Berkeley Parents Network: Berkeley Hills Nursery School (Berkeley, CA)

Berkeley Parents Network

Berkeley Hills Nursery School (Berkeley, CA)

Berkeley Parents Network > Reviews > Preschools > Berkeley Hills Nursery School (Berkeley, CA)

www.berkeleyhills.org

Sept 2009

Re: Play based pre-school for 2.9 year old
I can highly recommend Berkeley Hills Nursery School (www.berkeleyhills.org). We were very impressed with our child's play-based development in the Red Room (ages 2.9-4) and are even more thrilled by the progress we see in the Blue Room (ages 4-5). The directors, Terry and Franca, are very experienced and their staff is excellent. I encourage you to contact the school, pay a visit and talk with some of the parents whose children are in or have been in this wonderful pre-school. Happy, happy BHNS parent

March 2009

Has anyone had a child recently attend Berkeley Hills Nursery School (BHNS)? Likes and dislikes? Did you look at other programs? Did your child attend public or private school after BHNS? Are alumni/enrolled families satisfied with their experiences there? Would you recommend the school? -Thank you

My son is in his last of three years at BHNS and we have loved the school. The teachers are caring and loving. The curriculumm is engaging. The music teacher that comes in is very good and my son and his classmates all go to Lawrence Hall of Science for classes after school on Monday. My son loves the Blue Room playground. The community that BHNS fosters is wonderful. We will cherish our friends we have made and continue our friendships once we leave the school. I can highly recommend BHNS. Feel free to contact me if you have any questions. -Jennifer

We feel so fortunate to have had the opportunity to send both our kids to Berkeley Hills Nursery School. I highly recommend it! Of course, we looked at ALL pre- schools (from that catalog) and finally settled on BHNS because 'it just felt right'. It is a two year program with little ones starting in the ''red room'', where my son is now, and then moving to the ''blue room''. The co-directors, Terry and Franca are a wonderful pair, bringing decades of pre-school experience with playful curiosity and exploration to integrate innovative ideas. I can't say enough good things about ALL the teachers! They each have their unique & wonderful personality, and all are loving, nurturing, fun, consistent, and provide a safe, caring environment for the kids. What is great about the program is that there is some structure and lots of free play, allowing the kids to explore all sorts of arts medium, dress up play, building projects, cooking, while introducing routine & personal responsibility. The teachers also do an extraordinary job of fostering positive social behavior among the students. I've had feedback from teachers at Elementary schools who have said how well adjusted and prepared for Kindergarten the children from BHNS are. Parents are invited to participate as they like and the parent community is amazingly supportive with lots of gatherings to foster community. The after-care (called Cozy) that extends to 3:00 is very popular with lovely, consistent after-school teachers. The physical environment is refreshing with clean air, filtered by the stately oak trees surrounding the property. As you can see, I highly recommend BHNS!

Where do kids go? Children go on to both private and public schools. We are in the Berkeley public schools, others in Albany, Orinda, etc. Good luck! js

Our daughter is the Red Room at BHNS and we are thrilled. This was our first choice so I can not offer a comparison to other schools, but we are confident that it is an excellent fit for us. The teachers are attentive and positive and we've seen a great deal of growth in our daughter. She looks forward to school each day. I would definitely recommend BHNS and wish you all the best in your search. BHNS dad

Our son has been at Berkeley Hills for the past 3 years and we just love it. The teachers and directors are wonderful offering a nurturing and exciting environment in which to grow. The Red Room provides a great and safe place to establish strong socialization skills and readies them for the Blue Room and all the dynamic things they do there to prepare for kindergarten. The sense of community is very strong and the school and parents work very hard at keeping it that way (although you certainly can choose how much, or little, you get involved). If I had to say what the one thing that sets BHNS apart from all other nursery schools, I would say the incredible teachers. They are so dedicated to the development of your child, and making their experience rich in every way, I honestly feel so lucky to have found it for my son. The second would be the community of parents.

Maybe this simple exchange I had today with a first year parent will shed some light. I gave a talk at the first orientation meeting at the beginning of the school year. I started this talk out by saying (with a smile, being both serious and silly) kCongratulations, you just chose the best nursery school in the worldm. This parent told me she thought kWell thatms a bit presumptuousm. But today she told me she totally gets how come I said it, because that is exactly how she now feels. BHNS parent and lovin' it

I wanted to share our family's wonderful experience with Berkeley Hills Nursery School. My 1st son has a late November birthday, so I was on the line of whether or not to start him in pre-school when he was 2 years old. When we found BHNS any doubt was put to rest. The school has a small cozy feel to it. All of the teachers have truly helped him really come into his own. The school is divided into two classrooms, the 'Red Room' & the 'Blue Room'. The classrooms are well equipped with everything a child needs to have fun, express themselves and make friends all while learning is taking place. The teachers have also helped us as parents. They are always there for us to ask advise about everything from behavior questions to fantastic help with potty training. I have also truly enjoyed all of the families we have met thru BHNS. It is a very eclectic, fun and involved school community. I am sure we have made some life-long friends at the school. I joke that between my 2 boys, we will be a 5 year family, but I have really enjoyed my time so far and am looking forward to the next few years as well. Berkeley Hills Nursery School is located off of Grizzly Peak Blvd., near the Shasta entrance. They have a website www.berkeleyhills.org and the phone number is 510- 849-1216. Terry and Franca are the school directors. If you are looking for a preschool that is truly a nurturing environment, I strongly suggest you take a look at BHNS. Signed: Betsy F.

March 2007

If you are considering Berkeley Hill Nursery School as a choice for your pre-schooler, I think you will be very happy. My 3 1/2 year old son has been going since September and just loves it. He loves his teachers very much and has grown tremendously since attending. He comes home excited every day and tells us what they played with or learned in school. Lately they have been learning about maps and it is so cute to hear how much fun he has had and how much he has absorbed. The teachers have BHNS have a wealth of knowledge and experience. They teach the children through play, art, music and conversations. They let the children's interest guide them in what subjects they do next.

As a parent I love how BHNS fosters community. We have parent socials to get to know each other better. We have had pot lucks, Mom's nights out and coffee socials. Because you gained this new community of friends, you feel comfortable leaving your child for play dates. When you switch off which family takes the kids, you get yourself some extra free time! All in all it has been a wonderful experience for the whole family and I can highly recommend BHNS. jennifer

Feb 2006

We are considering Berkeley Hills Nursery School and wondered if anyone has any current opinions and information about it. deborah

We are into our second year at Berkeley Hills Nursery School and have been very happy. My daugher has thrived there. The teachers are wonderful and the parent community is great. It's a little different than most preschools in that it runs on a 10 month schedule and is not set up really for full-time working parents. It's fairly expensive but I think it's worth it. The children seem truly happy and are having fun. The teachers have been there for a very long time and have a great rapport with the children. It's a play-based curriculum and they get into more pre-K stuff with the older children. The kids are all kind to one another and treat each other with respect. I believe the socialization aspect of this preschool is a big success. Good luck in your search. BHNS parent

My child was a student at BHNS for two years. There are many wonderful things about the school although I have criticisms as well. It obviously depends what you are looking for. The second year, The Blue Room, was much better for us and our child, in every way. The teachers seemed more engaged, the projects and activities more energized, there were fewer silly rules (fo r the parents as to what the kids could wear, how to pack their lunch, etc) and there is more space for the kids. The schedule is difficult if both parents work (maximum day to 3:00 4x/week and until 1pm on Friday) and lots of vacation. I think the kids are happy. We wish we got more feedback. Our child liked it there, made friends and was more than prepared for kindergarten. We just didn't find the Red Room that inspiring. There are new teachers for the afternoon program (1-3pm) that people adore. Many people however love the school in general. Good luck. Anon.

June 2002

Re: Preschools with good playgrounds
I was pretty impressed with Berkeley Hills Nursery school--they have an interesting set-up regarding the outdoor area. One area is on multiple and safe levels. Another area is flat with slides, swings, bouncy, springy things. And, a sweet little park abuts the school on one side. It is located in the North Berkeley hills, kind of a trek but a wonderful school nonetheless. marquezfan

July 2000

To the mother (and others) interested in Berkeley Hills Nursery School - we've been there for the last five years with our two daughters, and recommend it highly to those parents whose work schedule or other childcare arrangements can accommodate a traditional nursery school (rather than full time day care) schedule of 9 to 1:00 or 9 to 3:00. The 2-1/2 year old sibling can go to the "Red Room" as little as three days or as many as 5 days a week. The 4-1/2 year old can go to the "Blue Room", which only accepts 5 day a week kids. Last I heard, both rooms are full for next year, but it doesn't hurt to check. The directors, Liz and Terry, have 20 years of experience, and they and the similarly experienced, loving, thoughtful teachers run a child-centered developmental program which has been a dream come true. It's a very calm, caring, nurturing environment. Children learn to get along with each other, play cooperatively and imaginatively. Call 849-1216 for more information. Natasha

April 1999

I have an idea for a pre-k program for the unique and spirited 4 year old. Talk to Terry Gillan at Berkeley Hills Nursery School. They went the extra distance for my son a couple of years ago, who is incredibly charming and very likable, and also has a serious case of adhd and some quirky learning issues. I suggest you be very up front with Terry, and tell her you got her name from an alum in her class of '97. Good Luck! GB

April 1997

Wanted to put in a plug for our daughter's preschool, Berkeley Hills Nursery School. It is located off Shasta, below Grizzly Peak, in a pleasant woodsy neighborhood. There are two classes, the "Red Room" for 2-1/2 to 4 year olds, and the "Blue Room" for 4 to 5 year olds. Each classroom has 15 to 20 kids, with three teachers. The approach is developmental, the atmosphere is cozy, calm, and nurturing, and they strike the right balance (for us) between structured activities and creative play. The regular hours are 9 to 1 Monday to Friday, with the option of an earlier drop-off and extended care until 3 p.m. Cost is not as high as Step One, but in the mid to high range. The approach to fund-raising is low-key, people are friendly, the kids are great. Natasha

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