Preschools in the San Francisco Area
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San Francisco KidsOutAndAbout Preschool Newsletter |
Dear KidsOutAndAbout readers:
Are you planning to have your children attend preschool this year? Or are you thinking about whether it's the best option for your family? Do you have a friend who is thinking about preschool for her kids? If any of these is true, this special annual edition of our newsletter is for YOU! We provide not only options for where to start your search in our area, but also some tips for what to
think about and what to look for as you start the process.
KidsOutAndAbout has a large list of local preschools that have posted to our site; this list is provided in the LISTS/Preschools & Childcare list linked from the menu on every page
of KidsOutAndAbout. In this newsletter, first, we have some featured preschools with descriptions of their programs. Next, we provide a list of links to some additional schools. And last, we provide tips for helping you evaluate preschools when you visit, to see if they are right for you.
Remember: SAVE THIS NEWSLETTER and forward it along! If you or one of your friends is in the market for a preschool, it's a handy
reference.
—Debra Ross, publisher |
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KidsOutAndAbout.com: Discover more. Do more. Connect more. |
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Grattan Elementary is a small, vibrant, PreK-5 public school located in the Cole Valley neighborhood of San Francisco, California. We offer a solid, structured program with an emphasis on developing basic skills, supplemented with extra programs in arts and
sciences.
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Glen Park Preschool provides a warm and safe environment where children ages 2-6 can develop cognitively, emotionally, physically and socially. We offer an educational environment and developmentally appropriate experiences.
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At Playmates, children and parents alike dig in the dirt, play in the water, plant the seeds, make the Play-Dough, touch the bugs, sing the songs, and dance the mood. Playmates is a safe, nurturing, diverse community of families and staff working together
to foster the creative, social, physical, emotional, and cognitive development of our children using developmentally appropriate methodology. Located in the Sunset District of San Francisco, we are a non-profit, nonsectarian, cooperative organization formed by parents and experienced staff.
We work together to foster the creative, social, physical, emotional and cognitive development of children 2 to 5½ years of age.
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Meet us in the S.T.E.A.M. Room, adjacent to Ella's Art Studio, every weekend from 1:00pm – 3:00pm to enjoy and explore an experience in Science, Technology, Engineering, Art, and Math! Toys and materials will be available in this space for your child to
engage with at their own pace. A CMOSC staff member will be there to provide expertise and an enhanced experience with the materials.
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Bowman School is a year-round Montessori program for grades PK-12 located in Palo Alto, CA Bowman is a community of children, parents, faculty, administrators, board members, and friends working together to create an environment that promotes a love of
learning, as well as working to educate the whole child and, in doing so, creating lifelong learners.
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An AMI recognized school guiding children from 18 months through the 6th grade. Our mission is to offer an exemplary program dedicated to assisting each child in their quest to reach their full potential by fostering an environment that quiets external
distractions and nurtures the child’s inner guide. Founded by a Montessori alum and AMI-trained Montessorian, Centennial Montessori is celebrating 20 years of serving families this year! The school is the only AMI-recognized Montessori school in San Mateo county, operating in the heart of San Mateo and deeply connected to the community around us. We support children in their holistic growth with discovery-based learning, development of concentration, and love of purposeful work.
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A convenient 2-minute walk from Doyle Hollis Park, Guidepost at Emeryville offers early childhood programs for infants and toddlers, as well as preschool - kindergarten for children between 2.5 and 6 years old. We offer 3-day & 5-day care for infants
and toddlers, along with 1/2 day (pick up by 12:30 p.m.) and all-inclusive full day (pick up by 6 p.m.) options. Our Pre-K – K program is 5 days per week, also with 1/2 day or all-inclusive full day options. We share daily photo and video updates and collaborate with parents to plan and track progress for each of your child’s milestones.
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St. Nicholas School was founded in 1953, and we have maintained a thriving school community and culture while continuing to innovate in our facilities and curriculum.
We are unique in our small size, with only one class per grade and an 11:1 student to teacher ratio; our focus on building happy, confident young people as students progress from transitional kindergarten through 8th grade; and our warm community where "everyone knows your name."
Our graduates go on to the top high schools and universities, with a solid foundation in both academics and leadership. Many of our graduates have enrolled their own children in the school, and a number of our teachers are St. Nicholas graduates themselves.
We're proud of our progressive curriculum, Catholic values and beautiful campus. But most of all, we're proud of our faculty, teachers and students who make St. Nicholas such a special school.
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Terra Marin School is a progressive private school located in Mill Valley, California. Built on the foundation of nature-based learning, challenging and individualized academics, cultural awareness, and world languages, as well as a strong fully integrated
social-emotional curriculum, Terra Marin is truly unique. Students graduate ready for the next academic journey with a sense of purpose and confidence in who they are. Creating time and space for children to explore and learn from nature is a cornerstone of our school, so we take our students outdoors off campus 1-2 days a week for Earth Education in some of the most beautiful places in Marin. Visit our school for a tour or Open House, meet the teachers and students and see if it might be a fit
for your child.
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Wind in the Willows values community and the young child's place in it. We encourage parents, grandparents and other close family members to volunteer by reading at story time, leading an art project or organizing a special activity. Your presence in the
classroom is welcomed and helps children connect their home and school experiences.
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The Saklan School is where Preschool through 8th Grade students grow into people who think creatively, act compassionately, and live courageously. It is a place where hands-on, Project Based Learning inspires authentic curiosity; where strong academics
instill high personal standards; where supportive teachers create meaningful connections; and where real-world experiences foster courage and build confidence. If your child is ready to take risks, collaborate, ask big questions, and become a confident problem solver, then we invite you to join us for a tour of The Saklan School.
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Dr. Montessori believed that each individual human being has an innate unique talent which, when fulfilled, is the individual's essential contribution to life and the human community on this planet. It is their purpose in life. To discover his or her unique
talent, each child needs to be exposed to experiences pertaining to all facets of life. To this end, Dr. Montessori designed manipulative materials for all subject areas, activities which children experience sensorially and interactively in a multi-age and multi-ethnic classroom setting.
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What kind of preschool best suits your child?
Those nice parenting articles always tell you to make sure you choose a preschool that best suits your child's personality--but then rarely provide any specifics on what will give you those clues. Children vary widely in their responses to different situations. Think
about where your child falls on the following dimensions, and think about your own personal preferences for what a preschool experience should be like for your child. Then, when you visit preschools, ask the administrators (and observe yourself) about how well the school's philosophy matches your children's needs. - Playing and learning: Do these seem like separate times at the preschool, or are play and learning time integrated?
- The setting: Is your goal to get your child used
to a school setting, or is it important that the setting feel more like home?
- Specific learning goals: Do you have academic milestones or religious needs that you would like met? Think about this before you set out, and refine your thoughts as you visit more schools.
- Introverts and extroverts: If your child falls on one end of introvert-extrovert scale, it's important to realize this and see what would be expected of them at each preschool (especially important for the
introverts).
- Active play: Does the school provide resources for physically active play that match your child's needs?
- Rest: Kids have different rhythms and requirements for rest. Think about what your child's specific needs are to ensure that they will be accommodated.
- Structure: Some kids do better with lots of structure, while other families feel that they already have enough structure and prefer that a preschool ensure lots of time for unstructured play and
interaction.
- Discipline: What happens when kids misbehave at school? Does the school's philosophy match yours?
- Safety: Safety is a big concern. Think carefully about your standards for keeping kids safe, and observe how the school meets your expectations.
If your child attends (or attended) a great preschool that is not currently on our big preschool list (the easiest way to find out is to search in the big search bar on the top of every KidsOutAndAbout page), please
email me back and we'll contact them immediately to see if they'd like to be on this list! |
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