We've been super happy with St Tim's. Our daughter instantly took a liking to Director Sue when we first visited and loved the visit so much she pretty much made the choice for us. She also loves all the other teachers Kalpana, Martina, and Mika so much and she likes to review the photos and videos with us of all the fun activities like making pancakes, yoga, gardening, water play, painting, and so on. There are also occasional events for families to attend like an Art Reception and Spring Sing or "Circle of Friends" that have been a great delight. Our daughter has learned and grown so much since starting there, especially socially. The gang of similarly-aged children love to greet each other with adorable hugs and, thanks to the teachers' guidance, she has also connected so well with many of the older children. Whenever we talk to any of the teachers, we get such a strong sense of them caring and paying attention to the children's specific needs. We feel she is greatly taken care of here. read more

Ten stars if I could! St. Tim's is a small (non-religious, play based) MAGICAL preschool and a true hidden gem in the Cuesta Park neighborhood. A stellar child-to-teacher ratio (the place we were coming from -- a corporate daycare -- had fewer teachers and twice as many students per class!), with truly loving and supportive staff. Looking at the daily (extensive) footage of the happenings of each day is a highlight for our family each night -- and really gives me a sense of what my kiddo's day was like. I'm always charmed by how much fun it looks like all the kids are having as well as the thoughtfully curated weekly books and activities. The Director (Stacey) is honestly one of my favorite people in the world, and all the teachers are so kind and caring. I appreciate the school's conscientiousness regarding student health protocol (e.g., immediate notification if a student has a communicable illness, reasonable Covid measures). My child adores going to school each morning and drop-off is a breeze. For anyone looking for an incredible play-based preschool, I definitely recommend (what my preschooler calls) "St. Tim Tim Timmys"! read more

My son absolutely loves this school. Before starting he was becoming averse to creative projects and seemed dependent on me coming up with ideas for activities. At St. Timothy's he has learned how to create incredible things. In our fast past technological world the jobs of the future will be dependent on the human ability to be creative. A machine can memorize math facts so why send your child to a school that drills silly "fundamentals" that they aren't truly learning. Any person can train a child. It takes very creative and patient teachers to CULTIVATE a child's curiosity and mind. And funny enough, my son is actually producing higher quality "academic" work than I found at ANY of the "play based" academic programs at other schools. He can write his name because he intrinsically wanted to, not because he was drilled in to it. Just last week he made a model of our Solar system (plus "The dwarf planet Pluto that used to be a planet" and "a star that died") this was a self initiated project. The teachers helped him gather materials and were available if he needed help. I cannot think of any other school that would allow the creative process to happen that is not parent participation. To top it all off St. Timothy's helps develop true social skills, which again, are not skills a computer can replicate. There are still openings for the 2019-2020 so check it out! BTW: even though this school is located at the church it has NO RELIGIOUS CURRICULUM. It is a TRULY PLAY BASED hidden gem. We are so happy we found it. read more

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Our children love attending this preschool. The school is small, with warm and attentive teachers. I know the teachers are also serious about early childhood education - they take courses to stay up-to-date on play-based emergent curriculum programs. We particularly enjoy looking at all of the pictures and videos they send at the end of the day. We can see lots of laughter, friends, and learning. read more

I've never encountered a more loving, joyful, and nurturing preschool than St. Tim's. We joined in Fall 2020 because our almost-5-year-old son's previous childcare never reopened after closing for COVID. St. Tim's has been a wonderful experience so far, and our son has grown so much just in the past six months. I am especially impressed with Stacey Sullivan, the director, who keeps everything running efficiently with great compassion and remarkably open communication. The other two teachers, Kalpana and Amy, are also lovely and kind, and my son likes all of them. St. Tim's is a play-based school with an enticing variety of activities that vary from day to day. They do a lot of open-ended building and arts and crafts. They also play and work in the school garden, listen to and act out stories, explore musical instruments, and do many sensory activities such as play-dough and sandboxes. Academics are not pushed, but kids who are interested have ample opportunity to build their reading, writing, and math skills (my son's skills have definitely improved in the few months that he's been there). The teachers also pay close attention to gently nurturing social skills, and they have been able to report on my son's progress in initiating group play, resolving conflicts, and so on. The school is smaller under COVID guidelines (they only have 12 students in the whole school, but they still have 3 teachers, making the teacher-student ratio hard to beat). The allowed age range of students at St. Tim's is 2 years 9 months to 5 years 11 months. It seems to work well to have the kids all together, especially in such a small class of 12. If the older kids are doing something that the younger kids can't (like learning to read words at the letter table), the younger kids are still invited to explore, or they can choose a different activity. At present, the school is open 9-1 M-F (with a summer break), so it's not geared toward households with two full-time working parents. But for families with slightly more flexible schedules, it is a true gem. I can't recommend St. Tim's highly enough. read more

This is such a wonderful "hidden gem" preschool. Play-based curriculum with a very low teacher-to-student ratio, an extremely loving staff, and an engaged parent community. They have recently expanded their hours and are offering a full-day program starting fall 2023. Highly recommended! (Note: the preschool is affiliated with the attached church, but it is not a religious school.) read more

If I had to dream up a perfect preschool for my children it would be St. Timothy's. This school is completely secular. The director, Stacey (who also teaches), and teachers Kalpana and Amy are highly skilled, caring, and know so much about child development. I've learned so much about my son through them this year. Their conference notes were incredible! I feel like they know my son better than I do in some ways. Every student/family that is there currently loves this school because the teachers make it about the kids. They have a gentle way of encouraging each child to develop their true self, and my son's confidence in social situations has greatly improved. It is a wonderful student to teacher ratio with only 12 children! Also, the mixed age environment is very natural and appropriate for the children. They all seem to enjoy learning and teaching opportunities. If you are looking for a creative, modern curriculum where children are allowed to be children, this is a school for you. Students are encouraged to explore their interests. The director, Stacey, is an extremely hard worker and arranges an evolving environment that encourages innovation and learning through play. I have been an elementary school teacher for years, and I wish that all elementary schools embraced the style of this preschool. There are no major behavioral problems because of the way students are engaged and allowed to explore, collaborate, and be themselves. The teachers are so good at working with them in a constructive manner, and the students truly love each other and their teachers. In the fall they will have a 1pm and 3pm pick up option. They also have classes during the summer. read more

We've had a wonderful experience at St. Timothy's over the last three years. It's really felt like a home for our family. The teachers have supported my daughter through some difficult phases and she has grown so much socially through her time here. They really deliver on the promise of being play based and child-led and the kids thrive in that environment. read more

The school is wonderful. Everything you need for your little ones. Janet Kolstad is such a good teacher and director, she' s doing her job with her all heart. I'm really impressed with her, she thinks everything about children. Also Kalpana is doing great job with all kids. This is little preschool class which all children feels like they are at home. And they are having great care and love. Also learning so much. Being ready for kindergarden. They have rules in a perfect way which are really helpful for children to learning how to be nice with others and also being addapted at social life. My daughter loves going preschool everyday. We are really sorry because this is last week:( I want to thank Janet and Kalpana for a excelent job they did, we are going to miss you so much:) read more

This will be our third year and second child attending St. Timothy's preschool. It has been such a wonderful experience for my children as well as for my husband and I. The teachers are wonderful. They are very caring and welcoming. They provide the children with a loving environment with clear rules and boundaries. It is amazing how well the children adhere to these rules and routines. Also, they have the kids do such cool art projects! After attending St. Timothy's, my older daughter made a smooth transition into kindergarten. My younger daughter will return to St. Timothy's this Fall and she can't stop talking about how much she misses her school and can't wait to go back! read more

Our family loves St. Tim's preschool! It is a little oasis here in Silicon Valley. For both of our kids it was an excellent first school experience. The school is play based and prepares the children for kindergarten. It is a nurturing environment with great teachers. Our son really enjoyed the Science Class. There was a great variety of science topics and he came home with interesting things to share at the dinner table. Our daughter attended the Global Kids Class and loved it as well. When our baby gets bigger, he will go to St. Tim's too! read more

St. Timothy's has been a huge blessing for our family! Our son started when he had just turned 3 years old and has loved it ever since. He had always had a lot of trouble separating from me before starting the program, but the teachers were so supportive and understanding of his feelings. They helped him adjust and now he goes very willingly with no tears. We have seen our son thrive in his play, creativity, and social/emotional skills in attending St. Timothy's. The school uses an amazing emergent curriculum that has been exactly what our son needs! The teachers and director have true respect for the children, their ideas, needs, and feelings. They support learning actively and intentionally, and encourage decision-making and problem solving as much as possible so the children get to practice these important life skills. Play is a huge value in the school and they truly embrace this as a child's most important work. I couldn't ask for a better set of teachers! Teacher Rima is so loving and attentive to the needs of each child. Teacher Amy is so organized and good at guiding the children's learning and exploration of materials. Teacher Melissa always has something positive to say and just a fun and approachable way about her. Teacher Kalpana is awesome at appreciating and joining the kids in their pretend play and ideas. Director Marina is the most passionate and knowledgeable childhood educator I have ever met. She truly loves our kids and what she does. I would highly recommend this AMAZING program! read more

We have been so happy with St. Tim's. Our son has grown so much in the past school year. The teachers have such a calming presence and each school day is full of great exploratory play and learning. Our son has learned how to make friends easily and handle various social situations with ease. He is eager to share what he's learning and looks forward to being at school. As a mom, I love that the director is in the classroom daily and is readily available to hear questions or concerns. She has been at the school for 35 years and is a wealth of knowledge. The other two teachers are so kind, energetic, invested and genuine. They know how to make a child feel valued and liked for who they are. I trust them completely. If you are looking for a great preschool where the teachers will know and love your child as they educate them, then please look into St. Tim's. I travel from my home in Santa Clara to Mountain View for this school because I believe it is the very best. read more

My son started St. Tim's in the fall of 2019. He ABSOLUTELY loves it! Prior to moving to this area we have gone to other preschools and daycares, and so far nothing compares! He wants to be at school on his days off and that truly says something. We have teachers Kalpana and Ms.Amy. They are lovely! I love how they interact with the children. The director Marina is a saint! She is just so accomodating and caring, she always engages in conversations with the kids and offers help and advise to parents when needed. What a great preschool experience to treasure for years to come! read more

They are business men not teachers, rude and trying to make money on everything ... It was excellent till a few months back but suddenly they changed management and things took a turn for the worse. Be warned people I wouldn't send my kids here read more

I just wanted to let folks know how much we loved the program and were very sad to have to move away. We're in the UK now at another lovely preschool, but I realize in comparing the two programs how even relatively small differences can make a big difference in being prepared for Kindergarten. For example, although the St. Tim's program encourages learning through play, they add enough structure to the program so that the children become accustomed to being in a classroom and following important routines (snack, clean up, circle time, listening). This makes moving to the "big school" setting much easier. And the additional emphasis on pre-reading and pre-math skills in the 4s and science program is also important for giving all the kids a head start when going to Kindergarten. These days children will be expected to learn how to read, write and work with numbers in Kindergarten and it's much more challenging if they haven't learned the fundamentals. Most importantly, the staff at St. Tim's nurtures children with a firm but gentle touch. Everyone enjoys the classroom more when children know their limits. There are always lots of smiling faces at St. Timothy's Preschool ... on both parents' and children's faces! If you are considering St. Tim's, it is definitely worth a visit. read more

St. Timothy's Preschool is a wonderful school. My daughter went here for 2 years and now my son is in the 3's program here. St. Timothy's has done what few other preschools can do, they have captured the best of both worlds. They let the children play and have fun, and they also prepare the children for kindergarten. They have a Science Program for the 4 year olds which is incredible. The children have so much FUN that they don't even know they are learning. They 'learn' everything from reptiles to weather to space in a really fun environment. Another major plus is that the preschool is small and the teachers are so nice and they really take the time to get to know the kids and their personalities. read more

Our three-year old twins are really enjoying the personalized attention they receive at St. Tim's. The small class size, play-oriented environment, engaged and experienced teachers are what drew us to choose St. Tim's. My kids are learning how to socialize well in a lightly structured environment that truly caters to each child's needs and passions. We feel they are known and cared for within a positive community! read more

I extensively researched the local preschools and chose this preschool for my 3 year old daughter. Who to entrust with the care, guidance, and influencing of my children is one of the most important decisions I can make as a parent, so I took my research and decision making seriously. St. Timothy's has proven to be a warm and caring environment for my daughter. They are a relatively small program, which means that the children get a lot of interaction both with the teachers and the students. The program has a balance of free/explore play and proactive/guided activities (but children are never forced to do anything they don't want to do). The teachers are always keenly in tune with the children and helping mediate those social interactions that preschoolers are still learning to develop. I have never experienced any negativity whatsoever from the teachers, who maintain a warm and welcoming environment. The teachers seem to have a calm and patient way of guiding and working with preschoolers, who as we know can be spirited little creatures. :) The children all seem to play nicely, and it has been heart-warming to see friendships form and to hear the children enthusiastically say hello and goodbye to each other. The facility itself is also really lovely - the classroom has nice, natural toys and is decorated with art that the children make, and inspired by their interests. The outdoor area for daily outside time is also really nice and has so many ride-on toys and materials exploration toys (in addition to play structures) that my daughter is always enthusiastic about. The teachers are always warm and welcoming, and invite parents to discuss their concerns; they are always more than open to discussing what's on a parent's mind and collaborating to find productive solutions. It has also been wonderful to receive regular newsletters with updates and photos of children's engagement in the activities, and to see anecdotes from conversations and pieces of artwork on the walls, to feel like I'm engaged and able to stay in tune well with what's going on in the classroom. The other parents all seem very nice as well. The faith-based component seems to focus mostly on "thematic" elements such as "being a kind neighbor/citizen" etc and isn't too much into specific doctrine that's particular to any one religious segment. The program is welcoming of many different faiths, and I believe this is represented in the composition of the children and teachers in the classroom. My only point of critical feedback is that I wish they served organic food for snack, but that's a tall order for any preschool in the area due to funding. :) read more

Our daughter attended St. Timothy's preschool last year and loved it. We had just moved from Maryland and were looking and hoping to find a preschool she would be comfortable with and would also help her develop and prepare for kindergarten. St Tim's accomplished this and more. The teachers are wonderful, patient, caring and instructive. We are now sending our 2 year old son here and he is also loving it. Thank you St. Timothy's for the great work you do. read more

When we were looking for preschools for our oldest, we fell in love with St. Timothy's on our first visit. The teachers are everything you'd want in a preschool team. They truly care about the students and teach them with great skill and great joy. Our oldest thrived here -- making good friends and becoming prepared for Kindergarten. It was the ideal introduction to school for our entire family. Now, I'm happy to be sending our youngest to the school. Although a totally different personality, she is also growing in leaps and bounds thanks to the program. I'd encourage every family looking for a preschool, to put St. Timonthy's top on your list of places to visit! read more

Janet Kolstad was my daughter's preschool teacher a few years ago. She is EXCELLENT. I saw how she quickly understood the individual needs of each child and attended to it throughout. She speaks kindly and clearly, gently nudging the children in structured learning with fun. She has superb continuity in her "curriculum." My daughter still talks about how much she loved preschool and I am so grateful to have had Janet as one of her teachers!! I recommend St. Timothy's Preschool to any and all mothers of tots ! read more

My daughter attended St. Timothy's as a 4 year old. We were so happy with her experience there. The classes are small so there is a lot of opportunity for the children to interact with one another and with the teachers. The teachers are outstanding -- you see them sitting down with the children, playing with and engaging them, helping them to make friendships and learn social skills. It is one of the few schools I found where the children really learn to interact with one another, cooperate, and play together and not alone. We plan to send our younger daughter there as well. read more

We love and miss St. Tim's. Both our children went there and they are both doing exceptionally well in elementary school. St. Tims enabled our children to adjust and prepare for Kindergarten. The balanced combination of education, play and structure is excellent. The teachers are wonderful and well qualified to handle the number of children per class. Each of them gave it their own personal touch which combined was a very well rounded classroom. This school was recommended by other families and we are so grateful to them. We highly recomend this pre school. Bill and Kim Evans, Mountain View. read more

St. Timothy's is a wonderful preschool! The 3 teachers who have been teaching there for more than 15 years all together, give a cosy, safe and very positive environment for each student. The teachers look at each child as a whole and quickly addresses problem if any arises We've loved the close relationship and the possibility of communicating freely with the teachers. Children learn while playing in a structured environment the rules of socializing and seem to just flourish into more self confident individual. We saw our son open up and discovering how much art and drawing was important to him. It really is a wonderful preschool! We just wished we had known about it sooner! But our second son is starting there as early as he can! :-) read more

I researched lots of preschools before selecting St. Timothy's for my son. I was unsatisfied with what I saw at most "preschools" that were really daycare facilities with interes in babysitting than in creating positive learning experiences and social development for young children. Several friends suggested I check out St. Timothy's, because their children had gone there and had loved it. I am so glad that I did! It's small, clean, has a higher adult-to-child ratio than what I had been finding elsewhere, and has a great staff that really cares about a providing a positive experience for the children. My son, who is very cautious and timid, quickly grew to love the other children and his teachers. At the end of each session, he was always excited to share with us what fun things he did that day. The director, Helen Woolridge, was great at keeping us informed about how my son was doing, and I could tell she genuinely cared about each child. Compared to many other preschools, St. Timothy's was also very reasonably priced. My son is now in first grade and still talks fondly about St. Timothy's. Whenever a friend mentions that they are looking for a preschool, I strongly encourage them to check out St. Timothy's. They are fantastic! read more