Shalem is so special and we are so glad to have found it! After looking at many South Bay schools, I can't imagine our children being anywhere else. The teachers are incredibly caring, patient, and genuinely invested in each child's growth and happiness. It's clear how much they love what they do, and that care shows in the nurturing, supportive, and fun environment they create. Our children feel safe, loved, and so excited to go to school every day. Trusting anyone with my kids was a very big decision and every day I feel so grateful for my children to be cared for in such a loving way. The familial feeling extends beyond the classroom and there is a strong sense of community among teachers, staff, and families. We feel incredibly grateful to be part of such a welcoming, inclusive and loving community. I would highly recommend it to any family looking for a place that truly cares about the wellbeing and growth of your child! read more

It is impossible to list all the C reasons Shalem is better than any preschool I know of. The teachers are so kind and reasonable that a kindness and respect and happiness and artistic expression and understanding are just every day occurrences. Great for everyone. Incredible staff. Safe and loving and so much more. read more

We are so happy to have found Shalem. The teachers are exactly the kind of wonderful, sweet, nurturing people you want to prepare your kid for the next steps in school. They are so attentive and aware of each kids quirks and needs - they are incredible. Our son has grown so much with his Shalem family and I can't imagine him going anywhere else. Great program, great administrators, 10/10 teachers, and a wonderful community. And bingo night is the best! read more

This is truly a very special school, and we feel so lucky that both of our kids get to attend. The teachers are outstanding--so warm, welcoming, and genuinely invested in each student. They care about the children as individuals, not just academically. If your child needs special attention, they set time aside to ensure your child feels safe and comfortable. The community is incredibly kind and caring, and feels like an extended family. If I could, I would keep my kids here all the way through high school. We are beyond grateful for everything this school has given our family and I can't recommend it enough. Best decision our family has ever made for our children. read more

We are so happy to be part of the Shalem family. The staff are kind, caring, and--unlike many corporate daycares where the caretakers constantly rotate and change--consistent! Adjusting to the school has been great since our child has grown to recognize and trust the teachers, who always greet her with a big smile. Being around toddlers of different ages has helped grow our child's skills and vocabulary. We can't say enough good things about Shalem. read more

Shalem is a wonderful play based preschool, with amazing staff and teachers who care for your children as if they were their own. I love the rotations of learning they do, which allows the kids to have a variety of learning experiences and methods. The kids rotate between classrooms throughout the day which includes, inside and outside play. My daughter comes home each day with a new story and adventure. They truly build a community within the school, which also allows the parents to connect at various events and build deeper bonds with the their kids. I'm very happy my daughter is apart of the school and so proud of how she's evolving. read more

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We are SO happy we found this preschool. The directors, Malorie and Rabbi Selilah are incredible. Jessica creates a real art program for the kids and shows off their talents with a show at the end of each year. All of the teachers are truly wonderful and caring. They work very hard to create a caring and creative environment for the kids. My son is shy and when I pick him up at the end of a day he constantly asks if we can stay just a bit longer. I would absolutely recommend the school to anyone interested in a play based program. We've been so grateful to be part of the community. read more

This school has everything - community, love, and support, and an amazing experience for my 3 year old. I have a 9 year old and regret that he didn't get this incredible experience. The staff is attentive, gentle, and always reporting back to parents about how there kid is doing, what they may need help with, and advising re how the school is supporting these needs. Shalem also feels like a loving community and not just childcare - as some preschools do. They are also very inclusive if you are not Jewish, while also teaching about Jewish culture and holidays. Can't say enough. Shalem is truly a blessing for our 3 year old and our whole family! read more

Shalem Preschool has become such a special place for our family. Throughout our son's attendance at Shalem, I've unfortunately been dealing with a serious and often unpredictable chronic illness, which has been taxing and extremely hard on our entire family. Shalem has served as a place of love, joy and stability for my son during this difficult and worrisome time - and has given our family peace of mind having him there. The teachers are so dedicated, kind, and loving - and the director and assistant director are caring, communicative, and thoughtful. Beyond being a wonderful place for children to learn and grow, the administration, teachers, and staff have gone above and beyond to try to support our family in any way that they could during truly the most challenging time in our lives (due to my chronic health issues) - and it has meant the world to us to have them in our corner, as a support system. Seeing our son blossom throughout his time in preschool has been so heartwarming - and during the first week of Shalem's amazing summer camp, he told me "it was a dream come true" for him to be able to attend, because he was having the best time - just pure joy every day. We are so very grateful for all Shalem has done for our son and for our family. And, despite the fact that our son has graduated preschool and is starting kindergarten at our neighborhood school this Fall, Shalem will always hold a very special place in our hearts and we hope our son will be able to return each summer to reunite with his beloved teachers, friends and community that have gathered around him this school year. Thank you from the bottom of our hearts read more

Our daughter has been going to Shalem from the fall of 2019. Even though we aren't Jewish, my husband and I fell in love with the values of the school and the importance of the mind, body, and soul development for the kids. After like 2 -3 weeks of the initial transition time of getting adjusted to the preschool, our daughter now LOVES to go to school. She loves her teachers, her friends and the activities she does at school.  My husband and I are very happy and pleased with our decision to send our daughter to Shalem especially when we hear our daughter say school is fun and she wants to go to school :)  There are many other things we love about the school. The snacks the kids get are healthy and great. The teachers/staff are very sweet and truly care about the kids. We love the Brightwheel app, we get daily updates on what they did at school and pics of our daughter that we share with family. The school has a very involved parent committee.  I highly recommend Shalem for anyone who wants their kids to fall in love with school and learning. read more

Shalem Preschool has been a fantastic place for our children, and we have been very happy with our experience so far. My two daughters are in in preschool - a 4 year old (who started during the pandemic in 2020) and a 2 year old who recently started. The teachers provide an enriching, loving, and nurturing environment. Their philosophy is to develop the mind, body, and soul, and they do this very well with kindness and enthusiasm. The community is very close knit, and there is plenty of communication with families though the Brightwheel app with updates on their activities as well as cute photos. This is a play based preschool with STEM, art, and physical activity woven into the curriculum. I like that my kids can learn concepts and explore ideas through activities that keep them engaged. The class has mixed ages, so that the older kids can learn to lead and interact with younger kids, and the younger children learn from the older ones. This has been great for the social development of my kids and also really helpful for helping my youngest to adjust since her big sister is around. We are thrilled to be part of the Shalem family and highly recommend this preschool! read more

What an amazing pre-school! We were new to the Manhattan Beach/El Segundo neighborhoods and did a pretty exhaustive search for the best preschool. We chose them after a great preview and tour. Or 5 year old has been thriving there since we started two years ago. He absolutely loves the teachers and rabbi. I love that they teach with hands on activities, learn about feelings and how to deal with emotions, culture and the neighborhood. I can't recommend them highly enough. read more

My wife and I can't say enough great things about Shalem. Our son has thrived ever since joining here as a 2.5yo in 2019. From the director and teachers there is so much emphasis placed on development through curriculum and exploring natural curiosities. Shalem's approach creates a space for each child (and parent) to grow in a healthy/safe/open environment that encourages exploration and respect for healthy boundaries. Even during COVID, Shalem worked tirelessly to continue creating a learning and growth platform through remote learning until reopening safely was feasible. After reopening, we couldn't feel safer with the protocols and guidelines in place to protect the littles and families. It's an incredible community and one that I would highly recommend being a part of. read more

Oh I love this small play-based preschool for my children! There are tons of hands on fine motor, sensory motor and gross motor activities for them to participate in. The teachers give lots of care and extra attention. The school is a great central location in Manhattan Beach. read more

Our son has been attending Shalem for over a year, and we're very grateful to be a part of this beautiful school and community. Prior to Shalem, we were at a larger pre-school / daycare in the South Bay, and we noticed a dramatic difference when we made the switch to Shalem. Shalem provides a lot of flexibility and individualized attention for every child, which our son needed. The teachers/administrators are incredible. They are talented and emotionally intelligent, and I trust them to guide my son to grow into the best version of himself. We couldn't be happier with Shalem! read more

My family and I relocated to Redondo Beach several months ago and as such toured many preschools in search of the perfect fit for our daughter who was 2 1/2 at the time. The warmth, love and knowledge of Rabbi Selilah Kalev and her wonderful team of educators surpassed our highest expectations - we knew Shalem was the place for our daughter. Shalem is an incredible play-based school with a staff of fantastic teachers that truly care for the children and nurture their unique curiosity every day with fun and interesting activities and projects. Our daughter is thriving at Shalem and we will be sending our youngest daughter to Shalem as soon as she turns two. Thank you Rabbi Selilah and your team for creating such a phenomenal preschool in the South Bay - we feel grateful to be part of the Shalem family. read more

We absolutely LOVE Shalem. It's been a total game changer for our son (2.5 years) in his verbal communication, ability to synthesize information and, probably most surprisingly, his emotional intelligence. What we love about Shalem is that they use a play-based curriculum to educate the children, so it's a natural & fun environment for them while also enriching their minds rooted in the STEM model. We get daily digests via a personalized app that discuss what activities the children partook in that day and what elements of STEM were highlighted, along with pictures of the kids. Rabbi Selilah and her incredible instructors (Malorie, Jessica, Gema, Judy & Mickey) are BEYOND loving, caring, supportive and nurturing while also setting boundaries and helping our little ones to be good people and "friends" to one another. They remember literally everything about the children - and because it's a small, close-knit family feeling environment, it feels like a second home for our son. We are also a non-Jewish family and though this is a Jewish pre-school, this doesn't matter in the slightest. The school educates on and celebrates all religions, ethnicities & backgrounds. I feel so grateful we found this gem of a preschool and that we get to be a part of this wonderful community. read more

Shalem is everything our family could hope for in a preschool experience. The teachers, directors and Rabbi Selilah go above and beyond to create a supportive, safe, exciting and fun learning environment for the kids. And our kids love school! From the very first day they felt so welcome and loved. One thing that we especially appreciate about Shalem and the program is the focus on community and teaching the kids the importance of helping and appreciating the helpers. We also love the play based learning approach that gets the kids excited to learn, explore and develop their interests and skills. The teachers are also so invested in the kids and their development and success. It's so helpful for building their confidence away from home. The school also has an amazing art program (Miss Jessica has an MFA!) and the kids get to participate in some incredible group and individual art projects throughout the year. One more amazing perk for our family is the community that comes with attending this school. There is a wonderful, involved parent group and we've made some great new friends. We're not Jewish or part of the CTJ congregation and that has never mattered in the slightest. The community is welcoming and fun and we love participating in all of the family friendly events throughout the year. I tell anyone who asks for South Bay preschool recs, Shalem is the BEST. read more

I have been privileged to see a lot of preschools in action and nothing comes close to Shalem. The love, care, and passion that the staff shows to all the students makes you feel confident that your child is getting the best care possible. Plus, I LOVE their commitment to keeping low teacher to student ratios so that I know each child will always be under the watchful eye of the teachers. The facility is fabulous - the staff have found a way to use every square inch to its fullest - even the outdoor space changes regularly to always excite the kids. Just the other day there were so many giggles as the kids played with the new "roller coaster" ride. I love that Brightwheel software keeps the parents up to date and enrollment is flexible and understanding to every family situation. I promise that attending Shalem will be the best gift you can give your child. read more

Shalem is amazing! We are constantly impressed by the creative and STEM-based curriculum with its emphasis on play learning and conveying important values like kindness, respect, gratitude, and appreciation for diversity. The teachers and administrators are extraordinarily caring and thoughtful. Our 2 year old has been attending since June when Shalem reopened and we were able to move off the waiting list. We can't imagine a better environment or preschool experience for our daughter. read more

My two sons have been going to Shalem since September (during COVID). We joined bc they were offering a small pod 1st grade class for my 6 year old (and also had a preschool spot for my 4 year old). We also had other friends who had their kids there. We have been extremely impressed with the school. The play-based education is amazing (we get daily updates on what the kids are doing/learning along with photos) and the teachers are loving and kind. They are very creative with the space (much is outdoors due to covid) and think up all sorts of special activities for the kids. My kids NEVER have said they don't want to go (like they did in previous schools) and sometimes are upset if I pick them up too early. Definitely consider this great school for your children ! read more

My daughter has been attending Shalem since it opened in 2018. This has been the best possible preschool for her. They have a wonderful nurturing environment and all of the teachers are exceptional. We have recently put our second child on the wait list and cannot wait for him to begin preschool at Shalem. I highly recommend Shalem to any families who want the best for their children and want to send them into a very close-knit, warm and welcoming community! read more

My son has been attending Shalem Preschool for a few months and I am extremely happy with the school. The school is clean, the space is big, and the activities are engaging. Most of all, the staff is incredible. I truly feel the love they give to the children who attend Shalem. As a mom, my priority is that my child's school provides a safe, loving, and nurturing environment. That is exactly what I found at Shalem. read more

My family relocated to Manhattan Beach two months ago. As a part of the move, we've toured many preschools / daycares in the neighborhood. We decided to send my daughter to Shalem Preschool because I can fully trust the staff to take care of my two year old. You can say that a mother's intuition is right! (again ;) This is the inaugural class but the staff from directors to teachers are all very experienced. We've just finished a big move so I was expecting my daughter's first day a dramatic mess. It is the total opposite. The staff encouraged me to take my time to part but they were ready for me to leave once I said goodbye. The director Rabbi Selilah asked my daughter is she can carry her to show her around. I truly believe that children are very intuitive - Selilah had calmed my first day jitter by telling me that "we will show her a lot of love." In our case, my daughter received it. I like to set up timers to remind myself and my kids when I say "five more minutes." It's been particularly useful for my older daughter who loves playing at Shalem during drop-off and pick-up. One teacher applaud her for having "good listening ears" when she didn't haggle for more time. Lastly, we have been potty-training the two year old and the staff picked up the training right away: gives her fancy stickers when she goes successfully, keeps us posted on accidents. Additionally, my husband and I love the school for many reasons - one being their use of Bright Wheel so we feel plugged in. You do not need to be Jewish to be considered. The facility is new and set up with different "corners" and tables to address different aspects of learning. Everything is set up intentionally to intrigue the children; the staff is prepared to offer individualized learning since not two kids learn at the same pace. The complimentary snacks I've seen so far are healthy; fruit is always included. The school is very flexible with the time and day that we want to send my daughter. Go tour the facility; you won't regret it! read more

Shalem Preschool is truly a gem. My kids (4 & 2) have been attending my parent's family daycare on the westside. Needless to say I (and the kids) have been spoiled with lots of love and quality family time. Living in MB my wife and I were fully committed to trekking to the westside for the kids continued schooling. However once we found Shalem we were sold! What started as a quick walk through during a chance encounter with the school, we were drawn to the people and the site. It's rare to find a preschool that checks all the boxes. My little one has some anxiety with new people. Upon my first drop off there was initial hesitation for me to leave. But very quickly I was surrounded by the teachers/ director who helped find an activity my daughter wanted to engage in that morning. The rest is history. The staff is great and my kids are eager to go to school. I am amazed at the different indoor & outdoor activities at the site. The qualified staff also ensure parents stay in the know of what the kids get up to during the day. Highly recommend! read more