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Re: Looking for a Preschool with a Garden
Ducks' Nest has 2 wonderful gardens -- one in the back by the older kids and
one accross the street. The kids play and work in the garden a lot. It's a
large preschool but is very very well run, most of the teachers are
wonderful and the place is full of wonderment and and playtime fun. The
admissions process, at least 4 years ago, was not as pleasant. They do get
many applications. I have found that if you ask at the last minute they
sometimes find they have an unexpected place.
ruthe
Re: Preschools that have the most quality outdoor time?
You should take a tour of Duck's Nest Preschool in Berkeley [on 4th
St. near Gilman]. It's hard to imagine a more comprehensive,
attractive, and integrated outdoor program.
happy nature/animal lovin' parent
RE: Preschool with great outside space?
Duck's Nest Preschool in Oakland at the end of Piedmont Ave has one of the
better outdoor spaces. They also go to the meadow next door on occasion to
let the kids run long distances.
K
Re: Seeking a preschool with Reggio-Emilia philosophy
Hello,
We are actively researching Duck's Nest in Berkeley as a
preschool for our son to attend in the Fall and I would love to
hear from current/former parents about their thoughts on the
close location to Pacific Steel and the poor air quality. We
already live in the Ocean View neighborhood and I am concerned
that if we do get into DN the fact that he is around the plant
most of the time may harm him. Do any current/former parents have
the same concerns? Everything I have heard about the school
(teachers, lessons, etc.) has been outstanding, I just don't want
to jump into and than regret it later. Any advice would be
appreciated.
Anon.
Excerpt from the story reported last April in the Daily
Planet, ...''the class-action lawsuit is seeking an injunction
to require the foundry to lreduce its off-site toxic emissions
impact to safe levels or relocate from this neighborhood,n and
demands a lcompensation to the thousands of neighbors affected
daily by the noxious odors and toxins.n
Let's talk. please contact me via email...we can exchange
phone numbers and talk beechershar@gmail.com
former Parent
We are considering sending our son to the Puddle duck (3.5-4
year old)and later, mallard duck classroom(4-year-old). We noticed
that there are not many materials (books and toys) in these
classrooms. We would like to hear any comment on the teachers
and activities and anything else that you like to share about
the puddle duck and mallard duck rooms. Thank you very much!
Remember at ducks nest the classes spend a day a week in the garden, and lots of
time outside on other days. also, it's not the sort of program where the kids just play
with toys all day - they're working on group projects all the time and that develops
form the children's questions and observations, not from toys.
What said, I have always been impressed with the quality of the materials there and
what my kids have painted or built - they work with very nice supplies and in a beautiful
space that is thoughtfully designed from the childrens' perspective and with
their own art and quotes everywhere, and always changing to reflect their changing
interests.
berkeley mom
Duck's Nest has 3 branches and doesn't see the
children before accepting them, so I worry they are very business-like. Am I just
chain-phobic? In practice, do they follow the children's interests, as an emergent-
approached school would?
potential Berkeley Duckling mom
I'm looking for current reviews of Duck's Nest--the Berkeley
campus. In particular, I am interested in how people feel about
the two's program. How likely are you to want to stay at Duck's
nest and move from the two's program through the preschool
program? The administration seems a bit difficult to contact
during the admissions process. Does this continue once you are
enrolled?
I am considering Duck's Nest preschool for my 2 y.o daughter.
Can anyone give feedback regarding their experience with this
school. I was very impressed when I saw it, but would love to
hear from others who have a child in the 2's program.
Thanks!
liz
I was wondering what kind of experiences people have had at the
Berkeley Ducks Nest. We have not had a very good experience at
the Oakland/Piedmont Ducks Nest with our older son. But I have
our younger son on the waiting list to start at Berkeley DN in
the fall. Our main problems at Piedmont DN were related to lack
of diversity among the families, inability of teachers & staff
to ''get'' our son, understand how his personality did not fit
with certain aspects of the environment, Thanks for your
feedback.
I'm looking for more current thoughts about Duck's Nest in
Berkeley. The facilities and extra programs seem grand. I'm
wondering about experiences others have had with the teachers
(specifically for the two year old classrooms, but not limited
to that), success in helping children navigating through
difficult behavior, parental community, and overall perceptions.
We're trying to decide between Ducks Nest and a cheaper but well-
thought of, smaller preschool (the taecher here is a
famous ''known quality.'') Any and all advice appreciated.
Can anyone tell me about Duck's Nest in Berkeley. I saw the
school last week and was impressed but than I met
somebody who told me that the turnover rate in some class
rooms are high and that the Director is not always around.
I want my daughter to go to a school with happy teacher.
Are these rumors true ?
Thanks for any advice. I also consulted the website but most
of the advise was from a while ago and maybe things have
changed.
anon
To address your concerns: Yes, there has been too much turnover
in one of the six classrooms this year. It was not very
pleasant for anyone. (Illness and personality conflicts were
the main causes.) However, the staffing is very stable for the
most part. Also, though the director does work short days, I've
always been able to get in touch with her, and supervision is
not an issue. There is always someone in the office (an
assistant director), and Monika (the school's founder who lives
above one of the buildings)is usually available.
My personal observation is that Duck's Nest is a great place for
a family with a positive outlook and a tendency to trust. (This
is probably true of most preschools!) The majority of families
are very happy.
Happy Nester
The director is the daughter of the founder, and she too, is
wonderful. Her younger son is a current pupil, her older son
has gone on to kindergarten.
Duck's Nest has a great atmosphere, teachers, spirit and
kids. I'm looking forward to being part of their community
again.
If you're interested in sending your child there, you should
think about bringing your concerns to Kristen Trainor, the
director. If you have any specific questions, feel free to
email me.
Mollie
Re: "Traditional" school 2-3 mornings a week
While it is a developmental (play-based) preschool, the kids
learn a great deal. At 3, my daughter could write her name,
knew all the letters, was beginning to sound out words.
Children are allowed to begin at age 2, and do not have to be
potty-trained. Cloth diapers are required, and the school will
provide them if you don't use cloth.
I don't imagine you will find a non-coop school that is ONLY
open from 9-1 on 2-3 mornings a week -- the economics wouldn't
work.
There is also a Ducks' Nest in Piedmont, which I'm sure is great
too, but I haven't visited it.
Julie
Our son attends Duck's Nest on 4th street, and he loves
it. He has been there 3 years, in three classes, and
each year the experience has been a good one. For us,
it seemed that the teachers and the cirruculum were
just right or his stage of development: kind, sweet,
teachers the first year when he was quite young, more
structure when he was older. My son also had some real
issues at first with transitions, and could be quite
unruly. The school worked with us on helping him
through that time, and in a really wonderful, caring,
nonjudgemental way. I highly recommend Duck's Nest.
happy DN family
The Duck's Nest on Fourth Street has an older class, called
Mandarins. Call them and see if they have any openings. The
teacher is wonderful, and your child will not be bored.
Mary
We have had our twin girls (currently 33 months old) enrolled at the Duck's
Nest preschool on 4th Street since September and we all just LOVE it. The
teachers are very loving, playful, professional and sympathetic to parent's
anxieties. Our classroom adjoins the one for the younger class (I think
they take them as early as 20 months?) and the classes actually mingle a
bit at drop off and pick up times. I've witnessed the teachers dealing very
effectively and lovingly with some difficult separation issues at the
beginning of the school year, and those children now seem quite happy and
engaged. Personally, my girls come home with art work, or a new song or
story, or some wonderful tale almost every day. We also chose this school
because of the active (volunteer) Parent's Association, which has already
helped us get acquainted with the parents of the children our girls are
fast becoming friends with. We would all highly recommend Duck's Nest! Good
luck with your choice.
H. Mann
Can anyone give me feedback on Duck's Nest preschool in Berkeley? I visited
the site recently and liked it but I am concerned about the air quality.
Apparently there is a brewery and a plastics manufacturer in the neighborhood.
Darcy
As parents we couldn't have been better cared for. Crisis has been
intermittantly visiting our family since we became a Duck's Nest family.
The Duck's Nest community as inspired by the Director Monika and her staff
have been for us and especially our children, immeasurably supportive and
kind. I'd recommend you check them out.
Damien
My experience is mainly with the 2-2 1/2 yr. old class, where the
teachers are loving and attentive, and professionals who know a lot about
kids. The art projects are fun, once a week a movement/dancer teacher comes
in, once a month a grandmother does a puppet show, etc.
Highly recommended.
andrea (3/98)
My husband and I both work full-time outside the home and moved to
Piedmont this past year. We are planning to place our boy/girl twins
in preschool in the fall (they will be 3 and 1/2 then) but the co-ops
in Piedmont with PT schedules are not an option for us. Their primary
childcare to date when we are working has been in our home with my
mom and/or a nanny. We need something convenient in terms of location
in order to pick up and drop-off timely with our work schedules.
Schools we are considering and would love current input on are:
Duck's Nest on Piedmont Avenue (a few negative reviews on BPN concern
me, though appear under old director? My son is definitely not a big
boy so some of the comments are of particular concern); [...]
Any input, positive or negative, on the above and/or
any other schools I may be missing that are less than 3 miles from
''lower'' Piedmont would be much appreciated!! Thanks!
-Piedmont Mom of Almost-Preschooler Twins
My child went through the following classrooms but there are
others depending on the kid's age: The younger ''Duckling''
class for the 2-3 year-olds is a really warm and caring
environment for little ones. Two of the three teachers have been
at DN for many years and the third is just lovely. It is a small
but cozy classroom with developmentally appropriate activities.
The middle class ''Wood Ducks'' is a jump in curriculum with many
very cool and creative projects. Kids have multiple ''stations''
to choose from. I often felt that I wanted to stay there and do
their amazing projects rather than go off to work! That year was
more structured and less loosely play-based overall. The third
year ''Mandarin'' class, which is a shared space with the
slightly younger ''Mallards'', has been a very welcomed
environment for kids and parents. There are higher level ideas
being discussed, as guided by the kids' interests, and the
teachers are phenomenal. Very sensitive, communicative, attuned
to the kids' individual needs and personalities. I have no doubt
that my daughter will be kindergarten ready after this year at
DN.
Through the years we have not had any problems with aggression at
the school in the yard or otherwise. I am often in the rather
magical play yard and always see several teachers dispersed
throughout monitoring the activities. Overall, when conflicts do
occur between kids, the teachers use a conflict/problem
resolution model of talking things out. If one kid is rough with
another (within the normal range of kids stealing toys, acting
out, etc.), they talk it through and have all involved focused on
helping the kid who felt hurt, etc. I find the teachers to be
ultra-sensitive and patient, sometimes more than I am myself.
They give kids lots of respect and find ways of redirecting them
rather than being negative or punitive.
I do know that some of my peers have had frustrations at times
with a teacher or administrator here and there in response to
their own kid's individual issues. However, I do think that
feedback was given on both ends to improve communication and
problem-solving so that issues resolved themselves.
I really love the DN environment and am happy to be continuing
within their community in the coming years with my 2nd child.
Hope this is helpful in future decision making!
Happy DN Parent
Hello,
I am interested in reviews from current or former Duck's
Nest (Piedmont Ave) parents. We would like to enroll our 3
year-old full-time. Can you recommend the afternoon
program? Are there many full-time families?
Thank you!
anon
1. Since my daughter was the oldest child in the class (by
a month) and very verbal, I asked about bumping her up to
the next class (where she would be the youngest by a
week). I was told by the director that because she was a
girl and physically small, she would be "¬bowled over by
the bigger boys".. I was shocked that they would use gender
and size as a reason to hold a child back.
2. As the only child in the class who was potty trained,
they did not support her potty training because it did not
fit with the rest of the class developmentally. The
teachers would occasionally ask her if she needed to go
potty, as opposed to taking her to the potty on a regular
schedule like they did with the next older class. As a
result, she regressed in her potty training and it was
very upsetting for her.
3. During outside time there were regularly 30-40 kids in
the yard, and there were parts of the yard (the play house
and clubhouse above the slide) that would get overcrowded
with very young children (2 year olds). More than once I
saw several children clustered around each other trying to
take toys away from each other. The teachers did break it
up, but had not done anything to intervene proactively.
4. My daughter was getting increasingly stressed out,
especially by the yard chaos, and responded to acts of
aggression, or kids getting in her space, by biting. I
certainly don'Ât condone biting, but the reality is that
this is not abnormal behavior for a two year old. After a
few incidents in as many days we were called into the
director'Âs office and given 24 hours notice to move our
daughter to half time. Since we are two working parents,
that put enormous stress on our family.
Within two weeks at her new pre-school, our daughter was
fully potty trained again, and our happy, sweet child has
showed no signs of aggression since moving. Two other
children in her class left Duck'Âs Nest in their first year
as well, and joined us at our current pre-school.
It took going to our current pre-school to understand how
teachers can promote socialization and prevent aggression
through proactive approaches, such as limiting the number
of children in any given play area, intervening before
aggression happens between children by giving them words
to use, and designing unique social and developmental
goals for each child.
- former nester
I saw no interaction by teachers in the
play yard. My son was bitten by one of the biggest kids,
a 4 year old, no teachers were present at the time to stop
the escalating bad behavior. I learned that at times there
was no supervision in the yard after 3:00 p.m.
The yard is chaotic and you should visit unexpectedly to
check this out. The biting was the last straw, we
switched schools and learned to appreciate what good
teachers can do for our children. Besides teaching them
good social skills through positive guidance techniques
their focus was on one word -RESPECT.
Careful supervision and observation of the children is the
key. Teachers can see and learn of the inappropriate
behavior and help children prevent future incidents, as
well as provide them with clues regarding ways to help the
biting child express themselves in more positive ways.
We have a wonderful, kind, kid and We love his new
teachers!
Re: Need Recent Reviews of Oakland Preschools
I am looking to send my 2 year old daughter to Ducks Nest
Preschool (Piedmont) and I was hoping to hear what other
families thought of the school, curriculum, teachers, etc. If
you do not feel comfortable replying back to the group please
contact me.
kristen
I was wondering if anyone has any recent experience there?
I am
thinking of sending my daughter to their afternoon program. She is shy
and not
particularly assertive, and a lot of the past reviewers seemed to feel
this type of child
would not fit in there, but I was wondering if anyone has had any
different experiences
in the afternoon program or otherwise?
anon
My daughter is in the Wood Duck class, which is the class in which I
assume your child would join as a Newnduck in the afternoons. My
daughter has made some very good friends with some of the Newnducks,
and mentions them all the time, both the girls and the boys. The
teachers do a very good job at both creating an individual group
feeling, as well as activities for the Newnducks as well as
integrating them in with the rest of the kids who are there for the
afternoon from various classes. Incidentally, the teacher of the
Newnducks happens to babysit for us on the side, and she is a
wonderful teacher as well as caregiver.
I can honestly say we have no complaints thus far about the school,
the director or the teachers. Please feel free to email me directly
if you would like to ask further questions.
Isabel
Duck's Nest in Piedmont recently held a kindergarten information
series for their parents and those at the affiliated School of
Arts and Sciences. The first talk dealt with navigating the
process of kindergarten admissions, the second highlighted what
to expect in kindergarten, and the third was a parent panel of
parents of both private and public school kindergarteners. The
director of Duck's Nest did a fabulous job of putting this series
together and the information was invaluable.
The reviews of Duck's Nest on Piedmont are a few years old.
Does anyone have more recent feedback about their experiences
there?
New preschool mom
First, communications with parents have been a
problem for at least six years. If you do not see signs posted
in the classroom, you will not know what is going on in the
classroom, about projects, or about the classroom needs. We
received a summary newsletter about once a month, through which
we sometimes learned, after the fact, about projects that
required the children to bring items from home. I have no idea
if my children were able to participate in those projects
because we didn't learn about them in advance and did not send
in the right supplies (a T-shirt, a picture of my child as an
infant, etc.). The lack of communication is particularly a
problem for working parents who may have a babysitter pick up
and drop off their kids.
Second, the student-teacher ratio is quite high, so shy, quiet,
and developmentally delayed children can feel overwhelmed or
excluded in the classroom and particularly on the playground.
If you are thinking about sending your child there, spend some
time on the playground while two or three classes are out
there. The result can be a lot of very active kids in a
relatively small space. The kids are not without supervision,
but there is a lot of energy. While you are visiting the
playground, think about whether your child is the type to jump
in with the rest of the kids, or is likely to feel overwhelmed
by the noise and activity. If it is the latter, your child may
not be happy at Duck's Nest. I know that one of my sons was the
type to join in, and one was not. As a result, one was much
happier than the other one during his time at Duck's Nest.
Third, the school administrators are not particularly good at
addressing issues. They also seem to clash with some of the
teachers, which has resulted in higher than necessary teacher
turnover. If your child fits right in, this will not be a
problem for you, but if your child has any challenges at all,
you may not be happy with how the administrators deal with those
challenges or with your parenting decisions. The parent of one
particularly shy child was told that her child would not be
having as much difficulty at school as he was having had it not
been for the parent's decision to delay preschool until he was
four. Rather than blaming the parent, it would have been
helpful if the administrators had proposed solutions to help the
child feel more comfortable in school.
Fourth, due to changes that were instituted as of last year,
there is no longer space at the school for children with fall
birthdays in the year that they turn five. The parents of the
almost five year olds in the Mallard class last year were
encouraged to send their children to the affiliated school for
Arts and Sciences for their preschool program, but I am not sure
if any of the parents selected that school. So, if you think
that once you have your child in Duck's Nest you won't have to
think about selecting a preschool again, keep in mind that this
is not true if your child has a fall birthday and won't be
eligible or ready for kindergarten the year that she turns
five. (Most private schools will not accept children with fall
birthdays, although most public schools will.)
I hope this helps. I think that the school is a good school for
outgoing children, but it not the best school for every child.
Good luck with your decision.
Parent of Two Duck's Nest Graduates
Thank you for your feedback--it helps us build a better program
when we have an honest discourse with parents.
What inspired me to write was the comment that if your kid is
aggressive or assertive, this is a good place for them! Or that
aggression is rewarded. Wow. With over 100 kids in this school,
in 6 classes, I personally do not find it surprising that each
class has typically one or perhaps two children who fit this
description. To paint the entire student population with this
brush is unfair and misleading, and absolutely forced me to
respond.
My son is creative and respectful and KIND. These qualities are
important in our family, and I found them mirrored at Ducks
Nest, in particular by teachers in every class.
That said, I, too, had my issues with the administration-
sometimes it seemed as though ''they could always fill their
school, why respond to parents or child-specific needs?''
We also considered leaving after 2 years ourselves. Like many
other parents, we were very disappointed in a specific action
taken by the Director towards one of the best teachers in the
school, when she was fired on the last day of school without
notice or an opportunity to say goodbye to our kids. But, upon
reflection, the many other things we most love about Ducks Nest
won out. My son loved to play there. Of course, he was never
seriously injured in 3 years. His projects have been creative
and instructive and fun. The enrichment programs are absolutely
unmatched, in my opinion, with such variety and quality as
weekly visits from the Lawrence Hall of Science in the Fall,
French, sign language, MOCHA, drama class, weekly music, dance
class, etc. We have also worked on and contributed to community
projects--last year my son went door to door in our neighborhood
collecting cann! ed foods for the Alameda Food Bank, and one of
the book fairs contributed dozens of books and well over $1000
to an inner-city preschool that was in sore need of funds.
It is true that Ducks Nest isn't for everyone. But, having
visited roughly 10 of them before selecting this one, I'm not
sure how many--if any--are perfect out there.
Another parent with a view
I have read the previously posted reviews for Duck's Nest but
none are terribly recent and seem to mainly talk about the great
outdoor play space. I am interested to hear feedback on the
staff and classroom activities/structure, especially from
someone who has or has had a younger child there. I know it has
a great reputation but I would like to hear more before I enroll
(and plunk down serious cash - it doesn't sound like a real
bargain, but if it's worth it....!!).
Preschool Parent-to-be
Time is scheduled throughout the day for creative projects
(painting, play dough, etc.), unstructured outdoor play (yes,
the play areas are wonderful!), music, reading, and visits with
the resident chickens and other animals. Starting next month
there will be time set aside for foreign language instruction
(French or Spanish) and gardening. There is probably much more
that we are not even aware of yet! Older children at the
preschool are allowed the opportunity to interact and play with
the younger ones, but only while closely supervised--care is
taken to make sure that the interactions are not hurtful to the
smaller parties.
Anne
Re: Afternoon preschool programs
Re: "Traditional" school 2-3 mornings a week
I loved my daughter's teachers for the 2 classes she was in. I
felt they were very engaged with all the kids & very interested
in developing different projects. I believe the teacher turnover
is low.
They offer fieldtrips. My daughter went to the beach, the little
farm, and a retirement home (they sang) & loved it all. I'm not
sure if they teach the alphabet (maybe in older classes), but
they did things like ''science'' projects where they froze
different objects & talked about their properties.
They have a nice facility with an outside play area. All in
all, we loved the experience there & felt like they encouraged
interaction between kids & helped to develop friendships.
Email me if you want more info.
Rosalind
Re: Preschools with good playgrounds
Re: preschool for 2-year-old
Both of my daughters attended (and one still attends) The Duck's Nest.
They have a Duckling Room, which is for children who are two by
September. They have a school in Berkeley, as well as in Piedmont.
They have a wonderful morning program, and offer both part and full time
care. The classes are small; for example, in my daughter's class there
are on average eight or so children and three adults. I don't have the
Piedmont phone number, but the Berkeley number is 527-2331. Open house
is in January, I think, for September enrollment. If you want your
child to attend in September, I would suggest finding out about the Open
House NOW, as they fill up right away. Good Luck!
Mary
We are considering Duck's Nest in Berkeley for next year and
while I have a pretty good understanding of the Emergent
approach, I am looking for more detail on how they
incorporate languages into that specific program. Are they
offering French or Spanish? I can't tell from the website as
they mention both. Thanks.
tania
From what I can tell, both Spanish and French are taught by
seemingly non-native speakers and the 'lessons' consist of
reviewing printouts from a book and doing art projects.
If language is a must have for you, DN may not be your best
fit.
DN Parent
Ducks Nest is a fantastic Reggio Emilia school. We've sent 3
happy kids there and the program is amazing.
christine
Duck's Nest in Berkeley on 4th St.
March 2009
We've been incredibly happy with Ducks Nest for two children and still going, and the
air hasn't caused any problems to speak of. Of course I'd prefer if the school or steel
could be moved but in the meantime it's the sort of thing I normally don't notice or
think of. The education and growth they've received there has been phenomenal and that's
what really counts to me.
Berkeley mom
Our older son will be ''graduating'' from Duck's Nest this year
and our younger son just completed his first year. We've been
extremely happy with their program and teachers. Many times my
husband and I wished we could bring our laptop there and spend
our days hanging out on the pirate ship jungle gym or in the
secret garden. As for air quality I think it has probably
crossed most parents minds, however the preschool has been
there for some time and I've never heard of any health problems
in either the children or the teachers associated with the air
quality.
Good luck!
Ducky Parent
We are former parents who've done some research on pollution as
well as Berkeley preschools. I'll be happy to give you more
info. and thought you should read up on legal actions against
Pacific Steel, specifically a class action suit outlined in the
Berkeley Daily Planet: ''Berkeley Schools Top Bad Air Quality
List.''
We live several blocks from Pacific Steel and must say that the
headache-causing odors have definitely reduced after the last
scrubber was installed a few years back. But, we decided
against Duck's Nest because I didn't fall in love with the
school and was concerned about the concentration of pollutants
there. We took time to see more preschools, and decided on a
school that we are really looking forward to, and is even
closer by.
Happy to help
Feb 2009
Those are two of my favorite rooms, and I have a child in one right now!
I would note that kids don't usually go through both rooms - Puddle Ducks generally
graduate to the Mandarin room in the back, skipping the Mallard room.
The young 3s are Wood Ducks first and then in fall when they're young 4s they become
Mallards.
My child is currently in the Mallard class at Duck's Nest. Not
sure if you had a chance to really poke around in the
classrooms, but there are different areas for different
activities. Books are rotated out in the classrooms from the
school's library so there are not too many things competing for
a child's attention at any one time. Also, Duck's Nest uses an
emergent curriculum approach, and books are selected to support
the theme. Duck's Nest is not a super academic school in terms
of drilling kids on their letters or numbers, but it's also not
strictly play-based. It's been a wonderfully rich and
stimulating learning environment for our daughter and we'll all
be sad to leave it next year.
Susie
We are former parents of a mallard and have very good friends
attending Duck's Nest preschool now. They have quite a few
activities, the toys are put away in clear bins on shelving.
Our story may be too long to write but we thought the same
thing, not too many materials in the classroom. Please contact
me via email at beechershar@gmail.com and we can exchange
numbers and talk.
Dec 2008
I highly recommend Duck's Nest Berkeley. The Berkeley directors
are very responsive to parents and focus on the Berkeley campus.
The teachers set the curriculum around the kid's interests and
help them learn through play. My son is very happy there.
I also like their first come, first serve admission process.
Parents don't have to stress about their child getting rejected
and the classes are diverse. The kids in my son's class are
bright, funny, and considerate.
Our child is in her second year at Duck's Nest in Berkeley, and
we've been very happy with the school. Each of the Duck's Nest
schools has it's own administration, and there's no contact
with the other schools, so we certainly don't feel like we're
part of a ''chain''. I was frankly relieved I didn't have to go
through an ''interview'' process when my daughter was only 2
because you never know how your 2-year-old is going to behave
in that moment or setting. It is one of the bigger preschools,
and we've certainly found that some teachers are better than
others, but we've been really happy with our choice. Most
importantly, our daughter loves going to school every day.
anon
Jan 2007
potential future parent
My daughter has
attended Duck's Nest in Berkeley since 2005 and she, my husband,
and I think it is terrific. My daughter is quite spirited, and
the teachers are wonderful - enthusiastic, friendly, engaged -
and the program has offered her learning through play, foreign
languages, art, music, gardening, cooking, multicultural
awareness and more. The art my daughter brings home and the
stories she tells each day make Duck's Nest worth every penny.
I have found the administration to be very easy to work with
over the past several years. The admission season is definitely
a busy time. However, once enrolled, the staff have been very
attentive to our needs. My daughter has a November birthday, and
the administration has been very helpful in discussions about
whether to have her start kindergarten this year or next. The
teachers and administration get to know the kids and families
and have a genuine interest in each kid’s success.
My son is currently 9 months, but when the time comes we plan to
send him to Duck's Nest as well. I highly recommend the school.
Very Happy Duck's Nest Parent
Feb 2006
Our son is in his second year at Duck's Nest, and will attend his third
year next year.
He has had a wonderful preschool experience, and has adored his
teachers in each
class. He has strong friendships, but plays with all of the children
in his class.
There are perks to the school--a music curriculum (our son loves
this!), a Spanish
or French class, gardening, yoga (also a huge hit), and so on. Our son
enjoys all of
this, but he mostly loves his caring and warm teachers, his excellent
buddies, and
simply playing and thriving and laughing.
This being said, it is important to remember that every child is
different, and they
will not all react the same way as do the children of the parents who
respond to
your message. Our two daughters also attended Duck's Nest, and they
liked it, but
did not love it as does our son. When I leave him each day, he is
smiling. When I
pick him up each day, he is smiling. He is thrilled to be there (and
thus, as a parent,
I, too, am thrilled). I don't know why his sisters liked it but he
loves it! But for him,
these past two years have been absolutely wonderful . I can't say
enough about his
teachers, all of whom we have found to be absolutely splendid
people--loving,
funny, gentle, calm, responsible, and the list goes on and on. We
are very happy there (we've made friends, too!).
I hope this helps. I know that this process of choosing a school is a
difficult one
(and scary). Good luck to you!
Mary
Our daughter started at Berkeley Duck's Nest as a two year old
and has attended for three years. We have loved the school and
appreciate many of its strengths: 1) the teachers are overall
GREAT, very loving and strong, and were wonderful for our child
in those early years, very nurturing; 2) the grounds are
overwhelmingly magical, from the chicken coop to the trike area
to the large wooden ship play area and lastly the phenomenal
secret garden. There couldn't be a more wonderful physical
environment for a little child to attend school in; 3) the
school is very well organized and thoughtfully structured with
delightful field trips, adorable concerts and many special
activities--such as weekly yoga with Bina and music with Jeff
Luna Sparks from Jingle Jamboree. Our daughter has truly loved
every day of her experience at Duck's Nest!!! My critique of the
school would be: 1) the community is QUITE yuppie and many of
the parents drive Saabs, BMW's and other,
what I consider OBNOXIOUS CARS--with equivalent lifestyles and
values;'' 3) the school lacks racial
diversity and makes little to no effort to do outreach to
families of color, particularly African American families, so is
not truly representative of the community; 4) the school is
EXPENSIVE!! Still, I would recommend Duck's Nest to many
families (who had the money) in a heart beat. We are grateful
for the wonderful care, nuturance and excitement for learning
that our child has gleamed from her experience. It has provided
a super rich and joyful school beginning.
Extremely satisfied Duck's Nest parent
I read this post and was shocked: ''the community is QUITE
yuppie and many of the parents drive Saabs, BMW's and other,
what I consider OBNOXIOUS CARS--with equivalent lifestyles and
values;'' I am wondering what values this persons child is
learning from his/her parents. Are they teaching prejudice? To
judge someone by the car they drive is so simple minded. Where
is the sense of community? Where is the acceptance? If I drive
the wrong car, you won't let your child play with mine? What
next... segration? A school for what you call obnoxious
types? A school for subaru drivers? Come on. Parents are
suppose support each other. Not judge and tear down.
signed:sad to see this thinking exist in our community
April 2004
We have our daughter in the two year old class and have been extremely happy with
our experience at Duck's Nest. The teachers are very in tune with the kids and have
done their absolute best to help out the parents with issues that arise with each
child. I believe that the individual teachers make a big difference, and that your
experience with your child will depend on the teachers that will be in that
classroom. You can probably set up some times to visit the classroom and do some
observing for yourself.
Happy Duck Parent
We have gone to the DN-Berkeley on and off for about five years or
so. While it IS a great preschool, with an excellent yard and
chicken pen and a garden, I have found that it is pretty hit-or-
miss in terms of the classes. Some classes are wonderful (the
room, the toys, the activities, the teachers), other rooms are
mediocre to poor. The administration does seem to be fairly
disinterested in parents' concerns about certain teachers.
Overall, though, I have found the teachers themselves to be very
interested in what parents think and work with the parents to help
each child. I express my concern about certain issues with my
child directly to the teachers, and they do seem sympathetic and
they do respond. I would like to see more hugging by the
teachers, teachers sitting on the floor reading to kids (other
than during circle time), playing with the kids, and so on.
Happy, but not thrilled
Feb 2004
Go for the smaller preschool with the great teacher! I had two
children go through Duck's Nest - I was also impressed with the
grounds, etc. However, I found that there was a lot of teacher
turn-over, variability in quality of teachers and chaos on the
playground due to so many classrooms on the site. This was a
few years ago, so things may have changed, but it was an issue
for the 5 years that I was associated with the school. Also, I
did make good friends with some other families at Duck's Nest,
but many of the families do seems very busy with full-time jobs,
etc., so community feel is so-so.
Depends on your child too - if you have a kid who loves larger
groups, etc., they may love the school, but it may not the right
match for the quieter or over-stimulated ones.
It is also a pricey school. Had I to do it over, I'd go for the
well-established, smaller funkier school.
anonomous please!
We have attended DN in Berkeley for several years (three kids),
and here is my two cents! First of all, you ask about the two
year old room. This room is wonderful! The two teachers who are
in that room currently are both splendid, and the love they show
the children is genuine and true! The thing about DN, though, is
there is no telling which teachers will be in which room from year
to year. For the most part, there is little variation, but the
teaching teams do change, so it is not 100% that you will have
these same two teachers if you go there in the fall. My take on
the school is that the baby rooms and the older kid rooms are
pretty good, but the two ''middle age'' rooms seem to be more
mediocre. This being said, I have heard from other parents that
even what I consider to be ''mediocre'' is far superior to what
other preschools offer, however. All of the rooms at DN offer
music, dance, yoga, gardening, and so on. The kids seem happy, and
seem to have a good time.
My two cents
March 2003
I've been a Duck's Nest Parent for four years (two to go) and
have been very pleased with all aspects of the school. Both my
kids have thrived there, enjoying warm relationships with their
teachers and the children. The music (Jingle Jamboree) and
dance classes, along with language and gardening offer lots of
enrichment. The facility is clean and attractive, safe and
fun. There's also a parents' association that arranges social
functions, does fundraising, and supports community outreach and
giving
We sent our son to Duck's Nest 8 years ago, and we're
sending our younger son this fall. I'm pleased to say that I
was just as impressed as I was all those years ago when I
went for another visit earlier this year. Not only did we
recognize at least 5 of the teachers who were still there, they
recognized us. When we were parents there during the
mid-90s, I don't recall any mid-year teacher turnover.
We sent our child to Duck's Nest and were very disappointed with its
administration. Children were admitted to one class and then soon
after transferred to another...kind of a bait-and-switch.
I had an unpleasant experience with Duck's Nest. > I applied for a space
for my son when he was almost 3
years old. I was scheduled for an interview, told that there was
a space for him, and all I needed to do was send in my deposit.
Then, they learned that he had a disability. Suddenly, there was
no space available. I had a friend call the next day to see if
there was space for her ''ficticious 3 yr. old boy'' and there
was. When I spoke to the director and mentioned that I was open-
minded about ways to make the school work for my son (i.e.
sending an aide with him, etc.) she indicated that she just
didn't think her teachers were up to any extra energy that a
child with special needs might require.
Sept. 2002
You may have already rejected it, but I recommend Ducks' Nest in
Berkeley. It is open 5 days, and has an extended day for
parents who need it, but many parents send their children only 3
days a week, from 9-1. They have programs from 9-1, 9-3 and
FT. The minimum is 3 days per week. My daughter, who goes 4
days a week, has thrived there. They have wonderful indoor and
outdoor spaces, a large garden, chickens and ducks. And, for an
extra fee, they offer French and Spanish!
March 2002
My son has attended Duck's Nest for 2 years and my
daughter will be starting there in the fall. (She will
also be 2 1/2.) I really love the community and staff
at Duck's Nest and would recommend it highly. I don't
know how to help you think about the cost issue other
than to say that it costs money to keep good teachers
and to keep a school clean and well maintained. There
is also a Duck's Nest Parents' Association which raises
money to fund some of the enrichment programs over and
above the tuition cost. I wouldn't look to save money
on child care in the early years - a good preschool
experience is priceless.
B. Price
Both of my daughters attend(ed) Duck's Nest on Fourth
St. My two year old is there now, and she LOVES it.
Thus, obviously, I love it, too. From the age of your
child, it sounds like he will be in the Duckling Room.
The combination of teachers in that room is absolutely
wonderful! They are kind, loving, and fun. The school
has a great music program, art, pottery, gardening, and
so on. The parents are nice, too, which makes for a
nice community. I don't know much about other preschools,
but I have been very happy with the type of year that my
daughter has had at the Duck's Nest.
Mary
Aug 2002
2001
2000
If you are concerned about the air quality in the air, try contacting the Bay Area
Air Quality Management District. Ask whether they have any monitoring stations
in the area (or where the nearest monitoring stations are) and whether there have
been any days during which the air quality near those stations was unacceptable.
Also, share your concern directly with the school and ask whether the school has
any air quality/air monitoring information on hand. I don't think that it is necessarily
the case that if the air smells bad, it is hazardous, but since the air in that area
frequently does smell bad, you will feel better in the long run if you spend a little
time now looking into the issue.
7th Heaven! We've had the good fortune to have had our almost 7 year old
spend a few years at Duck's Nest. Our 2 year old has just recently begun
attending that wonderful haven of care and creativity. What a comfort it was
to return to Duck's Nest with our second child. Like coming home again,( a
chosen home that is). They are wonderfully inspiring, supportive and skilled
at nurturing and directing that magical mix of awe and apprehension our
children bring with them that first day at school.
We've been part of the Duck's Nest community for three years now and really
LOVE IT. My son started as a Gosling (3 year old) and is now a Mandarin (5
year old) and our daughter is a Duckling (2.5). I like to think that I've
been "around the duck pond" for a while. There truly is not a large turnover
of staff...most teachers have been there for several years...a couple for 10
and 11. True some of the aids have left but none in the three years that
we've been there. One teacher did move on last year to a director position in
another school but changes happen everywhere. Here's why we like it:
Our kids feel safe and we feel that they're safe. They come home full of fun
stories and art projects and their clothes prove it. Through play they've
learned about sharing,how to resolve conflict without guilt or blame and our
older child is pretty good at writing and he's learning to read and telltime.
We were drawn to the school because of off of the play based activies and the
fact that the academic stuff got tossed in is a bonus we weren't looking for.
The director, Monika, is very very available.....and I'm not a quiet parent.
I say....go with your gut feeling.
Good Luck,
CorViele
I want to add to the list my daughter's preschool -- Duck's Nest, on Fourth
St. nr Gilman -- which I fell in love with the moment I walked through the
gate. They accept kids who are almost 2 to pre-kindergarten. The cost is
somewhere between CEC and the JCC, on the high end. Right now there are 5
classes. The youngest two groups are in an old house in front they play on
a deck and in a side yard. The place is beautifully kept. The older kids
have rooms beneath the owner's home in the back.
Choosing a preschool (or any school, I imagine) IS a very personal decision.
My four year old son has been at Duck's Nest for year, and he's been
very happy there. As a family we've also enjoyed it, because the other
parents are very congenial and there are many family program, as well as
parent education programs. The physical plant, which is as Stephanie
described it, really made a good impression on me. So many child care
places look rundown, even if clean. Duck's Nest is very well maintained,
even the playyard is cleaned daily. There are lots of trees and plants
for shade and beauty, and the children do some gardening as part of the
curriculum.
Regarding Duck's Nest and industrial accidents, apparently an environmental
impact study was conducted I think at the urging of a neighborhood group. Any
remediations recommended were supposedly done. This is all according to the
Executive Director at Duck's Nest who has lived in the area for 20+ years, if
my memory serves me correctly.
For anyone searching for last minute fall childcare...Duck's Nest Preschool
still has several openings in their youngest "Duckling" class for 2 year
olds. It is a wonderful place. My daughter goes there full time. It's at
1411 Fourth St. near Gilman. 527-0769
my son, nathan went to duck nest on 4th street in berkeley for several
years and we really loved it
My three year old attends Duck's Nest in Berkeley and we couldn't be
happier.
We were and are impressed with the laughter and joy that
fills each classroom and the attention that the teachers give the
children. Each day our son brings home stories, art projects, baked
goodies or new dance steps from the dance teacher.
Duck's Nest in Oakland on Piedmont Av
Dec 2010
In response to your inquiry about Duck's Nest, I wanted to give
some input. My daughter is in her 3rd year at DN and I am
enrolling my younger daughter as well next year. Both will have
begun school there at 2.5 years-old. Our experience has been very
positive and I am puzzled by the more critical recent reviews.
Feb 2010
My son has attended Duck's Nest on Piedmont Ave for 3 yrs (
since he was 3 yrs old) We've been really happy with the
school, teachers, director ( though the director changed
this year, we are happy with the new director as well), and
their response/resolution to any issues with my son. There
is a good balance of full-time and part-time families. If
your child is full-time there would be plenty of children to
interact with in the afternoon. In addition to the regular
classroom teachers, they have another teachers assigned to
the afternoon who is a talented artist and full of
imagination- the children love him. I wouldn't hesitate
enrolling your child!
youngskelle
I cannot recommend Duck'Âs Nest. We enrolled our daughter
into the 2-year old class two years ago and withdrew her
after seven months. Yes, the facilities were beautiful and
we liked the emergent curriculum philosophy. But here'Âs a
look beyond the beautiful exterior:
I cannot recommend Duck's Nest as well, had to chime in.
We enrolled our son in the 3-4 class, he was 3. In
hindsight we should've taken him out of the big kids
class. Duck's Nest is a family-owned business. The
location is beautiful and we liked the philosophy too.
We did not get support from teachers or director when we
thought our child should have been moved (other parents
might be more successful). Please consider if this school
is a good match for your child. Beyond the great facility: My
child was only 3, teachers thought it was detrimental to
keep him at home for such a long period. He hadn't
learned 'rug time/snack time' & other 'qualifying social
skills'. He was like any other kid who loved to play. He
loved to run with the big boys who in turn 'bowled him
over'. He was teased about potty training and picked on
in class time after time.
Oct 2009
My son attends Duck's Nest in Oakland on Piedmont Ave. This is
his 3rd and last year. It's a wonderful preschool. Most of the
teachers have an strong background in early childhood edu and
have been at the school for a long time. There is little teacher
turn over. The classes are project/play based. As is true with
any school, it's all about the right teachers and how they fit
with your child. I've always felt the school director and
teachers listened to any concerns or suggestions I had about the
class or my son. They have also helped our son through some
serious social anxieties. They have one of the best preschool
play yards of all the preschools I visited. If you child is an
explorer, they will love being at Duck's Nest. Lush gardens and
garden teacher, animals in the yard they learn to take care of,
lots of art and science projects. It's a busy school with lots of
kids, but the class sizes never exceed 19 per 3 teachers for the
older classes.
Nov 2007
Our 4yo is in his second year at the Piedmont Ave Duck's Nest
and our 2yo just started there this fall, and we're happy with
it. Nice families, nice teachers, interesting classrooms and
activities, good balance of play and learning, from my
perspective (though I am on the play side of the equation
compared to many people I know). My kids seem to enjoy it. The
teachers in the 2yo class have been especially great with
helping all the kids with their different personalities adjust
to preschool and being away from parents.
Happy mama duck
May 2007
I had the same concerns you do after reading those reviews of
Duck's Nest Piedmont a year or two ago, but we went ahead and
put our son is in the afternoon program at Duck's Nest Piedmont
and he loves it, and so do we. Admittedly, he's not shy, but
there are some in his class who are and they are always nurtured
and included. I haven't seen anything to indicate that the
culture there is any more aggressive than in any other group of
3-5 yos. One of the good things about the afternoon program for
shy kids is that it's a fairly small class, so they get lots of
attention from the teacher and aren't overwhelmed by a bigger
class. The teachers are nice and the program is fantastic; they
do lots of creative stuff, Spanish, dance, sign language. Maybe
ask the director, Laura, if you can come observe the kids on the
playground some day; that might give you a better idea of
whether your daughter will fit in.
Happy mama duck
In response to your question about Duck's Nest on Piedmont: Our
daughter has been at the school for two years and we have been nothing
short of thrilled. The teachers are so caring and thoughtful, and the
parent community is thriving. We have made several true friends
w/other familes and the education my daughter is receiving has been
absolutely spot on. There are many enrichment programs which she has
been able to benefit from; gardening, Spanish, dance, Laurence Hall of
Science regularly visits w/activities for the kids, field trips.
Oct 2006
Oct 2005
My sons both went to Duck's Nest, with my younger one graduating
this past August. During our several years there, I was
impressed with the dedication and knowledge of the teachers and
the involvement of the parents. The parents' association
brought in a lot of great enrichment activities that were
terrific for the children. Both of my children formed strong
friendships and developed a lot during their time at Duck's
Nest. However, I had some concerns about the school.
Our child attended Duck's Nest for one year and after that experience
we wanted to
find another pre-school to complete the experience. On the surface,
Duck's Nest
has a lot to offer: a beautiful play area, a hen, a rabbit, a nice
play structure, cozy
lofts in the classrooms. But in our experience, once you scratched
beneath the
pretty surface, a lot was lacking at the school. To echo some of the
other
respondents' thoughts, the
director seemed not to want to solve any issues and prefered to
attribute any
concerns to something that should be changed at home. Also, during our
tenure at
the school, many children had injuries, some of them quite serious.
One girl broke
her arm after falling from the play structure and another was pushed
off the play
structure by another student. There was a fair amount of aggressive
behavior:
hitting, pinching, scratching, and throwing of sand. The teachers and
the
administrators followed a philosophy of letting the children work out
conflicts on
their own, even if things escalated to the point of physical violence.
In fact, when
asked about the school's response to this sort of behavior, the
director said that
kids will be kids and that hitting and scratching are developmentally
normal.
If
your child is extremely assertive and aggressive, Duck's Nest might be
the place for
him/her. But if your child is at all reserved or can be contemplative
at times, the
place is overwhelming and stressful, not magical and energizing as
other pre-
schools are. Also, the school does not focus on manners, respect, or
kindness. We
found it to be a very aggressive environment in which aggression is
rewarded.
Former Duck's Nest Parent
Thank you for your posting re: Duck's Nest Preschool, on
Piedmont. I wanted to address some of the issues you brought up
in your posting. First, communication with parents. This year
we have added voice-mail for teachers, and have increased our
emails to parents re: upcoming events at Duck's Nest. Teachers
also post a monthly calendar, and write a daily open journal to
chronicle events and fill parents in on upcoming events.
Secondly, the student-teacher ratio. It is true our school is
larger than some, but we take great pride in the fact that our
student-teacher ratio is well within licensing guidelines; in
fact it surpasses those guidelines. Our large yard allows
plenty of gross motor activities many smaller programs cannot
offer, and we make certain the supervision is excellent.
Lastly, I would like to clarify that we have now adjusted our
enrollment process so that in almost every circumstance, we can
now accomodate children until they are five and can attend
public or private kindergarten.
Laura Lundy-Paine, Director
I have read the Ducks Nest postings with interest-some agreement
and some disagreement. After 3 years in their program, I feel
we've had enough experience to offer an opinion.
Our kids attended DNPA for 2 years. There were some wonderful
teachers, but at least 3 left during our tenure. However, our
concerns were mostly about communication and behavior problems.
Two straightforward communication problem examples: First, a
teacher was fired on school's last day; she had told kids she
was looking forward to seeing them in her class after vacation!
Secondly, the already high tuition went up 15% without notice.
Our main concerns had to do with behavior problems. Early on, 1
child had an undiagnosed ear infection – the teachers expressed
enormous anxiety about his sudden bad behavior. The infection
treated, the behavior stopped. I remember thinking they had been
quick to diagnose behavioral issues. Then our 2nd child had a
very difficult phase; the worst was that she bit a child. It was
awful and very hard on everyone, of course including the
teachers. The staff communicated a high anxiety level but gave
virtually no practical help. One day, the most anxious teacher
handed me a list of my child's observed behaviors, with nothing
positive listed. The other teacher told me, “We think that
something must be going on at home.” The administrator told me
she was very concerned about my daughter and encouraged us to
get professional help. I became very anxious and we went to a
child psychiatrist who assured us that my child was OK. We ended
up moving our kids for multiple reasons, including these
concerns about communication, cost and how behavior problems
were dealt with. Our experience with behavior issues is
different than some of the other post! ings -- I think this is
because there had been a biting incident the year before by
another child and the parents of the child who was bitten
threatened to sue the school. A few months after that, my child
went through her very difficult behavior, and I think the
teachers and administration came down very hard, fearing a
repeat of the previous lawsuit threat. In any case, there are
some wonderful things about the school, but ultimately it was
not worth the very high tuition for us. We have several friends
whose kids are still there, and are very happy. I guess
everyone's experiences are different, adults and kids both.
Former parent
Sept. 2003
Our daughter just started at Duck's Nest this fall in the
youngest class (Ducklings), so our knowledge is limited. That
being said-- we could not be more delighted with the care she
is receiving. Her teachers are experienced, loving and
sensitive to the needs of all the children. Our daughter has
had considerable difficulty adjusting to new care situations in
the past; but she has looked forward to arriving at Duck's Nest
since her first day there, and has not even cried at morning
drop-off time since the second day. We are amazed at how easy
this transition was compared to previous ones, and give her
teachers full credit.
Nov. 2002
Duck's Nest on Piedmont Ave. in Oakland has an afternoon program
called ''Newn Ducks'' that you might want to investigate. Both of
my kids have attended Duck's Nest and we are pleased with the
teachers and enrichment programs.
- Parent
Sept. 2002
I would like to recommend the Duck's Nest on Piedmont ave in
Oakland. We recently moved to Danville & it was with great
sorrow we moved our daughter to another school after 1 year and
a half (she started at 2.)
June 2002
My daughter attends Duck's Nest preschool on Piedmont Ave. in Oakland,
which comes very close to meeting all of your playground
requirements. The school has a large and lovely outdoor space, with a
nice wooden play structure and swings over bark chips, a paved area
where kids can ride trikes, a nice garden that the children help tend,
a large covered sandbox, a covered deck with a nice bench for quiet
times, and tables in shaded areas for eating lunch and doing arts and
crafts. The play area is completely enclosed by a 6-foot wood fence
and fronts a quiet street next to Mountain View Cemetary (which the
kids call ''The Meadow'' and which is a frequent destination for
afternoon walks). There's even a rabbit and a chicken in the yard,
whom the kids help feed and care for. The school is also one of the
few true preschools that has a program for 2-year-olds (with a
wonderful teacher, whom my now 3-year-old still adores and ''visits''
frequently). The only thing I'm not totally sure about is
''unrestricted'' access to the yard. The kids do spend a LOT of time
out there, but I think that may be during designated times in the
morning; the afternoon is much looser. Still, the school seems quite
accomodating of individual needs, so I'm sure that if unrestricted
outside time was a requirement, they would work with you on that (I'm
pretty sure there's always at least one teacher outside at any given
time.) Good luck! Leah
Duck's Nest in Oakland (at the top of Piedmont Avenue) has a great
outside play area. In fact, that was the deciding factor for me when
choosing a preschool for my two children. They have swings and a
trapeze bar, a large wooden play structure, a concrete area for bike
and scooter riding, a garden with covered gazebo, covered wooden
porch, and covered sand play area. The children play outside year
round and the teachers are good about sunscreen and drinking water.
(There's a water cooler and cups outside.) The fences are high so the
area is private and the school is on a one-way street that is only
busy during the drop off and pick up times at Duck's Nest. The
children spend a lot of time outside, although I'm not sure a child
could spend the ENTIRE day outside due to other fun activities going
on inside as well. The children usually eat lunch inside as well, so
they can sit on chairs at a table. This might be what you're looking
for. It's definitely the best outside set up of any preschool I
looked at (and I looked at a lot!) Good luck with your search!
Oct 2001
I highly recommend Duck's Nest Preschool at the foot of Piedmont Avenue.
My older son started there soon after he turned two and my younger son will
be starting after his second birthday. It's a developmental school in the
best sense, with the most wonderful teachers. We also have a great community
of involved parents.
Sheryl
Foreign Language Program at Duck's Nest
May 2010
Duck's Nest offers both Spanish and French, but these programs are optional.
There is an additional cost, and the children leave their classroom to go to
another room for the instruction.
A former DN parent.
Our son has thrived at Duck's Nest. One of his amazing
teachers is from France and taught the kids how to sing a
French lullaby and make crepes. The formal lanuage program
at Duck's Nest includes classess in Spanish and French
taught twice a week by the school's language teacher.
While the classes are good, I think the schools real
stength is in its diverse teaching staff, who naturally
teach the kids about different lanauges and cultures.
Happy DN parent
I have a child enrolled at Ducks Nest West Berkeley.
Foreign language costs an extra $40 or 45 dollars per month
for an hour a week. While this is a great preschool for
many reasons, I can't say that language has been a strength at
Ducks Nest for our child; more likely it's been their weakest link.
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