Parents Press December 2024 by Parenting Media

510.981.5360 Migrant

Good to Know

EAST BAY PRIVATE SCHOOL GUIDE

The 2024/25 edition of The East Bay Private School Guide is available and is filled with information on how to help parents navigate the process of finding the best private school for their child. This guide has information on prioritizing what are the most important factors for your family, determining what type of school to consider, navigating

4 Tips to Keep Baby’s Safe During Sleep

By Adina Kisilinsky, Children’s Hospital Injury Prevention Department

October is Safe Sleep and Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS) Awareness Month, so we wanted to review what SIDS and safe sleep are, how to reduce risk for SIDS, and what parents can do to ensure safe sleep.

What is Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS) and Sudden Unexpected Infant Death (SUID)

SSUID is used to describe a sudden and unexpected death of a child under the age of 1 where the cause of death is not clear until after investigation. SIDS is an unexplained infant death occurring during sleep, often attributed to suffocation or entrapment causing lack of oxygen. SUID is a more general term which encompasses SIDS and any other deaths from unknown causes. While SIDS can occur any time during the first year of life, it is most common in infants up to 6 months. Infants are at risk for two primary reasons. First, their mobility is still very limited, so they are not able to free themselves if their face and airway becomes blocked with blankets or if they end up face down. Second, infants have an immature respiratory system and a slower arousal response to awaken and respond, meaning if they get too warm because they are sleeping too close to a parent or pillow, it can cause rebreathing carbon monoxide and they may not even wake up to cry out before it is too late.

How can we prevent SUID/SIDS?

There are 3,400 babies that die from a SUID related cause each year in the United States. Not all occurrences of SUID are preventable, however there are several steps parents and caregivers can take to significantly reduce a baby’s risk. One of the key elements is ensuring a safe sleep environment for your baby.

IS AVAILABLE!

admissions tours, shadow days, interviews, needed exams, tuition assistance and writing a great essay. Use the month-by-month guide to keep your family on the admissions track to getting accepted to the school of your choice. Available in print and online at www. ParentsPress.com – just click on “Our Magazines” tab.

Here are 4 things you can do to make sure your baby is sleeping safe:

1Crib: Make sure your baby’s crib has a firm mattress with a fitted sheet. Never use blankets, pillows, or bumper pads and make sure nothing is covering the baby’s head. The crib should also be free of small objects that the baby could get near or in their mouth, such as toys or stuffed animals

2Position: Your baby should always sleep lying flat on their back until at least 1 year of age. Do not prop them on their side or place them face down.

3 Sleepwear: Dress your baby appropriately for the weather, do not overdress them. Additionally, only dress the baby in a wearable blanket, onesie, or other sleep clothing for infants.

4 Room Environment: Babies should never sleep in an adult bed, on a couch, or on a chair; neither alone nor with someone. Babies should always sleep in a crib or bassinet, not in bed with the parents or caregivers. The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends room sharing for the first 6 months, but never bed sharing between a baby and their parents or caregivers. Instead, bring the crib or bassinet into the room.

2025 Virtual Camp & Summer Expo

Monthly January through June

Receive camp information and learn about more than 75 day and overnight camps as well as summer programs for all ages and interests.

Click here to register and receive access to regularly updated online camp expo materials

Good to Know

HOLIDAY SAFETY

It may be the most wonderful time of the year, but that doesn’t stop holiday related injuries. Here’s how you and your children can have a fun and safe season.

Decoration Dos

Keep the trimmings safe by watering real trees regularly to avoid fires (or consider a fake tree) and place breakable ornaments and ones with metal hooks up top, with kid-friendly ones below. Check lights for exposed wires, loose connections or broken sockets. Batteryoperated candles are a safer alternative to the real variety, which present a fire hazard.

Festive Fetes

If children are helping with the holiday cooking, never leave the stove top or oven unattended when they are present. Prevent burns and spills by using the back burners of your stove. Turn pot handles away from the edge. Poinsettias, holly and other plants commonly used as decorations can be poisonous if ingested. Keep the National Poison Center number (1-800-2221222) easily available.

Toy Tips

Keep gifts age appropriate when purchasing a toy or game. Don’t forget safety equipment, such as a helmet and pads, for new bikes, scooters, skateboards or skis. Keep an eye on small parts that are easy to swallow, especially button batteries which are included in most electronic toys. Check websites, such as the Consumer Product Safety Commission (cpsc. gov), for updated recall information.

Winter Respiratory Issues

During the winter months emergency departments often see an increase in children presenting with respiratory disorders. Some of the common respiratory illnesses seen in children are asthma, bronchiolitis, croup and pneumonia. While it can be heartbreaking and frightening for a parent to see their child not feeling well, an infant or young toddler with a respiratory illness can be extra worrisome for parents since children this age can’t tell you what is wrong.

For some children with asthma,

For some children with asthma, the return of cooler weather or catching a cold can make their symptoms more difficult to control.

the return of cooler weather or catching a cold can make their symptoms more difficult to control. Bronchiolitis is caused by viruses and usually affects infants and toddlers. Bronchiolitis can develop into coughing, wheezing, and difficulty breathing.

If your child has a harsh voice, barky cough and noisy breathing he or she may have croup. Croup is also caused by viruses and affects young children. If your child is diagnosed with pneumonia antibiotics will be prescribed if the infection is caused by bacteria.

Your child should see their pediatrician for any concerning respiratory symptoms, but here are some of the reasons to seek care immediately:

• If you can see your child’s ribs or if the chest or stomach is being pulled in while breathing

• If there are any abnormal noises, such as grunting, while breathing

• If there is a blue or gray color around your child’s lips or on their face or finger nails

• If they are drooling more than normal

• If they are not able to swallow

A child that has been diagnosed with a respiratory infection may require more fluids than usual to prevent dehydration if they have a fever or are breathing faster than normal. If your child is diagnosed with a bacterial infection, he or she will be prescribed antibiotics. Be sure to give your child their medication as directed, for the prescribed amount of time. Avoid over the counter cough/cold medications as these are not safe for children.

Your child may not be acting like his or her normal self while they are sick, but with a little time and supportive care they will be back on their feet and running around! Y

By Elena Epstein, Director of the National Parenting Product Awards

LETTER TRACING SENSORY PAD

Learn how to form lowercase and uppercase letters with this multisensory pad. Filled with a thick, movable gel, this provides a great tool for kids to practice letter formation while strengthening their finger muscles and developing fine motor skills. $19.99, ages 2+, www.hand2mind.com

TINY COLLECTIONCHARLOTTE THE DOG

Handcrafted with exquisite details. Each doll comes nestled in a tiny home adorned in beautifully hand painted watercolor wildflowers. Each doll provides 10 meals to kids in need. $44, ages 3+, www.cuddleandkind.com

INSPIRING QUOTES FROM CHILDREN’S CLASSICS

Features 162 of the best passages from historical and modern classics, including “Where the Wild Things Are,” “The Hobbit” and “The Bridge to Terabithia.” Divided into 18 themes like ‘being different”, “forgiveness” and “curiosity.” Includes fresh illustrations that bring each quote to life. $12.99, ages 6+, www.read.sourcebooks.com

NAPPA Awards has been celebrating the best in family products for 34 years. For more product reviews and gift ideas visit nappaawards.com

FLIPSLIDE

A fast-moving matching electronic handheld game. Can you master the moves to beat the blocks? Flip to find the color and slide to match the lights. Challenge yourself or play with friends. $19.99, ages 4+, www.moosetoys.com

DISNEY JUNIOR SPLASH & GLOW ARIEL DOLL

The gorgeous mermaid music and light-up toy features lots of ways to play. Press on the shell necklace to hear fun sound effects and the theme song from Disney Junior’s hit show, Ariel. In the tub or at the pool, immerse Ariel’s tail in water. $39.99, ages 3+, www.justplayproducts. com

TMNT LEO’S ROLL OVER RC

Featuring classic-inspired Leonardo driving his rugged Buggy, this RC vehicle is geared up for actionpacked adventures. Built for stunts and excitement + designed to make sharp turns, buggy roll overs, and has the ability to land back on its wheels to keep the action going. $34.99, ages 6-11 years, www.teenagemutantninjaturtles.funrise.comyears Y

The East Bay German International School (EBGIS) offers exceptional academics and German immersion from preschool through grade 8. Our East Bay International High School (EBIHS) is a college preparatory high school offering the International Baccalaureate (IB) Diploma Programme (DP). Often referred to as the gold standard in high school education, the IB is highly regarded by universities in the United States and worldwide.

We provide a dynamic learning environment and a truly global perspective, anchored by our European educational approach. Our small size and low student-teacher ratio (7:1) enable our highly trained international faculty to provide an individualized educational experience to each student.

Our International High School is open to all students in grades 9-12. EBIHS offers multiple language tracks with beginner to native-speaker-level language and literature courses in German, French, and Spanish as well as introductory Mandarin. All other EBIHS instruction is in English.

No knowledge of German is required for students entering our preschool or kindergarten, nor for our high school. Talk with us about individualized language support for elementary and middle school students.

Open House

October 19, 2024

January 25, 2025 10 am - 2 pm

High School Campus Visit

September 23, 2024 9:40 am

Online Info Sessions for all programs. Register at: http://www.ebgis.org/ admissions/visit-us 1070 41st Street

Emeryville, CA 94608 (510) 380-0302 admissions@ebgis.org

Why “Know

Thyself”

is more important than Why “Know Thyself” is more important than

“Know Thy Major” when planning for college

It seems that more than studying what sounds lucrative, studying what we love and excel in (and putting in the time) will lead to greater financial success, sometimes in unpredictable ways.

Business has risen to become one of the most popular undergraduate majors in the US. The practical student thinks, Money is what I want, and money comes from business. One of my students told me he would major in whatever would most likely lead to a high-salary career. While I have always discouraged a purely resource-driven approach to choosing a college major and planning a career, if I can’t change the source of the motivation, I’d say consider Oprah Winfey, who majored in speech communications and performing arts at Tennessee State; or Brené Brown, the thought leader and speaker with a net worth of close to $5 million who majored in Social Work; or Jack Dorsey, the cofounder of Twitter with a net worth of $4.5 billion who was a masseur and even dabbled in fashion design. It seems that more than studying what sounds lucrative, studying what we love and excel in (and putting in the time) will lead to greater financial success, sometimes in unpredictable ways.

The first part—finding what we love — is relatively easy but fairly misguided. What

By Alex Ellison

grabs our attention will change with age, exposure, relationships, and what’s streaming.

The second part – finding what we excel in — was a more difficult and expensive task until the advent of reliable, online aptitude assessments. Once we have exposed these raw aptitudes in ourselves, we can rely on them through time, changing economies, and different living situations. They become a compass.

It’s not just that I want my students to enjoy their future studies; I don’t want them to direct so much time and resources away from their natural gifts, making school, life, and work so much more of a slog than they need to be. Just as genetic testing is helping many people make smarter choices about their health before they’re sick, I think aptitude discovery can help people focus on college and career wellness before they need to be put on life support.

It’s why when I guide young adults, I don’t start by helping them choose specific majors; I encourage them to first get acquainted with their aptitudes through one of assessments available at www.youscience.com.

The old

“Know Thyself” axiom may be a cliché commandment, but it remains a necessary step in discovering our life’s work.

HERE ARE A FEW IMPORTANT FACTORS THAT WILL COME TO BEAR

SPATIAL REASONING

Knowing whether you are naturally a more 3D or Abstract thinker is the difference between choosing architecture or real estate development, mechanical or industrial engineering, psychiatry or psychology. The former makes sense of the world in spatial terms, while the latter does so more abstractly.

INDUCTIVE REASONING

Inductive Thinkers easily spot connections, are comfortable filling in the missing pieces, and can come to conclusions based on the available information. They love the “hunt” of solving for unknowns and treading unfamiliar territory. Their opposites, the Fact Checkers, excel when they have complete information, and they will not give you a premature answer; they’ll keep

digging and mulling over things until they’ve collected enough data points. The former may choose archeology and anthropology, while the latter may prefer medical technologies and accounting.

WORK APPROACH

Perhaps most important to our satisfaction in what we’re studying and doing is the degree to which we wish to specialize. While Generalists can easily shift between a broad range of tasks, oversee a diverse team of experts, and hold an objective eye on their work and the world, specialists thrive when they can “go deep,” focus on their craft, and maintain some coveted expert knowledge in their field. Generalists are happy studying management or engineering, while specialists want to study African Studies or 17th Century Literature. It might also mean the difference between eventually choosing family medicine or podiatry.

The old “Know Thyself” axiom may be a cliché commandment, but it remains a necessary step in discovering our life’s work, even in—or especially in—our hyper practical, rational society that can often lead us to make decisions based on every possible factor except what we are uniquely suited to do. But recognizing our aptitudes is only the first step; experience and exposure have to follow. How else do you discover that medicine is not all Grey’s Anatomy and criminal justice isn’t all CSI: Miami? Y

Alex Ellison runs a college and career guidance practice, Throughline Guidance, which serves clients around the globe. She writes and lectures extensively on the subject of careers and college readiness and has been a featured speaker at SXSWedu and TEDx. Her forthcoming book, Your Hidden Genius: The Science-Backed Strategy to Uncovering and Utilizing Your Innate Talents hits shelves in January 2025 and is available for preorder now. She lives in Santa Cruz, California.

20 Reasons Why Christmas with Teens

is Amazing

“Ugh, I’m out of food coloring!” I cried, peering into the cupboard. It was the last thing I needed to finish the Christmas cookies.

Sigh. I’d already made enough runs to the store that I was on a first name basis with Sue, the cashier from checkout lane 6.

That’s when I turned to my teenage son, 17, sitting on the couch looking at his phone.

“Heeeeeeey,” I said. “Could you go get me some food coloring?”

“Sure,” he replied. He sprang up, grabbed the car keys, and took off.

It was like I had my own Christmas elf! Which was a pretty awesome perk of celebrating the holiday season with older kids.

By Katy M. Clark

Indeed, as my teenage son and his sister have shown me as they’ve grown older, there are plenty of reasons why Christmas with teens rocks.

Here are 20 of them:

A little bit of financial independence. You know what my son said when I offered him $5 to pay for the food coloring? “That’s okay, Mom. I have money.” Now that’s a Christmas miracle!

Teens are sturdier. I no longer fear that my kids will break the heirloom ornaments, topple over while helping with the outdoor lights, or drop the china when setting the table for Christmas dinner.

Their palates have matured. Gone are the days of picky eating, like the Christmas dinner when my preschooler ate nothing but rolls and brown sugar meant for the sweet potatoes. As a teen he’ll eat almost anything. (Okay, he still loathes onions!)

Teens are more helpful with cooking and baking. They can chop the veggies and make the gravy. They can whip up extravagant dishes and desserts, whether because they are taking culinary classes or just want to emulate something they saw on TikTok.

Better yet, teens can clean the kitchen all by themselves when they are done. They don’t need supervision or nagging. Well, maybe a little bit of nagging.

I am no longer in charge of dressing them for the weather. Yup, gone are the days of wrangling them into winter gear a la Randy’s mom in A Christmas Story. Of course, I hope my teenage son wears a coat, but if he doesn’t, that’s on him, not me.

Big kids care about tradition. Whether it’s putting out the sock snowman they made in first grade or using Grandma’s recipe to make molasses cookies, teens genuinely appreciate tradition and connection with loved ones and holidays in the past.

Teenagers are still kids at heart, just bigger. They want to leave a plate of cookies out for Santa. They pile in the car when it’s time for our family to drive around and admire holiday lights. Their faces still light up with joy when opening gifts.

As the mom of teens, I am liberated from the Elf on the Shelf. We had a good run, but nowadays I can sit back (a little bit!) and relish the real magic of the season, which is simply being together.

And I love being together with them. This is in stark contrast to the days when they were younger, we’d all be stir crazy by New Year’s and I couldn’t wait for school to start again. With teens I wish time would slow down so I could linger in these special days with them.

Christmas with teens rocks because I no longer fret so much about the gifts. I don’t stress about hiding presents or scramble to obtain that deeply desired yet widely unavailable toy. (Do not ask me about the lengths to which I went to get my kids Zhou Zhou pets one year!)

Their taste in holiday shows and movies is more palatable. Sure, I enjoyed watching classics like Frosty the Snowman when they were little. But not thirteen times in a row. Now my teenagers are just as excited as I am to watch grown-up movies like The Holiday or Die Hard that they never would have sat through as tots.

Teens can stay up late. Whether it’s watching our favorite movies together or going to the midnight Christmas Eve service at church, gone are the years when I had to hustle them to bed by a certain hour.

Teens sleep in on Christmas morning. They no longer rouse the entire household at the crack of dawn to open gifts. Christmas morning with big kids has a decadent, tranquil feel.

Teens grasp the meaning of Christmas in a deeper way. I love that we have profound talks about faith this time of year. It touches my heart, too, when I see them donate jackets to the homeless or put their own money in the red kettles.

Teens are happy to receive clothes as gifts, too. Remember the pouty faces or whiny voices as youngsters when they opened gifts and discovered clothes? Now my son is stoked to get a hoodie and my daughter is giddy to see duds from her favorite store.

And if by chance my teens are disappointed by a gift? They are mature enough to handle it. It’s not like that time my three-year-old ran from the room crying when a toy did not work. I think that year’s very vocal disappointment still lingers in the ether.

Teens give better gifts, too. I know, I know, gifts are not the real meaning of the season. But while I treasure the drawings and painted rocks from yesteryear, it touches my heart when my teens give me a book, they knew I wanted to read or a scarf they saw me admire.

They can wrap gifts themselves. My teenage daughter is masterful when it comes to using paper, tissue, and ribbon. She’s a big help with all the wrapping if I’m busy or just plain tired of doing it all myself. Plus, I don’t worry about her running with scissors anymore!

And the 20th reason why Christmas with teens rocks?

Because it is still the most wonderful time of year, no matter if they are five or fifteen years old. And it’s an amazing gift every day, but especially at Christmas, to be the one that my teens call Mom. Y

Katy M. Clark is a writer and mom of two who

By Sarah Lyons

The holiday season is here again and many parents find themselves scrambling to shop for all of the important people in their lives. Shopping for the perfect gift for your kids can be stressful. Gift giving can be full of joy but oftentimes what kids want and need is their parents time over a pile of gifts. This year try prioritizing presence over presents. This slight change in perspective can relieve this stress and give your kids the gift of memorable experiences that last longer than the thrill of a new toy.

THE GIFT OF EXPERIENCE

Sharing an experience can be a great alternative to giving a physical gift. Find something your family enjoys doing together and make it into a surprise. Some ideas may include taking a trip, attending a concert, visiting a museum or a local attraction, or eating at a special restaurant. Most importantly, you will be enjoying the activity as a family. Experience gifts promote family bonding and create memories that will last a lifetime.

THE GIFT OF TIME

Time spent together has great value for kids. When you are shopping for gifts this year, look for items that promote family time such as games, puzzles, a cookie baking kit, sports equipment, or

crafts. Take the time to play and spend time together. You may find that these activities will become family traditions you return to every year.

THE GIFT OF HELPING OTHERS

Taking time to serve those in need not only brings joy to those who receive help but also to those who offer it. Kids who volunteer regularly have a better appreciation for the blessings they have in their own lives and are more likely to be generous and serve others as they become adults. Ask your kids what needs they see in the community and decide how your family would like to serve. Some ideas may include a coat or food drive, serving meals at a shelter, adopting a family for Christmas, raking leaves for an elderly neighbor, sending holiday cards to veterans, baking and delivering cookies to neighbors, or picking up litter in your community. Choose what fits your family’s time and budget and make it a priority.

THE GIFT OF TRYING SOMETHING NEW

Has your child always wanted to try a particular activity or sport but the cost of lessons was not in the budget? Consider purchasing this gift for your kids. This will give them the opportunity to try something new and will also let them know you were considering their

interests. Families may also want to purchase a membership to a local zoo, amusement park, community center, or museum. This will be something the family can enjoy together over the year ahead.

You don’t have to get rid of gift giving all together, but being intentional about buying things that you can enjoy as a family and taking the time to purchase a few gifts that are really special to your child will help them see the importance of presence over presents. Your child will likely agree that the best gift is time spent with you.

Sarah Lyons is a mom of 6 and has been published in PregnancyandNewborn Magazine,CreativeChildand over 150 other parenting publications.

F8 Ideas for Fall Theme Walks to Explore Your Neighborhood

By Katy M. Clark

all is the perfect time of year to get outside. And what better way to experience all the season has to offer than by taking a walk? Walking is fun and easy, plus it provides a boost to your physical and mental health. Going on a walk with your kids lets them notice new things and meet new people along the way.

Here are 8 fall theme walk ideas that you and your family can take around your neighborhood.

1SENSORY WALK

On this walk, have your child focus on their senses. Ask your child what colors they see. Touch the leaves that have fallen. Smell the air and ask if it smells different than in the summer. Listen to the birds or squirrels. Don’t forget to taste fall, too, by sampling apples or cider when you get home.

2 SCAVENGER HUNT

There are many printable scavenger hunts available online or you can get creative and make your own. Have your kids look for distinctly autumnal items like fallen leaves, acorns, or pumpkins. Once they find an item, have them check it off their list. Most kids love carrying the list on a clipboard, too. It’s very official!

3 TALK THE WALK

Use descriptive words to engage your child in talking about fall. Ask them why they like this season. Then tell them why you like it. For example, “I like fall because the colors of the leaves are red, orange, and yellow.” I used to tell my kids that I liked fall because the weather is cooler and it feels good to wear sweaters.

4 BIRD WATCHING WALK

Does fall bring the arrival or departure of different kinds of birds in your area? Talk about the birds you saw this summer and imagine where they live now. Notice which birds fly in V-shaped formations as they prepare to head south. Keep track of how many different birds you see on a walk in a field journal.

5 ART WALK

The object of an art walk is to collect as many items related to fall as you can, such as leaves, sticks, and acorns. Then take them home and create! You can glue twigs and leaves together to make forest creatures or try your hand at making leaf prints. One of the easiest projects my children enjoyed when they were younger was sticking fallen leaves of all colors, shapes and sizes onto contact paper.

6 NIGHTTIME WALK

Just because the days are getting shorter doesn’t mean you have to stay inside when it gets dark. On your nighttime walk, see if you can find constellations like the Big Dipper. Watch for the blinking lights of planes as they cross the sky. Take flashlights or headlamps and look for critters in your neighborhood.

7 BUDDY WALK

Sometimes all that is needed to make a walk more exciting is a friend. Invite one or two buddies to traverse the neighborhood with you or pick a new location for your walk. Simply traveling through a novel area can be an exciting change of pace for most kids. Go for a walk around the block or take a friend on any of the walks here.

8 SCIENCE WALK

Gather leaves that have fallen from trees as well as those from plants. Ask how the leaves are different. Is one kind changing color but the other is not? Look for any black spots on leaves and talk about decay. Notice the evergreen trees in your area and discuss why they do not change color. For extra credit, bring home leaves and press them between sheets of newspaper weighed down by books for a few days. This will preserve their shape and color without the leaves curling and drying out. Y

Katy M. Clark is a writer whose work has appeared in national and regional parenting magazines. She blogs at ExperiencedBadMom. com

Fearless, We COMMUNITY

More Open House Events Online at www.ParentsPress.com

BERKELEY

Bayhill High School 9-12

Open House

January 25, 2025 - RSVP 1940 Virginia Street www.bayhillhs.org

The Berkeley School PS - 8

Virtual Open House

December 18, 2024 - RSVP 1310 University Ave www.theberkeleyschool.org

The Crowden School K-8

Open House

December 4, 2024 @ 9:15 am

December 13, 2024 @ 9:30 am Group Tours

December 11, 2024 @ 9:30 am

January 8, 2025 @ 9:30 am

January 16, 2025 @ 10:00 am

Sneak Peak

January 12, 2025 @ 10:30 am 1475 Rose Street www.crowden.org

Shu Ren International School Virtual Info Session

December 6, 2024 @ 6:30 pm

Elementary Class Tours

December 19, 2024 @ 10:30 am 2125 Jefferson Ave https://shurenschool.com

CASTRO VALLEY

Redwood Christian Schools

MS/HS Shadow Days

January 10, 2025 @ 7:45 am 4200 James Avenue www.rcs.edu

CONCORD

Orion Academy 9-12 Open House

February 1, 2025 @ 9:30 am 1868 Clayton Road www.orionacademy.org

EL CERRITO

Prospect Sierra School (K-8)

Online Info Session

ES - Dec. 2, 2024 @ 9:00 am

MS - Dec. 3, 2024 @ 9:00 am

MS - Dec. 12, 2024 @ 9:00 am

ES - Jan. 9, 2025 @ 9:00 am

MS - Jan. 15, 2025 @ 9:00 am Campus Tours

MS - Dec. 3, 2024 @ 9:00 am

MS - Dec. 9, 2024 @ 9:00 am

ES - Dec. 10, 2024 @ 9:00 am

ES - Dec. 13, 2024 @ 9:00 am

ES - Dec. 16, 2024 @ 9:00 am

MS - Dec. 18, 2024 @ 9:00 am

ES - Jan. 10, 2025 @ 9:00 am

ES - Jan. 13, 2025 @ 9:00 am

MS - Jan. 14, 2025 @ 9:00 am 2060 Tapscott Ave www.prospectsierra.org

EMERYVILLE

East Bay German International School PS - 8

Preschool Admissions Application Due February 9, 2025 KG-8 Admissions Application Due

February 16, 2025 1070 41st Street www.ebgis.org

East Bay International HS 9-12 Admissions Application Due December 16, 2024 1070 41st Street www.ebgis.org

HAYWARD

Moreau Catholic HS 9-12

8th Grade HSPT Workshop

December 7, 2024 @ 9:00 am Applications Due January 6, 2025 27170 Mission Blvd www.moreaucatholic.org

LAFAYETTE Bentley School 9-12

Upper School Webinar

December 5, 2024 @ 6:00 pm 1000 Upper Happy Valley Road www.bentleyschool.org

Contra Costa Jewish Day School FunDay Sunday

December 8, 2024 @ 10:00 am 955 Risa Rd www.ccjds.org

MORAGA

The Saklan School - PS - 8 Virtual Perspective Parents Panel

December 10, 2024 @ 12:00 pm Open House

January 16, 2025 @ 9:00 am 1678 School St www.saklan.org

OAKLAND

Aurora School K-8 K-5 Tours

December 6, 2024 @ 8:45 am

December 13, 2024 @ 8:45 am

January 10, 2025 @ 8:45 am

January 17, 2025 @ 8:45 am

Middle School (6-8) Tours

December 5, 2024 @ 8:45 am

December 12, 2024 @ 8:45 am

January 9, 2025 @ 8:45 am

January 6, 2025 @ 8:45 am 40 Dulwich Road www.auroraschool.org

Bentley School K-8

Lower School Webinar

December 3, 2024 @ 6:00 pm

Middle School Webinar

December 4, 2024 @ 6:00 pm

K-8 Open House

December 7, 2024 @ 9:00 am 1 Hiller Dr www.bentleyschool.org

Park Day School K-8 K-3 Tour

December 5, 2024 @ 8:45 am

December 12, 2024 @ 8:45 am

December 19, 2024 @ 8:45 am

January 16, 2025 @ 8:45 am K-8 Open House

December 14, 2024 @ 10:00 am

Upper Grade Tour

December 4, 2024 @ 8:45 am

January 15, 2025 @ 8:45 am 360 42nd St www.parkdayschool.org

Redwood Day School K-8 Campus Tours

December 10, 2024 @ 9:00 am

January 9, 2025 @ 9:00 am Virtual Q&A

January 8, 2025 @ 9:00 am Open House

LS January 11, 2025 @ 9:00 am

MS January11, 2025 @ 11:30 am 3245 Sheffield Avenue www.rdschool.org

PIEDMONT

Corpus Christi School (K-8) Open House

December 3, 2024 @ 8:15 am

January 7, 2025 @ 8:15 am

February 11, 2025 @ 8:15 am

Application Deadline

January 12, 2025

1 Estates Dr www.corpuschristischool.com

RICHMOND

Salesian College Prep. 9-12

Coffee with the Heads of School

December 5, 2024 @ 9:00 am 2851 Salesian Ave www.salesian.com

SAN FRANCISCO

The International School of San Francisco PK-12 Kindergarten Open House

December 7, 2024 @ 10:00 am

High School Open House

December 7, 2024 @ 10:00 am 150 Oak St & 1155 Page Ave www.internationalsf.org

San Francisco Waldorf School

High School Open House

December 3, 2024 @ 6:00 pm

Belonging at SF Waldorf (6-12)

December 16, 2024 @ 6:00 pm 470 West Portal Ave ww.sfwaldorf.org

Check out more school open house events online at www.ParentsPress.com — Select School Open Houses

Don’t see your school’s event? You can post it online at the URL above.

2024 -2025

Find the Right Educational Experience for your Child

Take the guesswork out of finding the right private school for your child, from start to finish. The following articles are excerpts from the 2024/25 Annual Private School Guide produced by Parents’ Press, covering Why Consider a Private School, Private School Search and Information on Financial Assistance. Coming in October, the complete Annual Private School Guide leads parents chronologically along the school-selection path, beginning with the value of private education and how to start the process with an emphasis on the all-important application process, including interviewing tips, required testing information, and essay writing tips as well as the ins-and-outs of financial aid. There are school profiles and a comprehensive list of regional private schools sorted by city. Your road to the ideal school just got simpler! Access the Annual Private School Guide for free at ParentsPress.com and tap the Our Magazines tab to view.

Why Consider a Private School?

Many parents feel that their children will thrive better in what they believe is a smaller, safer environment with more room for personal attention. And while public schools must follow a curriculum heavily influenced by state standards, private schools have more freedom to customize lessons to students’ individual ways of learning.

Private schools can also point to low student-teacher ratios, freedom from state standards and testing, and lots of extras like music, foreign languages, STEM resources and

art that are underfunded or nonexistent in public schools. Private schools are often well-equipped with current educational technology to facilitate in class and virtual instruction. Rest assured, promise school experts, there is a school out there to suit every child.

There are two primary sorts of private schools— independent schools and parochial schools.

INDEPENDENT SCHOOLS are defined as nonprofit private schools with their own governing board of trustees. While most people commonly refer to independent schools

August

(of the year before you want your child to attend)

• Define your ideal school

• Find schools that match your child’s needs

• Research and ask questions of schools on your preliminary list

September

• Browse schools’ websites to learn more about their programs and philosophies

• Attend local school fairs to gather material and impressions from multiple schools

• Request admissions and financial aid material by phone or online

• Review admissions materials to determine which schools to visit

• Create a calendar of pertinent admission and financial aid deadlines for the schools to which you are considering applying

• Ask elementary schools about their test schedules and make appointments

• Register for any standardized tests required for admission

• Review the test websites to learn about procedures and test dates, see sample questions, and purchase testpreparation books

• Call schools to schedule individual tours, class visits, interviews, and “shadow days”

Basic Timeline FOR APPLYING TO A PRIVATE SCHOOL

While each school follows its own schedule, here is a typical admissions timeline. Many schools are transitioning to virtual admission events and individual tours.

if available

October

• Continue scheduling tours, interviews, class visits, and standardized or school-based tests

• Visit schools during open houses, attend information sessions, and take tours

• Finalize the list of schools to which you will apply

• Take required standardized admission tests

November

• Continue scheduling tours, interviews, class visits, and standardized or school-based tests

• Visit schools during open houses, attend information sessions, and take tours

• Request teacher recommendations from your child’s current school

• Start working on applications, financial aid forms, student questionnaires, and essays

December

• Continue to watch for any open house or school events of interest

• Request transcripts at the end of your child’s first semester

• Complete applications, questionnaires, and essays

• Note application deadlines. Some schools have December deadlines.

January

• Pay attention to deadlines: Most applications are due in January or February, along with test scores, references, transcripts, and financial aid forms

February

• Don’t miss deadlines: Many schools’ applications are due in February at the latest

• Visit schools and/or have your child participate in a student shadow day

March

• Watch for school decisions starting in mid-March

• Watch for financial aid decisions

• If your student is accepted by multiple schools, decide which school your child will attend

April

• Sign and return enrollment contracts and send deposits

• Notify schools that you applied to but decided not to attend

May to September

• Attend events and activities for new parents and students

East Bay Private Schools

Alameda

The Child Unique Montessori School - Encinal Campus

2226 Encinal Ave.

Alameda • 510-521-9227

www.thechildunique.org

The Child Unique Montessori School - Pacific Campus

2212 Pacific Ave.

Alameda • 510-521-9227

www.thechildunique.org

The Child Unique Montessori School - Taylor Campus 1400 Sixth St.

Alameda • 510-521-0595

www.thechildunique.org

Coastline Christian Schools

1801 North Loop Road

Alameda • 510-522-0200

www.coastlinechristian.org

EnCompass Four Corners School 1828 Park St.

Alameda • 510-735-1501 www.encompass4corners.org

Montessori Elementary Intermediate School of Alameda 1400 Sixth St.

Alameda • 510-521-0595

www.montessorielementaryalameda.org

Albany

Tilden Preparatory School

1231 Solano Ave.

Albany • 510-525-5506 www.tildenprep.com

Berkeley

The Berkeley School (K-8 Campus) 1310 University Ave

Berkeley • 510-665-8800 www.theberkeleyschool.org

Bayhill High School 1940 Virginia St

Berkeley • 510-984-0599 www.bayhillhs.org

Black Pine Circle School 2027 Seventh St

Berkeley • 510-845-0876 www.blackpinecircle.org

The Crowden School 1475 Rose St.

Berkeley • 510-559-6910 crowdenschool.org

Ecole Bilingue de Berkeley 1009 Heinz Ave.

Berkeley • 510-549-3867 www.eb.org

Maybeck High School

2727 College Ave.

Berkeley • 510-841-8489 www.maybeckhs.org

Saint Mary’s College High School 1294 Albina Ave

Berkeley • 510-526-9242 www.saintmaryschs.org

as private, lumping them in with parochial and for-profit schools, they are distinct because they are nonprofit and self-governing.

PAROCHIAL SCHOOLS, where tuition is typically one-third that of independent schools, offer traditional instruction and have solid reputations. Families who are “in-parish,” that is, who live within the schools’ official parish boundaries or volunteer and participate regularly in the parish, get first priority. Otherwise, the application procedures are similar to independent schools.

When considering private school education, think about these benefits as outlined by the Independent Schools of the San Francisco Bay Area (www.issfba.org):

High academic standards. Independent schools nurture intellectual curiosity, stimulate personal growth, and encourage critical thinking. A larger percentage of students at independent schools are enrolled in advanced courses than in public, parochial, and other private schools.

Small classes and individual attention. Independent schools have low student-teacher ratios that encourage close connections with students.

Excellent teachers. Educators usually teach in their areas of expertise and are passionate about what they do. With more autonomy within the classroom, teachers are able to develop a full understanding of how each student learns and what motivates and inspires each child.

Greater likelihood of a student completing a bachelor’s degree or graduate degree. Independent schools nurture not just students’ intellectual ability and curiosity but also their personal and social growth and civic conscience. Opportunities extend well beyond the classroom to athletic competitions, artistic pursuits, and school leadership experiences.

Education for the whole child. Independent schools nurture not just students’ intellectual curiosity but also their personal/ social growth and civic purpose. Opportunities extend well beyond the classroom to athletic competitions, artistic pursuits and school leadership offerings.

Inclusiveness. Schools maintain diverse and vibrant student communities and welcome and respect each family.

A community of parents who actively participate in their children’s education. Independent schools promote regular communication among students, parents, and teachers to ensure everyone is working toward the same goals for the student.

The opportunity to choose a school with a mission. You can select a school for which the philosophy, values, and teaching style resonate with both you and your child. And most important: An education that will pay dividends for a lifetime. Y <<< Continued from

East Bay Private Schools

School of the Madeleine 1225 Milvia St Berkeley • 510-526-4744

www.themadeleine.com

Shu Ren International School - Berkeley Campus

2125 Jefferson Ave. Berkeley • 510-841-8899

www.shurenschool.com

Shu Ren International School - Berkeley Campus 1422 San Pablo Ave. Berkeley • 510-833-7789

www.shurenschool.com

Step One School 499 Spruce St. Berkeley • 510-527-9021

www.steponeschool.org

Castro Valley

Redwood Christian Schools Castro Valley • San Lorenzo 510-889-7526

www.rcs.edu

Concord

De La Salle High School 1130 Winton Dr. Concord • 925-288-8100 www.dlshs.org

East Bay Private Schools

Orion Academy 1868 Clayton Rd. Concord • 925-377-0789 www.orionacademy.org

Danville

Athenian School

2100 Mt. Diablo Blvd. Danville • 925-837-5375 www.athenian.org 6-12

Dublin

Quarry Lane School 6363 Tassajara Rd. Dublin • 925-829-8000 www.QuarryLane.org

El Cerrito

East Bay Montessori

7075 Cutting Blvd.

El Cerrito • 510-236-8802 www.eastbaymontessori.org

Prospect Sierra School 960 Avis Drive 2060 Tapscott Ave. El Cerrito • 510-809-9000 www.prospectsierra.org TK-8 All Gender 9:1 470

Emeryville

East Bay German International School 1070 41st St. Emeryville • 510-380-0302 www.ebgis.org/

Escuela Bilingüe Internacional Grades 2-8

4550 San Pablo Ave. • Emeryville

PK - Grade 1 - See Oakland 510-652-7094 www.ebi.school

Hayward

California Crosspoint Academy 25500 Industrial Blvd

Hayward • 510-995-5333 www.crosspointacademy.org

Lafayette

Bentley School

1000 Upper Happy Valley Road

Lafayette • 925-283-2101 www.bentleyschool.org

The Springstone School 1035 Carol Lane

Lafayette • 925-962-9660 www.thespringstoneschool.org

Livermore

Valley Montessori School 1273 N Livermore Ave. Livermore • 925-455-8021 www.vmschool.org

8:1 K-3 11:1

K-8

Independent Special Needs Latin

Independent French, Spanish, Chinese Summer Programs

$46,500 - $54,000 FA Available WASC

$0-57,270 for day students $0-87,760 for boarding students CAIS, NAIS, WASC

$23,774-$47,065 WASC, NCPSA, NIPSA

Spanish, Mandarin

$27,900-$31,500 FA Available AMS, BAMA, ISSFBA, NAIS

Spanish TK: $27,710 ES: $34,300 MS: $38,865 FA Available

NAIS, POCIS, Green Ribbon School, Ashoka Change-maker School

IB World School, WASC, PASCH, WDA

CAIS, WASC, IBO

Montessori Curriculum

$38,700 6-8: $42,300 9-12: $55,800 FA Available

WASC, ISSFBA

$6,000 - $22,000 FA Available

CAIS, WASC, CA Green Business Cert.

East Bay Private Schools

Moraga

The Saklan School

1678 School St.

Moraga • 925-376-7900

www.saklan.org

Newark

Challenger School - Ardenwood

35487 Dumbarton Court

Newark • 510-739-0300

www.challengerschool.com/campus/california/newark/ardenwood

Challenger School

39600 Cedar Blvd.

Newark • 510-770-1771

www.challengerschool.com/campus/california/newark

Oakland

Aurora School

40 Dulwich Road

Oakland • 510-428-2606

www.auroraschool.org

Bentley School

1 Hiller Dr.

Oakland • 510-843-2512

www.bentleyschool.org

College Preparatory School

6100 Broadway

Oakland • 510-652-4364

www.college-prep.org

9-12 All Gender 8:1 650

English, Spanish, French, Mandarin,

East Bay Private Schools

Escuela Bilingüe Internacional

PK - Grade 1

410 Alcatraz Ave. • Oakland Grades 2-8 - See Emeryville 510-653-3324

www.ebi.school

Head-Royce School

4315 Lincoln Ave.

Oakland • 510-531-1300

www.headroyce.org

Holy Names High School

4660 Harbord Dr.

Oakland • 510-450-1110

www.hnhsoakland.org

Julia Morgan School for Girls

5000 MacArthur Blvd.

Oakland • 510-632-6000 www.juliamorganschool.org

Pacific Boychoir Academy 215 Ridgeway Ave.

Oakland • 510-652-4722

www.pacificboychoir.org

Park Day School 360 42nd St.

Oakland • 510-653-0317 www.parkdayschool.org

Redwood Day 3245 Sheffield Ave. Oakland • 510-534-0800 rdschool.org

Pine Circle School

East Bay Private Schools

St. Paul’s Episcopal School 116 Montecito Ave. Oakland • 510-285-9617 www.spes.org

St. Theresa School

4850 Clarewood Drive Oakland • 510-547-3146 www.sttheresaschool.org

Piedmont

Corpus Christi School

1 Estates Drive

Piedmont • 510-530-4056 www.corpuschristischool.com

Pinole

St. Joseph School 1961 Plum St. Pinole • 510-724-0242 www.stjosephpinole.org

Richmond

Salesian College Preparatory

2851 Salesian Ave. Richmond • 510-234-4433 www.salesian.com

San Lorenzo

PRINT.pdf 1 8/7/24 4:32 PM

Mind & Heart

our Reggio-inspired Preschool and develop mental Kindergarten to our adventurous Lower School and hands-on Middle School, Seven Hills students are on a journey of curiosity and exploration, success and setbacks, awareness of self, and contribution to others. Join us for a tour to experience our community!

94598 (925) 933-0666 • sevenhillsschool.org

East Bay Private Schools

Walnut Creek

Berean Christian High School

245 El Divisadero Avenue

Walnut Creek • 925-945-6464 www.bereanchristian.com

Contra Costa Christian Schools

2721 Larkey Lane

Walnut Creek • 925-934-4964 contracostachristianschools.org

Seven Hills School

975 N. San Carlos Drive

Walnut Creek • 925-933-0666 www.sevenhillsschool.org

Sonder Creek Academy

860 Bancroft Road

Walnut Creek • 925-440-1244 sondercreekacademy.org

Tilden Preparatory School

1475 N. Broadway

Walnut Creek • 925-933-5506 www.tildenprep.com

San Francisco Private Schools

Alta Vista School

450 Somerset St. San Francisco • 415-467-3700 www.altavistaschool.org

The School of the Madeleine is a vibrant, inclusive, K-8 Catholic school in Berkeley. For 85 years, we have delivered a high-quality, values-based education. Our school follows the four Dominican Pillars of Faith, Study, Community, and Service

The School of the Madeleine is a vibrant, inclusive, K-8 Catholic school in Berkeley. We are dedicated to the education of the whole child—mind, body, and spirit. Our leadership is committed to academic excellence, spiritual development, and social justice.

We believe that every student is exceptional, and in the tradition of Catholic education, our mission is to help them become lifelong learners and compassionate citizens who care for one another. We welcome every family with open arms and invite you to learn more about our community.

In addition to our strong academic program, we offer music, band, Spanish, art, 1:1 iPads, tech lab, partner teachers, learning support, and after-care program.

Come see what we are all about! www.themadeleine.com

East Bay Private Schools

Cathedral School for Boys

1275 Sacramento St

San Francisco • 415-771-6600

www.cathedralschool.net

Convent & Stuart Hall, Schools of the Sacred Heart San Francisco

2222 Broadway and 1715 Octavia St

San Francisco • (415) 563-2900 www.sacredsf.org

The International School of San Francisco

150 Oak Street

San Francisco • 415-558-2022 www.frenchamericansf.org

KFS School

3140 Balboa Street

San Francisco • 415-525-4035

www.kfsschool.org

Sacred Heart Cathedral Preparatory 1055 Ellis St.

San Francisco • 415-772-6626

www.shcp.edu

St. Anthony-Immaculate Conception 299 Precita Avenue San Francisco • 415-628-2008 www.saicsf.org

Principal: Barbara Moodie

A COLLEGE PREP SCHOOL LIKE NO OTHER

Financial Aid:

BASIC INFORMATION YOU SHOULD KNOW

Every private school has its own policies about who receives financial aid, what types of aid are awarded, and how much aid a particular family will receive. In most cases, the financial aid office cannot tell you if your family will qualify for financial aid until you submit an application that allows the school to evaluate your unique situation.

HOW SCHOOLS DETERMINE ELIGIBILITY FOR FINANCIAL AID

To determine your eligibility for financial aid, you must submit an application form and financial statements. There is no income limit that automatically makes your family ineligible for financial aid. Financial aid officers take into account your income, assets, and expenses, including educational costs for other children.

Bottom line: If you feel your family cannot afford to pay the full cost, regardless of your income, it’s worth the effort to submit a financial aid application.

WHEN TO APPLY

Every school has its own financial aid schedule, and the deadlines are different for schools with rolling admissions. In general, most financial aid applications are due in January or February. Check with your school of choice for the deadline. You

will receive a financial aid decision shortly after your child is admitted to a particular school.

TYPES OF FINANCIAL AID AVAILABLE

Grants are the most common type of financial aid offered by private schools. They are awarded annually to students who demonstrate financial need, and students must reapply each year. Grant money comes from the school’s budget and does not have to be paid back.

Merit scholarships awarded by the school are rare and are usually reserved for students who have a special talent that the school is seeking, such as art, music, or academics. Generally, scholarships are based on financial need. They may be awarded once, annually, or as long as the student meets the scholarship criteria.

Scholarships from outside organizations are also rare, and often awarded by local chapters of national groups like the Rotary

Club. Ask the school for a list of organizations that have provided scholarships to their students in the past, and check the list on parents.nais.org. Each scholarship program will have its own eligibility rules, application, and deadlines. Tuition loans are personal loans provided by a private lender. You must apply directly to the lender, and your loan amount and interest rate will depend on the lender’s credit requirements. Some use loans to pay for expenses not covered by a grant.

Tuition Payment Plans allow you to make monthly payments rather than writing one or two large checks each year. Schools offer payment plans through a third-party financial services company, which charges a relatively small fee.

Sibling discounts are designed to help families with more than one child enrolled in the same school. Many schools are shrinking these discounts, or phasing them out altogether. Even so, it’s worth asking if this situation applies to you.

Most families pay for tuition through a combination of these options. The school’s financial aid officer can help you create a financing plan that fits your family’s needs. Don’t hesitate to ask questions and explore all the options available to you.

Reprinted with the permission from National Association of Independent Schools, nais.org.

PRESCHOOLS AND EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION

Find the Right Start for Your Child

Parents’ Press takes the guesswork out of finding the right preschool for your child, from start to finish.

The following articles are excerpts from the 2024/25 East Bay Guide to Preschools and Early Education, covering “7 Steps to Finding the Perfect Preschool,” “What to Look for When Doing the Site Visit” and “Basics to Know About Preschool Options.” The complete 2024/25 East Bay Guide to Preschools and Early Education leads parents along the early education or preschool selection path beginning with how to determine if your child is

ready for preschool, what options and different teaching philosophies are available, questions to ask a preschool, what to look for on a site visit and more. In addition, you will find program profiles and a comprehensive list of regional early education and preschool programs. Your road to the ideal early education program just got easier! Get your copy today of this free resource at ParentsPress.com/our-magazines.

How to Find the Perfect Program

START EARLY. It takes time to research different styles of preschools and become familiar with common terms used. Many parents start this process a year ahead of time, some parents even start while pregnant! Children usually attend preschool for two to three years between the ages of 2.5 and 5 years.

DETERMINE WHAT CRITERIA IS MOST IMPORTANT FOR YOUR CHILD AND FAMILY. Is it location, faith, type of program offered, language immersion, special-needs options, a year-round program, extended hours, cost? Prioritize what are the most important factors for your situation? Rate these factors so you have a clear picture of where and what programs to focus on and what is the best fit for your child and family.

UTILIZE LOCAL PARENTING RESOURCES. Local parenting websites, like ParentsPress.com, offer lots of early education and preschool information as well as open house announcements. These resources will help you to become familiar with what programs are available in your area and the options being offered to help with your selection process. Visit school websites that look interesting to find out admissions information.

ASK AROUND. Talk to other parents in your area to see what programs they were part of, and if they would recommend them. Find out what they liked most and least about the program. How long did their child attend? Did they experience any teacher turnover? What was the culture like? How did they handle sick days, potty training and behavioral issues? How involved were the parents in the school? Are the parents and children still in contact with others from that preschool?

Continued on page

What to Look for When Doing the Site Visit

Be prepared with this checklist before you step foot into the school

FIRST IMPRESSIONS. Is the preschool clean, organized and does it have a good feeling about it? Is the staff friendly, and are the teachers in control of the classroom? Inside, are there play areas? Are toys and books in good shape and organized? Outside is there enough room? Are there play areas and toys for all of the kids? Does the preschool feel safe inside and out? Does the preschool feel like a place your child can thrive in?

THE BASICS. What are the start and end times for the core program? If extended care is an option, who manages this, and, where is it held? What is the daily schedule, as well as the school holiday schedule? Are lunch and snacks provided? If not, is refrigeration available? Is the bathroom safe and centrally located with toddler sized facilities? What are the illness policies? Is the facility up to code? What are the emergency protocols?

TEACHERS AND STAFF. Is there enough supervision? Does the teacher-child ratio match or exceed standards? Teacher turnover? What experience do the teachers have and how long have they been teaching at this school? How were they trained? Do the teachers seem happy? How is their interaction with the children? How do they balance the different needs of the children? Do they have a specific approach for teaching social-emotional skills? How do they communicate with the family on concerns? How often are parent-teacher conferences held?

LEARNING ENVIRONMENT. Are the children doing the same project or do the children work independently? Are there a variety

of learning materials in which children can explore their interests and learn new skills? Is there a focus on reading? How do children decide what to do, when to do it and with whom? What support do teachers provide when a child gets stuck on a project? How are children motivated to participate? How are holidays integrated into the learning experience?

FAMILY INVOLVEMENT. How involved are the families in the day-to-day operations of the preschool? What opportunities or organized events are available to meet other families during the school year? Is there a parent association? Are there required volunteer hours or monetary commitments beyond the tuition? Are there fundraising events and what is the money raised used for? Are there opportunities for classroom observation? How do family members participate in celebrations?

6 FINAL IMPRESSION OF THE VISIT. This is your gut check. Do you feel this preschool is a great fit for your child? Did you feel comfortable with what you saw and the people you interacted with? Did your concerns get addressed? Any red flags you need to check up on? Were you encouraged to contact the school with any questions? Is there a clear next step in the process?

Every family has specific needs and many preschools can accommodate most needs. It is important to ask questions now. Don’t be afraid to discuss personal matters, one on one. Chances are the preschool has encountered a similar situation before and is up to the task or may be able to give you direction to an alternative resource. Y

Looking for a school where your young child will truly thrive?

The school for your child: a health conscious, culturally responsive, joyful environment.

<<< Continued from page 22

CONTACT THE PRESCHOOL. Before you apply, find out the preschool’s admissions schedule and how many openings they will have and how many spots will be reserved for siblings of families already enrolled. If you are concerned that your top choice or choices have way more applicants than spots it would be a wise idea to apply to more than one preschool even though there may be an application fee. Find out ways to tours the school.

TOUR YOUR TOP CHOICES. Arrange to take a tour or go to an open house to learn about the school philosophy and the admissions process. Most schools prefer for you to preregister for these. Have your questions ready and observe. Look for signs that the preschool is well run. Also, this is a time that the preschool uses to determine which families will be a good fit for their program.

APPLY TO YOUR TOP CHOICE. You have done your research, established your criteria and taken the tour — now it is time to apply to your top choice. Some preschools have ongoing enrollment but most follow the school year format. Acceptance letters go out in spring for the following fall. Also, find out from the organization when you can expect to hear from them, one way or another. It is okay to be persistent and let them know you and your family are interested, but don’t be a pest. If your child is waitlisted get specifics from the preschool. What number on the wait list is your child and does the preschool have a commitment from all returning families? If the school is accepting a total of 15 new children and you are way down on the wait list, it is time to consider other options. If you are concerned that your top choice has more applicants than spots it would be a good idea to apply to more than one preschool. Y

(if any) Hours of Care

Alameda

The Child Unique Montessori School - Encinal Campus 2226 Encinal Ave.

Alameda • 510-521-9227

The Child Unique Montessori School - Pacific Campus 2212 Pacific Ave.

Alameda • 510-521-9227 www.thechildunique.org 18 mos - 3 yrs Up to 20 children 7:00 am - 6:00 pm

The Child Unique Montessori School - Taylor Campus 1400 Sixth St.

Alameda • 510-521-0595 www.thechildunique.org

Alamo

The Dorris-Eaton School 1286 Stone Valley Road Alamo • 925-837-7240 www.dorriseaton.org

Cedar Creek Montessori School

Helping Children Explore Their World!

Tuition

$622 -$1,933

Accepted

$622 -$1,933

- $36,320

Preschool Basics –Where to Begin

Contrary to what you might have heard, choosing the right preschool for your child is not as difficult as applying for an advanced degree. The key to choosing the right preschool is going into the process prepared. Prepared with a solid idea of what you want your child to gain from his or her preschool experience.

Below are helpful suggestions for choosing a preschool that is a good match for your child and your family, as well as information on some of the most popular types of preschool educational philosophies.

Think about the Basics

The best way to keep from becoming overwhelmed by the process of choosing a preschool is to think about how the preschool will fit into your daily life. Here are some questions parents should consider:

• Is it important for the preschool to be near my home?

• Is it important for the preschool to be near my workplace?

• Is it important for the preschool to offer childcare services in the morning, afternoon, or both?

• Are you looking for a play-based classroom or a more academic setting?

• Am I eligible for or interested in subsidized preschool programs (i.e., Early Head Start, Child Welfare League of America or state-funded programming) that offer services such as childcare programs with a focus on providing educational opportunities?

Answering each of these questions will help you narrow down the general location and type of setting you should research making the process of comparing programs easier to manage.

Become Familiar with Common Terms

For many parents, the most confusing part about choosing preschools is trying to make sense of terms such as, “Montessori Approach,” “child-centered,” “Waldorf Approach” and “faith-based.” What do these terms mean and how can these terms help you choose a preschool?

Oftentimes, the key difference between settings is connected to the preschool’s “educational philosophy.” While educational philosophies are numerous and their definitions are not set in stone, we have provided you with definitions for some of the most popular philosophies.

Academic vs Play-Based

Academic preschools have a mostly teacher-led classroom. Teachers and staff guide kids through a tightly structured curriculum. They introduce kids to several subjects, including math, reading, writing, science, and nature.

In a play-based program, children choose activities on their current interests. The play-based classroom is broken up into sections, such as a home or kitchen, science area, water table, reading nook, space with blocks and other toys or other areas. Teachers encourage kids to play, facilitating social skills along the way.

Montessori Method

This philosophy focuses on maintaining the individuality of each child in the learning process. It believes each child learns at their own pace and educational progress should not be rendered based upon comparing students to one another.

Reggio Emilia Approach

This approach focuses on providing opportunities for problem solving and expression through creativity and exploration.

Waldorf Approach

Emphasis is placed on imagination and experiential learning, providing students with opportunities to explore their world through the senses, participation and analytical thought.

Bank Street Approach

This approach places an emphasis on learning through multiple perspectives, both in the classroom setting and in the natural world with a strong focus on emotional and intellectual development.

HighScope Approach

This approach focuses on letting children be in charge of their own learning. Children are taught to make a plan for what they would like to do each day and participate in a review session to discuss the success of their plan and brainstorm ideas for the next day.

Outside of the formal educational philosophies, knowing the difference between other common early childhood terms will

help you make informed decisions regarding your child’s education. Below is a list of some common terms used to describe preschool settings. It should be noted that these terms may be used alone or in combination with one another (i.e., a “childcentered, faith-based” setting).

Child-centered

This term is often used to describe settings that take the children’s interests into consideration when planning activities. For example: in a child-centered setting, the classroom activities are based on the interests of the students, not on pre-scheduled topics chosen by the teacher. These settings often offer increased opportunities for children to choose activities throughout the day depending on their interests.

Teacher-led

The opposite of a child-centered setting is a teacher-led setting. Teacher-led often means that curriculum and supplemental activities are implemented based on a set schedule developed by the teachers in the setting. This type of setting usually provides children with a structured learning environment.

Child-led

These settings believe children learn best when they are engaged and interested in learning. Child-led settings wait for each child to initiate or ask for new activities and experiences, fostering individualized learning experiences rather than group experiences.

Continued on page 34 >>>

Featured Preschools

Berkeley

The Berkeley School (Early Childhood Campus)

2030 Francisco St

Berkeley • 510-849-8340 www.theberkeleyschool.org

Cedar Creek Montessori School

1600 Sacramento Street

Berkeley • 510-525-1377

cedarcreekmontessorischool.com

Ecole Bilingue de Berkeley (EB) 1009 Heinz Avenue

Berkeley • 510-549-3897 www.eb.org

KSS Spanish Immersion Preschool 1422 San Pablo Ave

Berkeley • 877-442-2555 www.ksspreschool.com

Little Elephant Too! 2008 McGee Ave

Berkeley • 510-679-5056 www.littleelephant.net

Shu Ren International School 2125 Jefferson Ave.

Berkeley • 510-841-8899 www.shurenschool.com

Step One School

499 Spruce Street

Berkeley • 510-527-9021

www.steponeschool.org

Concord

Wood Rose Academy & Preschool 4347 Cowell Road

Concord • 925-825-5493

Danville

Autumn Creek Learning Center 14 Osborn Way

Danville • 925-743-4187

www.autumncreek-lc.com

Ages Served # of Children at Facility

Religious Affil (if any) Hours of Care

2 yr - 5 Up to 92 children

8:30 am - 3:00 pm Ext care to 5:30 pm

2.6 yr - 5 Up to 40 children 8:00 am - 5:30 pm

2 yr - 5 Up to 100 children 8:15am to 3:30pm. Extended care available (7:30am to 6pm)

2 yr - 6 Up to 48 children 7:00 am - 6:00 pm

2 - 6 yrs 24 children 8:00 am - 5:30 pm

to G8 Up to 140 children 7:30 am - 6:00pm

2 yr - 5 115 children 8:30 am - 5:00 pm

2 yr - 8th grade Up to 56 children Roman Catholic 6:45 am - 6:00 pm

2 yr - 5 Up to 110 children 7:00 am - 6:00 pm

Tuition Range Accredited Facility? Diapers Accepted? Education Based?

Home or Center Meals Provided? Special Needs? Transportation?

$28,500 FA Available Accredited Diapers Accepted Education Based

Varies Diapers Accepted Education Based

$33,665 Accredited Diapers Accepted Education Based

$2,795 Tuition Assistance

Spanish Immersion Education Based

Special Needs Accepted

Variety of schedules available

$2,795 - 10 months Tuition Assistance

Accredited Mandarin Immersion Education Based Center Summer Programs

$19,000 - $35,000/ year FA Avaiable Diapers Accepted Education Based Center Meals Provided

$510 - $1,620

Diapers Accepted Education Based Center Meals Provided

Please call for rate Accredited Diapers Accepted Education Based Center Meals Provided

Garden Montessori School 495 Verona Avenue

Danville • 925-837-2969

Dublin

Quarry Lane School

5600 Scarlett Dr. Dublin • 925-466-3100 www.quarrylane.org

El Cerrito

Children’s Garden Montessori School

2335 Tulare Ave

El Cerrito • 510- 232-3089 https://www.childrensgardenmontessorischool.com

Emeryville

East Bay German International School Early Education 1070 41st St. Emeryville • 510-380-0302 www.ebgis.org/ 2 - 5

Hayward

California Crosspoint Academy

25500 Industrial Blvd

Hayward • 510-995-5333 www.crosspointacademy.org

925-932-8088 www.happydayslafayette.com 2 yr - 11 Up to 84 children 7:00 am – 6:00 pm $930-$1925 Diapers Accepted Education Based

Featured Preschools

Old Firehouse School 984 Moraga Rd

Lafayette • 925-284-4321

Served

(if any) Hours of

www.oldfirehouseschool.com 12 mos - 5

The Child Day Schools 1049 Stuart Street

Lafayette • 925-284-7092

www.tcdschools.com

Viva el Español 925 Village Center, Suite 2

Lafayette • 925-962-9177 www.vivaelespanol.org Ages 3 - 13

Livermore

Valley Montessori School 1273 N. Livermore Avenue

Livermore • 925-455-8021 www.vmschool.org

Moraga

The Child Day Schools

372 Park Street

Moraga • 925-376-5110

www.tcdschools.com

Preschool: 18 mos - K plus Grades 1-8 Up to 425 children Independent 7:30 am - 6:00 pm

mos - 5 years

am to 5:30

Tuition Range Accredited Facility? Diapers Accepted? Education Based?

Please call for rate

$935 to $2,410 Diapers Accepted

Varies according to schedule

Varies by program2, 3 or 5 half/full day AMS, CAIS, WASC Diapers Accepted Montessori Curriculum

$890 - $2,475

Diapers Accepted

Based

Newark

Challenger School - Ardenwood

35487 Dumbarton Court

Newark • 510-739-0300

www.challengerschool.com/campus/california/newark/ardenwood

Challenger School

39600 Cedar Blvd.

Newark • 510-770-1771

www.challengerschool.com/campus/california/newark

Oakland

Broadway Children’s School of Oakland

394 Adams Street

Oakland • 510-763-9337

www. broadwaychildrensschool.org

Escuela Bilingüe Internacional 410 Alcatraz Ave. Oakland • 510-653-3324

www.ebi.school

KSS Spanish Immersion Preschool 2540 Charleston St

Oakland • 877-442-2555

www.ksspreschool.com

Featured Preschools

KSS Spanish Immersion Preschool 1650 Mountain Blvd

Oakland • 877-442-2555

www.ksspreschool.com

Les Petits Francophones

3900 35th Avenue

Oakland • 510-479-1250

www.lespetitsfrancophones.com

Oak Grove Learning, Inc 8115 Fontaine St

Oakland • 510-430-1322

www.oakgrovelearning.com

Oakland Montessori School 3625 Fruitvale Avenue 3636 Dimond Avenue

Oakland • 510-482-3111 www.oaklandmontessori.com

Rockridge Montessori School 5633 Manila Av

Oakland • 510-652-7021

www.rockridgemontessori.org

Treehouse Preschool & TK

4000 Redwood Rd

Ages Served # of Children at Facility

Religious Affil (if any) Hours of Care

2 yr - 6 Up to 60 children 7:00 am - 6:00 pm

0 yr - 5 Up to 54 children

8:00 am - 5:30 pm

18 mos through Kindergarten Up to 62 children 7:00 am - 6:00 pm

Toddler-K Up to 40 children

8:30 am - 4:30 pm Extended Care Avail

12 months through Kindergarten Up to 139 children 7:30 am - 6:00 pm

Oakland • 510-531-0320 www.firstcovtreehousepreschool.org 2 yr - 5 First Covenant Church 9:00 am - 4:00 pm or 7:30 am - 6:00 pm

Orinda

Holy Shepherd Christian Preschool

433 Moraga Way

Orinda • 925-254-3429 www.holyshepherd.org

Piedmont

City of Piedmont Mulitiple Locations

Piedmont • 510-420-3040 https://piedmont.ca.gov

Pleasant Hill

Choice in Learning

490 Golf Club Rd

Pleasant Hill • 925-687-5321 cilmontessori.org

Pleasanton

Little Flowers Montessori 11533 Dublin Canyon Rd Pleasanton • 925-225-9600

Quarry Lane School

3750 Boulder St. Pleasanton • 925-846-9400 www.quarrylane.org

Quarry Lane School 4444B Black Ave. Pleasanton • 925-462-6300 www.quarrylane.org

2 yr - 5 Up to 25 children Christian 9:00 am - 2:00

Tuition Range Accredited Facility?

Diapers Accepted? Education Based? Home or Center Meals Provided? Special Needs? Transportation?

$2,795 Tuition Assistance Spanish Immersion Education Based

$1,585 - $2,923

Diapers Accepted Play Based Learning French Immersion Program

$1,175 - $1,931

Diapers Accepted Education Based

$14,000-$25,500 Accredited Education Based

$2,405 - $3,347

Diapers Accepted Education Based

Little Angels (2yrs) $2,150.00 PS-TK (3-5 yrs) $1,810.00

Registration Fee $100 Diapers Accepted (2yr old class)

Extended Day Available

Meals Provided

The Child Day Schools

883 Rose Avenue

Pleasanton • 925-462-1866

www.tcdschools.com

Richmond

St. David Preschool

Richmond • 510-232-1736 www.stdavidschool.org

San Ramon

Diablo Hills Country School

50 Creekside Drive

San Ramon • 925-831-1210 www.diablohillscountryschool.com

Little Bridges Child Care Center

9015 S. Gale Rd. San Ramon • 925-498-9808 www.littlebridges.org

The Child Day Schools

18868 Bollinger Canyon Road San Ramon • 925-820-2515 www.tcdschools.com 12 mos - 5 years

Walnut Creek

Contra Costa Christian Schools

2721 Larkey Lane

Walnut Creek • 925-934-4964 contracostachristianschools.org

Old Firehouse School 55 Eckley Ln Walnut Creek • 925-934-1507 www.oldfirehouseschool.com

The Seven Hills School 975 North San Carlos Drive Walnut Creek • 925-933-0666 www.sevenhillsschool.org

$875 - $1,930

Snacks Provided Lunch Available(extra charge)

$8,000-$11,000

$650 - $2420

- $2,405

Transportation Available (for schoolage) Snacks Provided Lunch Available(extra charge)

$11,200 - $13,200

Treehouse Preschool & Transitional Kindergarten

Ages: 2-5 Years

Well Rounded Curriculum

Experienced Loving Teachers

9:00am-4:00pm & 7:30am-6:00pm

A Ministry of First Covenant Church 4000 Redwood Rd, Oakland, CA 94619

510.531.0320

www.firstcovtreehousepreschool.org jan@treehousepreschool.org

Les Petits Francophones

French Dual Immersion Preschool

• Emphasis on French Language

• Affordable

• Year Round

• Play-based

• Nurturing environment

• Enrichment Programs

• Part-time and Full Time

• Extended hours available

• Meals included

Faith-based

This term is used to describe preschool programs that are run through faith organizations such as churches or synagogues, according to their faith’s philosophies.

Co-operative

These settings often ask parents and families to assist in the running of the preschool. Parents and family members may build community by signing up to volunteer during the week, or by assisting in the day-to-day management of the preschool as well as helping with advertising, upkeep and fundraising.

Developmentally Appropriate

This term means the preschool plans the curriculum and activities based on activities that are appropriate for the age of the children in the class.

Pre-kindergarten (Pre-K)

Sometimes this term is used interchangeably with preschool. In general, a pre-K program is one that has children enrolled in the year before kindergarten, usually at age four. These settings are often more structured than traditional preschool settings.

Transitional Kindergarten (TK) or Bridge K

Transitional kindergarten (TK) is a school grade that serves as a bridge between preschool and kindergarten, functioning to provide students with time to develop fundamental skills needed for success in school in an age - and developmentally - appropriate setting.

Your Research

Once you have narrowed down the general area you are interested in researching and have a good idea of what type of philosophy would best suit your child, here are a few things you can do to help narrow down your options:

Reach out to other parents: Ask your friends, your neighbors, your pediatrician, your older child’s teacher — ask people you trust for recommendations for quality settings in your area. Be mindful to note the name of the setting and what struck this person as important to mention (low student teacher ratio, close to home, child is excited to arrive, etc.). And, the best question to ask is, “What advice do you wish you had received before choosing your child’s preschool?” Most parents will be happy to offer their insight and advice.

Go online: You might be surprised to learn that your community has an active preschool networking community, a great place to tap into useful advice and resources. Or, you can use the internet to search the names of settings to find out if they have any “red flags” like numerous complaints from parents, health or safety violations, or other noteworthy issues. The Bananas, 4C’s of Alameda County and the Contra Costa Child Care Council websites offer a wealth of information for parents seeking information.

The best ways to find preschool programs are to get recommendations from fellow parents and scope out programs located close to home or work. Y <<<

Open House

October 19, 2024

January 25, 2025 10 am - 2 pm

High School Campus Visit

September 23, 2024 9:40 am

Online Info Sessions for all programs. Register at: http://www.ebgis.org/ admissions/visit-us 1070 41st Street

Emeryville, CA 94608 (510) 380-0302 admissions@ebgis.org