School for not-quite 5yo in Berkeley for one year
We have recently shifted ( just 10 days back ) to Berkeley. I have a daughter who has a fall birthday and she is yet to complete 5 yrs of age . She is short of 2 months. We were previously in India where she would attend her lower kindergarten for the same age. What options do I have for my daughter so that she doesn't have to miss her school? We will again relocate to India next May.
Jun 23, 2016
Parent Replies
There are a lot of Pre-K programs in Berkeley and nearby that are suitable for children who will not quite be five on Sept 1. Are you looking for a school starting right now or in July or August? Most preschools and schools are closed for the summer already, so you should either check out one of the summer camps like Monkey Business or Sara's Science, or see if you can find a home-based daycare that has a preschool program that has openings for the summer. Then you can enroll her in a pre-K program for the fall. The public schools have a transitional kindergarten for children who turn five between September and December. If you live in Berkeley, you will need to contact the Berkeley Unified School District to enroll. There might be private preschools that still have openings in their pre-K program too, but you'll have to do some research there. Look on BPN for pre-K programs at local preschools and start calling around to see what you can find. Good luck!
There are several "transitional kindergarten" options for fall birthdays. BUSD public schools has a few classes at different elementary schools around the district. You should contact them if you're interested -- I have heard great things about the TK at BUSD publics. There is also TK/Bridge K at preschools like Step One up in the Berkeley hills. Have heard good things about that, too.
My 5-year-old daughter has just completed her last year at Children's Community Center, a Berkeley cooperative preschool that has been operating since 1927. The place is amazing. It is run cooperatively by parents/families, and the teachers are tenured and well-educated. It is a play-based, inclusive, beautiful, natural, hands-on, creative, AMAZING place. And this next year (2016-2017) it has rare openings in the "Back Yard", which is the class your daughter would attend. Honestly, I haven't met a family yet that hasn't gushed over this place. It's goodness is overwhelming. I have learned more about being a great parent from this place than anywhere else. I encourage you to check it out.
http://www.cccpreschool.org/
(510) 528-6975
Since your family won't continue with BUSD next year, I heartily recommend our preschool, Children's Community Center (CCC). There are still two openings for 4-5 year olds for the coming academic year. She will be on the older side, but certainly not the only child with a fall birthday. CCC is a wonderfully special preschool that focuses on children's social and emotional development through play, and children have a lot of space to practice academic pursuits, if that is where their interests lie. There is a lot of research to support the benefits of a play-based program supporting academic preparation. It's a cooperative, so the community is big and welcoming. Best of luck to you and your daughter!
Step One preschool has an wonderful pre-K program.
My son, who has a September birthday, is entering his second year at a FABULOUS montessori program near Rockridge BART. You asked about Berkeley, but if you're interested in a private education and aren't too far from that location, I recommend you consider it. And since you will be enrolling your daughter in only one year of any program, private or public, unless you are able to enroll her in a transitional-K program that she will continue in as she enters kindergarten, take a look at My Own Montessori (M.O.M.) I love the program - warm women, 30 years running, about 30 students in an intimate setting. Please let me know if you want to speak privately. Courtenay soopercyclechic [at] yahoo.com