLE BOSTON — The newest building on the Port Gamble S’Klallam reservation is a window into the future.

It houses the Tribe’s early education program — Head Start, Early Head Start and child care — and highlights what and how children of the 21st century learn.

The roof garden features native plants, a reflection of the Tribe’s commitment to environmental stewardship. Surrounding the building, more native flora form a raingarden where children can learn about sustainability; the raingarden also filters water runoff to protect Port Gamble Bay. Windows provide a view outside from practically anywhere in the building.

“[The kids] are looking outside because that’s how they learn,” Early Childhood Education Director Jacki Haight said.

Haight’s favorite part of the new building is the cedar stump right in the middle of the building, surrounded by three tall glass windows so children and instructors can see the mini ecosystem, she said. Staff call it a “living classroom.”

Children and their families, the architects, contractors, teachers, Tribal leadership and community members welcomed the new building with an open house and blessing March 13. Many that spoke said the project was a partnership.

Contractor Grinnell Construction and architects from Tormod Hellwig met with staff and families about the design. They even included a time capsule, to be opened in 50 years, stuffed with pictures of life on the reservation, newspaper articles, shells from the beach at Point Julia, and a Lego and a Matchbox car from the four-year-old preschool class.

The time capsule is behind a tile wall which greets those walking through the front door. The tiles are individually painted and have the names of the 58 families using early childhood services today. Native artwork will be prominent, with some new work coming in from S’Klallam artist and Head Start bus driver Jimmy Price, as well as a refurbished totem pole carved by Jake Jones. The pole was saved from the former building — Jones carved it for his wife, longtime preschool teacher June Jones.

“It’s so great to finally be here to celebrate,” said parent Lena Tunkara, who also serves on the Early Childhood Program policy council. “Our children are our future leaders and we need to support them.”

The classrooms will also be available for Northwest Indian College classes. As Chairman Jeromy Sullivan put it, “it is a multitasking building.”

“The Tribe has felt strongly about early childhood education for years,” he said. “This building shows that we value the education of all our children — from pre-birth to kindergarten, they have a place to be.”

Port Gamble S’Klallam has had a preschool program since 1970, and received its first Head Start grant in 1984. The Early Childhood Program offers childcare services for pregnant women and children through five years.

Sullivan said he sees the difference between now and when he was a kid from a parent’s perspective. The Head Start involves parents in the classroom and field trips, and Sullivan said kids are less afraid when its time to begin elementary school.

The former preschool building was the oldest on the reservation still standing, once holding the Tribal government and a community hall.

The new school is larger, and can serve up to 36 students, with the capacity to offer all-day preschool. Besides Head Start, the early childhood education center offers day care, early learning classes, family literacy activities and parenting classes.

“We know the more time we have with the children the more they learn and retain,” Haight said. The school also offers a speech therapist, mental health specialist, therapy room and a teacher lab with new computers. Haight was even excited they were able to get new desks, replacing the desks from 30-plus years ago.

“This whole process has been a total partnership,” Haight said in a statement about the opening. “We couldn’t have done any of this without the support of the parents. Many took time out of their days to unpack new classroom furniture, put it together, and make sure the space is ready for the students. Everyone came together to make this a reality.”