Sierra Preschool is a top notch preschool. In fact, it's the best in Auburn by far…read more
I toured about 10 preschools in Auburn and Grass Valley, and there were only two preschools out of the ten-ish that we loved. Sierra Preschool was one of them. The other was in Grass Valley and had a waiting list, so it wasn't an option because we wanted our son enrolled in classes sooner than later. That was a blessing in disguise.
GENERAL INFO:
Sierra Preschool is a cooperative school, which means that parent participation is required and thus the monthly tuition is reduced substantially. I initially was looking for a preschool where I could drop off my son and go about my business of shopping, working out, cleaning the house, etc., but as it turns out, I LOVE that I am so involved in his daily activities and learning. I love the other parents at the preschool, and I love that I know the kids there as well. It is such a family environment!
The teachers are top notch and really care about every student.
LAYOUT:
The school itself is in an old house, fenced yard, in a convenient location. They have a lot of toys for the kids to play with, indoor and outdoor. There's a separate room for circle time, and a general area for crafts and snacks. There is a kitchen for food storage/prep and a large counter and sink. The office is located upstairs.
CLASSES:
The toddler class is fantastic and fun. Right now it's Tuesdays from noon to 1:30p. There is an hour of playtime, then 15 minutes of circle time (reading books, games) and then 15 minutes of snack time. The parents rotate bringing healthy snacks each week.
The 3-, 4-, and 5- year olds can take a Tu-Th class from 9am to 11:30a. It also has a specific schedule of playtime, circle time and snack time. The class is limited to 18 students.
And there's a 4- and 5- yr old class on Mon-Wed-Fri which is geared towards getting the kids ready for kindergarten. That class is from 9am to 1pm. The class is limited to 18 students.
They also have summer school classes. In 2011, it's a 6-week program from 9am to 1pm.
PHILOSOPHY:
The philosophy of Sierra Preschool is "When I play I learn." And all the crafts and stories and outside play are great for these developing minds. My son can't wait to go to class each time. He's socializing and making friends, and I feel it's readying him for elementary school. It is such a relief to have found Sierra Preschool!
LOCATION:
Sierra Preschool is conveniently located off of I-80. Sierra Preschool is on the corner of Channel Hill Lane and Luther Rd. You can also get there easily by CA-49 to Luther Rd as well.
PARKING:
They have their own parking lot which fits about 6-8 cars. The parking lot entrance is on the side street, Channel Hill Lane; you can't get to it directly from Luther Rd. So, turn onto Channel Hill Lane and then make a quick right into the parking lot. Overflow parking is available on the neighborhood streets.
TOURS:
I recommend visiting any preschool before enrolling your child. Take your time; watch and listen while you're there. Take notes. Ask questions. See how your child reacts to the surroundings and the other kids. Talk to the other parents if you can. (When I was looking at preschools, I accidentally met a few parents of Sierra Preschoolers at different venues -- Mighty Mites class, the local library, and while I was there at the school), and every single one raved about Sierra Preschool and how we would love it. Now I know why and I agree!)
JUST DO IT!:
And if you have any reservations about being a participating parent, don't! It's not that big of a deal, doesn't take up too much time, and you get to meet wonderful people from the community. Message me thru Yelp (upper right corner of my review) if you have any questions.