This is by far the best preschool in the Bay Area that we have found. The school offers an incredible variety of activities and art projects, and there are so many toys, learning materials, and thoughtfully designed spaces for children to explore and grow. What truly sets this school apart is the teachers. Every teacher is energetic, engaged, and genuinely passionate about working with children. They are proactive, attentive, and highly experienced--you can tell they truly know what they are doing. I highly recommend this school. Your child will love it here, and you won't be disappointed. read more

St. Paul's Nursery School - Preschools Near Me - Burlingame, California

My oldest started at St. Paul's during Covid. That period was a tough time for children in general yet she thrived at St.Paul's so much and had a smooth transition to elementary school (which we were concerned about). I directly credit the wonderful teachers, caring and play-based approach, and magical place that is St. Paul's to her continued success in school. My youngest is now at St. Paul's and as we expected, is having the time of her life. We are still so thrilled with the teachers and school that we will be (again) staying for their Senior program next year, in lieu of our public school TK program. read more

SPNS is pure magic! Through and through. Both of my kids have grown and thrived here. The play based approached allowed my children to freely explore and find confidence and independence. My son started SPNS in late 2021. I was so concerned for his socialization after so much isolation having lived through a pandemic at an age when social skills are developing. The teachers at St. Paul's created this beautiful environment of caring and compassion. Each teacher has different special qualities and it's Ben so fun watch my kids connect with each of them. As a parent, even I have learned so much! And I will be forever grateful to the St. Paul's staff for all they have been to us all. While SPNS is lighter on the workload I feel, I do truly feel that the co-op experience has truly been a gift. It has been so special to participate in some way in their early education. We just love this school and it's community! read more

St. Paul's Nursery School - Preschools Near Me - Burlingame, California

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As a daycare teacher myself, I am very happy that my little one to attend St. Paul. The teachers are very warm and welcoming. They have answers for your questions. The playground is well built, lot of fun toys and activities always displayed in a fun and welcoming way. Inside the school, is neat, tidy and clean. The teachers also have been teaching here for decades, and that says something fantastic about the school. Before I enrolled my little one; I have heard lots of great things already coming from friends. My neighbours child also attended here, and she saw the things that reminds her of St. Paul and telling me how much she misses here. Before the school starts, they have prep my child with intake conferences, picnics, and sending in welcoming letters to the child. Really getting him to excited for school, and he has no separation anxiety with me, always very excited to go to school even when it's not his school day. The community is also very supportive, and loving. we are very happy with St. Paul :) read more

This is a hidden gem in the community that I hope I had found earlier. Can't express how much appreciation I have for those dedicated and wonderful teachers and the best experience to participate school work while seeing kids including my own to have their creativity and curiosity fully cultivated. read more

Just an incredible school. The staff are amazing and seem to be having fun all the time. SPNS is small and the kids get a lot of attention yet they maintain the autonomy that allows them to learn to be their own person. I have two kids -- one is an SPNS graduate and the other currently attending. My graduated child was more than prepared for kindergarten. The child currently attending has had so much growth around social skills, language, reading/writing. It's stunning. SPNS seems to attract families who are NOT checked out. There is a sense of community and attentiveness I've not experienced anywhere else. read more

I cannot recommend this gem of a preschool enough. I toured many preschools before walking into spns. This play based school is truly a magical place where your child will be completely immersed in all kinds of play. They will learn what it means to be a good person and friend, learn the skills for everyday life and so so so much more. The teachers here are wonderful!! The outside space is this incredible big yard that my kids can't get enough of. If you are looking for a play based co-op light school, go visit! read more

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As an alumni of St. Paul's myself I am so grateful my own children can experience this magical preschool! My daughter graduated last year and my son is currently in the Juniors program. All of the teachers are so dedicated and it truly feels like a second home for my kids. They learned how to be independent and confident which is so important for kindergarten readiness. The kids get to be kids and let their imagination run wild at St. Paul's- this time is so precious for them! The outdoor space and activities are unmatched including a brand new play structure added in 2023. Thank you SPNS! read more

St. Paul's Nursery School - Preschools Near Me - Burlingame, California

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We have been so fortunate to attend this lovely co-op with both my children. The staff is incredible and create a magical environment. I love working in the classroom with the kids. It gives me a chance to see my child's play in action and get to know the other kids and parents. It's truly a community of families. They have the best outdoor play area with a variety of activities available. I can't recommend it enough. read more

I've sent both my kids here and 1 most recently during Covid. While I was very nervous about sending my kid during a pandemic, I was relieved and impressed with their protocols as well as their extensive cleaning routines (and I mean extensive!!). All kids and grown ups are masked at all times and the kids are 6ft apart during snack time. Surprisingly, the kids don't seem to have a problem with wearing their masks but even if they did, then the teachers would just offer a "mask break" in a location away from others. Brilliant! I could talk all day about how great this school is during a normal year, but this year has proven just how committed SPNS is to making the preschool experience "magical" given the impossible circumstances. The teachers and the SPNS community have worked so hard to stay open and keep not only the children safe, but the families as well. I am proud to be a part of such a loving and devoted school. Job well done SPNS!! read more

Such an amazing experience for my kids. The teachers are caring and nurturing. The playground and indoor facilities are top notch. And being able to connect with other great families has been beyond expectations. Highly recommend to all families! The perfect stepping stone to kindergarten and beyond. read more

We are in our second year at St. Paul's Nursery School and I cannot say enough positive things about the school, curriculum, amazing teachers, and wonderful families. At St. Paul's you feel a real sense of community. The play-based curriculum helps our kids to learn in a fun way. The teachers are thoughtful and caring. They encourage growth, confidence, and kindness in students. I could not be happier with our experience at this school. I am incredibly grateful for all they have done for my daughter. read more

St. Paul's is just the best! I have been a participating parent now for four years, with 2 kids. As a parent, you can feel completely comfortable "dropping off" your child there knowing that they are in amazing hands with the wonderful teachers and friends there. On your work day you get to immerse yourself with your child and fellow friends. It has been so special being present for these magical years of their childhood. We have loved our experience and highly recommend this preschool! We will miss being a part of SPNS but will always be part of the Alumni family :) read more

This little school is so special! Both our kids went to St. Paul's and I can't imagine having sent them anywhere else. At St. Paul's you will find a truly supportive community, for both parent and child. No stone is left unturned here; every unique activity is thoughtfully-planned and executed. Our older child left St. Paul's 6 years ago and still talks about the fun art projects and loves coming back to hug his teachers, whom have remained the same for 23 years. The result of working two decades together has created a beautiful bond between the teachers that extends to the children, to offer an incredibly warm and loving environment. We refer all our friends to St. Paul's and cannot recommend this sweet little school enough. read more

Had online reservation for school tour today at 7:30 - 8:30pm and I am on time arriving , however i felt sad that nobody is here as per arrangement , very disappointed schedule , finally I write an review and left there at 7:50pm . read more

St. Paul's Nursery School - Now it is 19:41pm on 12/03/2020 , it is very cool weather outside - Preschools Near Me - Burlingame, California

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St. Paul's is such a special school. The time, dedication and knowledge of these teachers and Staff is like nothing else. They put their heart and soul into this school. The projects the kids comes home with, the way each teacher nurtures the kids and how observant they are with each and every child is something very rare. I also have the opportunity to compare St. Paul's to another local preschool and After attending St. Paul's for two years and now somewhere else, I'm super disappointed and frustrated at the low bar this new school has for it's kids. My daughter still wants to stop by St. Paul's every morning to say to all of the teachers. read more

St. Paul's is a magical place. All three of my boys attended preschool here--my 3 year old is currently there as a Junior. Each of my children have very different personalities and yet each has had an incredible experience at St. Paul's in his own way. The knowledge and experience of the teaching staff is unrivaled. They treat the children with great respect and really see each of them for who they are. Their curriculum is play-based and very intentional. Lastly, I cannot say enough about the St Paul's parent community. I've met lifelong friends there, and so have my kids. I am so grateful to have found this lovely little school. read more

St. Paul's Nursery School was an amazing experience for our family through multiple children. The school's developmentally minded approach to hands on learning was perfect! Our kids spent so much time outdoors exploring, painting, getting dirty everything childhood should be. One of our children had some special learning needs that the director and staff were great at supporting. The parent community is unparalleled. Families are engaged, supportive of school, and connected beyond our time at SPNS. Working in the classroom gave us great insight and connection to our kids and what they were experiencing. We left SPNS with kids who were ready to thrive in elementary school! read more

Today is my son's graduation, last day at St. Paul. I was a little emotional that I knew I would cuz we don't want to say good bye to this wonderful school and amazing teachers and all the parents that we worked together to make this challenging year possible. We feel very fortunate to be in such a great school. read more

Our family has had the privilege of experiencing the magic of St. Paul's Nursery School with all three of our children. This preschool is amazing! We toured many schools with our first child and we were blown away by St. Paul's outdoor space, play structure and outdoor classrooms above all others. They even have an outdoor stage, bike ramps, mud kitchen and zip line. The teachers are experienced and caring, exactly how you envision a preschool experience to be for your child. The children are allow to play, learn and explore while learning along the way. The sense of community our family has build being a part of this co-op is incredible and we have made friends in each of our children's classes. Can't say enough. Magical, idyllic, effective learning, and fun! read more

Wonderful outdoor play space. Experienced, loving teachers and staff that have deep insight into childhood education. My son loved going to school here and was extremely comfortable. It was able a great way for me to make friends in the area. read more

SPNS is a truly magical place. The last of our children is finishing his last year at SPNS and we are so sad to leave! The play-based program truly understands the developmental needs to little ones. The staff is top notch and truly incredible to partner with. As a co-op school, parents are involved which creates a special community. I wish we could stay at SPNS longer. I wish I could give a 10 star rating. The school does not disappoint! read more

SPNS is an amazing preschool. Prior to COVID their quality was unparalleled and during COVID that has remained unchanged. There is nowhere I would feel safer or more confident sending my children. I'm so grateful for the leadership, teaching staff and diligent Board all working together to take care of our children in the SPNS community. Mandatory masks for children and adults, air filters, transition of classrooms to the outdoors, sanitization processes and hand washing have all made a huge difference this year and have truly been a success which allowed school to run in person without interruption. I'm so grateful for this school and can't wait to return with my 3rd child! read more

We are finishing our 2nd year here at St. Paul's after big sister graduated 4 years ago. Though my children are very different people they have both had a magical experience at St. Paul's. With Covid and all that is going on the Teaching Staff have gone above and beyond to keep our children safe as well as engaged and happy. This evening my son and I were looking at a book and he showed me where he had written out letters - a small motor skill he has been honing through play at school. I've heard that elementary school teachers can tell if a child went to St. Paul's because are kiddos are so well prepared for kindergarten. read more

We really loved St Paul's and will be back in 2014 with our youngest child. It's such a special school and wonderful community. It's play-based, which I preferred over montessori, and despite the name, it's not religiously affiliated (important to me). The teachers are top notch and do a great job of teaching the "whole" child--i.e., not only did my kids go into kinder well-prepared academically, but they were also well-prepared socially and developmentally. The school building is unique because it feels like a house--I think my kids felt really comfortable there right from the start because of that. They have a really huge yard complete with two separate bike/trike/vehicle tracks. And, lots of really cool art projects and opportunities to create. It is a co-op so a parent needs to work a shift either once a week or every other week depending on which class you're in. My second reason for loving the school is that I met a lot of other moms / parents and got to know them from working our shifts at the school together. It was a nice way to meet like-minded families when we were new to the area. read more

This school is absolutely magical. Where to begin... -The teachers are top-notch. They deeply care about the kids and are so good at developing social and academic skills. The kids that come out of St. Paul's are just really good kids and I attribute that in large part to the teachers. -The facility is amazing. Inside they have various rooms - the block room, the discovery room, the dress-up room, the art room, etc. - so that the kids can engage in whatever type of activity fits their fancy. The playground though is awesome. You just have to see it to understand. -The community is special. Since it's a co-op, you get to know the other parents and the other kids pretty well. This comes in the form of working at the school (one day per week is the typical requirement), working/running/attending events (Fun Faire is the big fund raiser; everybody chips in to pull it off), and just through seeing people at pick-up/drop-off and around town. My oldest went to St. Paul's around 7 years ago, shortly after we moved to Burlingame, and most of my local friends came from those early years at the school. It's a true community of families that care about their kids and about early education. For context, I've got 5 kids. The older three have all gone through St. Paul's and all loved it. My fourth is currently in her second year there, and my fifth will start next year. I can't recommend this school highly enough. Take a tour and check it out. read more

I cannot begin to describe the love we have for St. Paul's Nursery. Amazing teachers and staff, great community!!

St Paul's is absolutely magical...we are so glad that both our kids have been able to experience such a joyful preschool environment. The yard alone is indicative of the free play, fun loving environment, but it's through the dedication of their experienced, magnetic teachers that transforms this preschool into a safe, nurturing space for kids to have choice/agency, while learning to be kind and loving human beings. We feel so lucky to be a part of the community here. read more

Love, love, love St. Paul's!!! We knew from the moment we walked in that this was the right school for our daughter. We went on a school tour, and she squealed with delight at seeing the classroom, the dramatic play area, the creation station, and the amazing outdoor playspace. In fact, when we toured the yard, she made a bee-line for the platform and hammock swings and didn't want to leave! We had actually moved from a different preschool, because we realized that we wanted to be more involved in our daughter's early learning experience. Just dropping off and picking up wasn't giving us the insight into how and what she was doing while at school, and we thought that St. Paul's Co-op would provide the intimacy and insight we were looking for. We not only found exactly what we sought, but we also discovered a wonderful community of teachers, parents, caregivers and children with whom we have built lasting friendships. It seems minor, but it is so pleasant to be able to go to a child's birthday party and know all of the parents and children...and they know you, too! The teachers and the curriculum are excellent, and seeing how the teachers interact with the children to engage their curiosity and feed their interests is a delight. They instruct children on their alphabet and numbers, to be sure, but they also guide and coach them every day about how to be kind, generous, and independent individuals with respect for themselves and each other. Our daughter just wrapped up her experience at St. Paul's and will be heading off to Kindergarten. She is completely prepared for elementary school, and she (and we) are so grateful and lucky to have been part of St. Paul's wonderful community. The teachers, the parents, and the facility have left a lasting impression on us, and I know my husband and I have learned as much as our daughter at this exceptional preschool. read more

A magical school indeed. I recently joined the St Pauls Co-op community and since beginning my son has had a seamless transition from home to preschool thanks to the co-op setting. After touring many schools in the area including the best montessori's, I settled on St Paul's after my son didn't want to leave after the school tour. The sandbox sealed the deal for him with its giant diggers with seats. He was hooked. As much as I loved the idea of a montessori, St Paul's just felt right. I knew if he loved it then I would too. We had loved our experience at Little Wonders (a co-op for younger ones nearby) and aside from being highly recommended by the teachers there, a few of his classmates were moving on to St Paul's as well. I loved the idea of my son having classmates at preschool that he already knew but I just wasn't sure about whether I wanted to commit time to a co-op as I was due with a second baby but I am SO glad I did. I help out on Mondays and drop my son off Wednesdays and Fridays. As a result, my son has had NO separation/anxiety issues and I have had a wonderful opportunity to meet new parents and become part of a loving and caring community. I love the atmosphere of the school and the teachers are loving and caring just like family. They really meet every child at their level and when they get a chance they check in with you on your work day about how your child is developing. Both teacher Cathy and teacher Gigi are just wonderful. warm, loving and respectful; all the traits you want in a teacher for a child. Recently teacher Cathy told me that every child has a key to unlocking their magic and it just goes to show how they consider each child and their individual nature. I have learnt so much by just watching them in action. It really is a wonderful experience to see your child grow, explore and create right before your eyes and by just knowing you are there on your work days gives them security and joy which I see in my sons eyes every time I am there. The school has many different rooms with different themes so the children can explore as they will. Discovery, dress up, block room, art and crafts etc. It feels like a large house which is very warm and welcoming. It is kept very clean and always and the children get a lot of attention at least 1:4 ratio. They recently had amazing art projects over the holiday season for the children to make gingerbread houses, decorating mini christmas trees and making mini pine cone christmas trees to take home, christmas cards/ hand stamped wrapping paper and gifts for us parents (including ceramic hand prints of your little ones). The quality of art projects is breathtaking and the quality of materials the children use is so varied it makes for a wonderful experience for the children. The backyard is a sight to behold with its huge array of outdoor vehicles, sand pit and wonderful structures, zipline, blocks and corn/seed pit where children can pour and sort to their hearts content. I love that they have a lot of outdoor time which I feel is important for children too. Giving up a few hours per week in addition to a school job you can choose based on your schedule/preferences is a small price to pay to see your child grow, develop, make friends, connect with the very best teachers and gain the skills necessary for kindergarten in a warm and loving and nurturing environment. St Paul's also has a very popular annual Halloween Fun Faire which is a hoot for the kids with train rides and face tattoo's. The school also has a wonderful parent library and many resources for parent learning which has been very helpful. Lastly it is a NAYEC accredited school which is very important to me and has a stellar reputation in the community with many parents returning for all their children. I highly recommend it and can't wait to get back after the holidays and watch my son in his element. read more

St. Paul's exceeded my expectations in every way, and my expectations were high! The teachers and director are loving, but firm, and have the special ability to connect with each child. They are incredibly creative and passionate, and it shows in the curriculum. The facilities are unmatched, in my opinion. Outside, there is a zipline, a HUGE sandbox, and a million bikes/trikes including the fancy plasma cars and strider bikes. Inside, they have messy art, a "science room" and much much more. I should also mention that the parent community is wonderful; I have made some great friends through this school. Typical activities throughout the year include: - smashing (really smashing) pumpkins with hammers outside (wearing protective gear) - shaving cream painting with your hands - hatching baby chickens - making green eggs & ham as a snack (for dr. suess week) - snowball "fights" and sledding on a man-made "snow mountain" in the yard It's a truly unique, magical experience for preschoolers. My older child, who is now in kindergarten, loved it. My younger child, who just started this fall, is just beginning to experience it, and I'm so excited for him. read more

I feel immensely grateful to have found St. Paul's Nursery School. My son is currently enrolled in this preschool and is LOVING it, as am I. I wanted to write this review so that more people know about this gem. When I tell family and friends about the school, the three questions I hear most often are: 1. Is this school religious? Answer: No. The school is play-based, draws on principles from the Montessori approach, and prioritizes making all children feel safe and warmly welcomed, creating foundation from which they flourish. Guiding principles include: take care of yourself, take care of each other, and take care of our school. 2. Are the classes full? Answer: Check with the school. There might be a spot open and, even if there aren't spots available today, you can still be put on a waitlist (e.g., families moved from the area during the year). 3. How much time does participating in a co-op take? Answer: It depends. There are many ways in which parents contribute to the functioning of the school as well as opportunities, in some cases, to buy out of direct participation duties. From a child's perspective, it is a magical place. Inside, there are rooms with toys and costumes for pretend play, a discovery room with puzzles and experiments, and rooms for art and others creations. The expansive backyard includes a sandbox the size of a living room, water play, multiple play structures, vehicles/tricycles, a pretend play area, swings, a boat, a train with 16 steering wheels, and an art and sensory area. Even before school began, the school exceeded expectations through its process to prepare parents and children for the start of school. By the time school started, my son was so excited to go. He kept asking over and over when he could go to school. This enthusiasm continues and after school he now tells me stories of various things he built in the block room or in the sandbox (his two favorite places) with his friends. From a parent's perspective, the school is an incredible resource and community. One of the benefits of a co-op is that, when working in the classroom, you get to watch the teachers as they set boundaries that keep children emotionally and physically safe, and do so in a way that builds confidence and community; how they reach out to children and engage one-on-one with them, making sure everyone feels included and special; how they address conflicts in the classroom. I have already learned new techniques that I have brought home. Another benefit of a co-op is meeting other parents and families in the area. As someone relatively new to the area, this has been really fun and I can now understand why many of the families that have been at the co-op for several years say they have made some great friends here. Overall, the thought and care put into this school has blown me away. I *HIGHLY* recommend anyone looking for a preschool in the area to take a tour at St. Paul's Nursery School. read more

I could not imagine a pre-school being better than this. Our son's excitement for learning afters starting at St. Paul's has soared. This is a co-op pre-school which means that one parent for each child is required to work one day a week. This means that the community is super invested in the school and the children. It means a very tight nit group of parents and children who all share the same values. And it operates like an incredible machine that the children absolutely love. We can't wait to send our daughter there next year as well. It is truly a magical place for both the kids and parents. I can't recommend it highly enough. read more

St. Paul's is an amazing preschool. The teachers are warm and caring. They know the children so well. They work hard to create individual learning experiences for them, building upon things they know and love. They will go deep into projects with the kids where there is strong interest, and they will introduce them to so many new rich learning opportunities. They are flexible and spend a good amount of time on continuing education which I feel is very important. They continue to adapt the curriculum with new ideas and ensure that the kids are prepared for kindergarten. They truly learn what they need to know academically through play most importantly they learn how to be kind and considerate friends and contributing members of a class team. The parent community is also wonderful and so supportive. It is a co-op and parents work once a week for 3 hours or every other week for half participation. I love seeing how my children engage at school and have learned so many parenting tips from the teachers and other parents. Parents work with each other to trade shifts when needed and there are subs you can call upon as needed as well. It's an amazing place and I highly recommend it! read more

We absolutely love this place!!! The minute we walked through that green gate we were surrounded by children playing and learning in the most wonderful environment. The school has mulitple rooms which allow the kids to transition between whichever activities they're most interested in that day, from arts and crafts, to building blocks, to creative dress up. We have very active kids, and the outdoor play area is truly the best. It gives them a chance to run/play/climb/explore while outside in a safe and structured environemnt. The teachers are some of the most caring people we've ever met and we find ourselves leaning on them for parenting advice often. We were so lucky to have found this place with our oldest who is now in Kindergarten, and cannot imagine having our 2 younger kids growing up anywhere else but St. Paul's! read more

This is a truly magical place where the first question is ALWAYS "what is best for the child?" We started there with our oldest son and now, 8 years later, our youngest is proud to call St. Paul's her own. Everything, from the outstanding teachers to the caring, capable director, is geared towards making sure your child has the room they need to learn through play. Play-based learning is more than just allowing the child to play, it requires skilled teachers to make sure the child is developing and progressing appropriately. The enriching environment at St. Paul's had both of my older children more than prepared for Kindergarten- they absolutely hit the ground running. I credit St. Paul's with giving them the right preparation to succeed once they got to elementary school. In addition to my children's experience there, my husband and I found a supportive group of families and teachers who will lend an ear if we're having a parenting issue. St. Paul's is just an all-around excellent place, well worth the extra work associated with a co-op. read more

St. Paul's Nursery School is a local treasure. Our third child is wrapping up his magical preschool time here, and we feel so lucky that all three of our boys were able to grow and thrive at St. Paul's. Here are a few of the reasons why: **Excellent teachers. St. Paul's has a legendary group of teachers who are just so incredibly good at their jobs! They know how to create a warm, supportive, and fun environment, and have an amazing ability to get to know each child and nurture their individual selves. The teachers have years of experience in early childhood education, and as a mom of three boys, I have learned so much by watching how they handle any given situation around sharing, taking turns, hurt feelings, etc. - so many of those befuddling moments that come with parenting a 3 or 4YO! ** Creative curriculum. I am continually amazed at the magical ideas the teachers come up with for their students. Here are just a few of the highlights: trucking in a hill of "snow" (shaved ice) for the children to play with in the yard; using giant cubes of ice, rock salt and food coloring to create fantastic ice sculptures; making t-shirts by painting real trout and imprinting the image; "planting" a January forest of Christmas trees in the sand box; watching baby chicks hatch from eggs; creating giant forts from cardboard boxes. The list goes on (and seems to get better every year!), but hopefully you can see how creative the experience is for children, and the kind of curiosity-building learning that comes from all of the delight and questions along the way! (St. Paul's is play-based, which means that children have the freedom to select their own activities, with teachers helping to facilitate social skills and learning through play.) **Parent community. There is nothing like working together in support of your child's school to form friendships and community. As a parent co-op, St. Paul's families have the opportunity to volunteer in the classroom and at school (there are varying levels of commitment), and not only observe their child in their first school environment, but also get to know the teachers and parents of your child's preschool friends. The culture of the school is very family-oriented, and the leadership under Teacher Marisa, the new director, has deepened that trait even further. I would highly recommend a tour of St. Paul's if you are looking at local preschool options. Tours begin in the winter, but it's worth calling at any time of the year to understand the admission calendar. (In general, preschool admissions begin earlier than one would expect!) We are lucky to have so many wonderful preschool options in this area. St. Paul's belongs on the short list of not-to-miss schools to explore for your little one! read more

My second child currently attends St. Paul's, and loves it. It is such an amazing environment where every child is truly loved and cherished by the staff. Because it is co-op, the child-adult ratio is approx 4-1. Having this many adults around, they are able to do so many more activities than a traditional preschool. For example, last week, they created a "store" in one of the rooms where kids went "shopping" for groceries, got to be checkers, etc. They had a blast with it. They have a table that has carpenter tools where kids can actually hammer real nails, under close adult supervision. The sandbox is bigger than my living room, and they are encouraged to use different "tools"--buckets, pipes, trenches, the hose is always on. The conflict resolution is amazing. I have never seen teachers able to diffuse situations so easily that there really aren't any conflicts on the playground--it's because they've been doing it for years. The staff is amazing. You come home from your "work day" with more patience for your child and more empathy and understanding because it was modeled to you as a parent! It is truly everything you would ever want in a preschool. - read more

St. Paul's is an absolute GEM of a preschool. My daughter is finishing up her "senior" year of preschool and I get misty eyed thinking about leaving until my second younger child is ready to start in the following year. My big senior girl literally RUNS to school every morning as soon as she sees the green gate entrance, behind which her loving teachers and friends are always waiting to warmly greet her. We are so lucky to have such phenomenal, experienced, creative, nurturing teachers who absolutely strive towards ensuring the well being of the whole child with specific focus on their social and emotional learning through play based learning, which I think is essential for this age. Every week brings it's own amazing adventures. For example, this week, the teachers brought in a truckload of man made snow into the already jaw dropping AMAZING play yard for our children where they will experience sledding, safe snowball fights, building snowman and snow angels, then getting a special shave ice treat which of course they will make themselves. But what makes this school most amazing is the wonderful community of like-minded parents who strive to be just as engaged with their child's social and learning experience. This community feels like a second family for us and the children (and parents) who I know will have made lifelong friendships. I can't rave enough about this program I feel so lucky to have discovered. Trust me when I say you will take a tour and never look back! read more

I have two boys, both of whom have attended St Paul's. Our experience has been nothing short of amazing. The teachers are fabulous at getting to know each individual child and meeting them where they are developmentally, gently nurturing them to the next milestone. The lead teachers have very distinct personalities that are perfect for the age groups (the 3s teacher is sweet and gentle, firm but kind, welcoming to the kids to their new school, while the 4s teacher is lovingly encouraging, helping the kids get ready to launch into Kindergarten independence). The parent community is supportive and fun, and the whole school has the feel of "everyone working for the good of the kids." As a co-op, the parents do put time and energy into the classroom, both in school day duties and committees, and the effort shows. The facilities are a childhood dream, both inside and out. The new Director is dynamic and has exciting ideas to take the program to a whole new level, making me very sad to have to say goodbye as my youngest ages out! read more