Berkeley Parents Network: Hearts Leap Preschool

Berkeley Parents Network

Hearts Leap Preschool

Berkeley Parents Network > Reviews > Preschools > Hearts Leap Preschool

Reviews of Hearts Leap
Hearts Leap Bridge K Program

February 2006

We are looking at preschools for my 2 year old daughter. I would love any feedback about Heart's Leap School. Thanks! lg

It feels like only yesterday that I myself posted for feedback about Hearts Leap. Now my child has been there for almost three years, and I'm dreading the day when she graduates and goes off to kindergarten. The short answer is, yes, it's a wonderful school. The teachers are incredibly loving and creative, and I've been very happy with everything about my child's experience. I was specifically looking for a play-based school for my spirited child, and she has grown socially, intellectually, and emotionally with the support of her amazing teachers. I should also add that I've seen very shy, reserved children do very well at HL, since the staff really approach each child on his or her own terms. I believe it has become more difficult to get a spot in the years we have been there, so if you can get in, I highly recommend coming to HL.
super happy HL parent

April 2005

I have heard nothing but great things about these preschool programs (Gay Austin vs Ducks Nest (Brkly) vs Hearts Leap) and am not sure how to go about comparing them. Is anyone familiar enough with these three programs to be able to identify their relative strengths/weaknesses? I am looking for a program for a two year old. Thank you.

I don't know about the other schools, but Heart's Leap is currently VERY competitive to get into for 2-year-olds. We live nearby and liked the school a lot. We applied this year for our 2-year-old daughter and there were about 40 applicants for eight openings (there were a lot of siblings this year, who automatically get in). We had to bring our daughter in for ''observed play'' and fill out a questionairre about her, plus sit through what felt like an personal interview with the director and assistant director. No other school that we applied to had such an onerous process. Your question regarding Heart's Leap isn't ''should'' you go there, but ''could'' you. It's hard to get in (although I have heard that the older classes are less competitive). Heart's Leap Reject

March 2004

Any current parents of Heart's Leap kids out there, who want to tell us what you think about the place? Most of the extant reviews are from before the change in ownership. Contact me directly if you want. Thanks-- Heidi

Hi, I'll reply to the list for this one in case other parents have questions about Heart's Leap, but I'll include my email if you have specific questions and want to contact me directly. My daughter is in the 2's program at Heart's Leap, and we have been incredibly happy with the program. My highest priority for a preschool was warm, caring teachers with a philosophy towards play-based learning, discipline, and social interactions that matched my own. I could not be more satisfied with our choice of Heart's Leap, because the teachers are loving, patient, creative, and amazing with the kids. The children are always engaged in great activities and mine comes home with wonderful stories about how she has spent her day. The program has been a great match for my determined, strong-willed, social kid, and I really appreciate the ability of the teachers to encourage kids to 'use words' and develop conflict resolution skills. My sister has occasionally dropped my daughter off at school, and she always comments that all the teachers at the school know my daughter's name and greet her in the halls. It has been an exceptional place for us, and I would recommend it whole-heartedly. Please contact me at the email address below if I can tell you anything else. kmm

Hearts Leap Bridge K Program

Dec 2007

My son attended the Bridge K program (Oak Room) at Hearts Leap School last year and we fell in love with the school. The teachers are warm and attentive; the community is strong, supportive, and welcoming; and the administrator (Ellie) is responsive, organized, and diligent. The school is really out-of-the-way for us since live in Upper Rockridge. After visiting other schools, however, I couldn't imagine sending my younger one anywhere else. Since she started in September, my daughter's language skills have exploded, her social skills have grown significantly, and her love of music, dance and yoga (yes, yoga!), have been nurtured. I feel very lucky to be part of the Hearts Leap Community. Happy Parent

May 2007

I asked for feedback on Heart's Leap's Bridge K program a couple months ago, and didn't hear back from anyone currently in it or with a recently graduated child. I'd love some updated comments from what's archived on BPN. Any thoughts on pluses and minuses for a late-fall-birthday boy would be great. My understanding is that the management of the school was recently taken over by ICRI. How has that changed things for the good or better? Thanks for any thoughts and info you have . . . Holly

My daughter attended the Hearts Leap Bridge-K program last year. She has a late October birthday and we elected to keep her at Hearts Leap for an extra year even though she did in many ways appear ready for kindergarten. We have never regreted it--the teachers were just fabulous and to this day I miss HLS very much. The community of children and parents in the Oak Room (as it is known at Hearts Leap) is strong and is very much fostered by the teachers and administration. The ''curriculum'' is creative and challenging and keeps them well engaged through the year. It also prepares them thoroughly for the first year of elementary school. So much so that all three HLS graduates at my daughter's school are now in an accelerated math program! The school was taken over by ICRI several years ago and they have brought a good sense of organization and vision to the school after a difficult beginning. We were very pleased with everyone we met over our three years at Hearts Leap. My son went to a different preschool and while I would say that too was an oustanding program, Hearts Leap has a unique and remarakble approach to early childhood education. Good luck with your choice. saskia

My daughter isn't in the Bridge K program, but she is finishing up her third year at Heart's Leap. From all I know from parents of Bridge-K kids, the program is first-rate and the kids are very happy. The school is terrific in general--you couldn't find a more dedicated and nurturing group of teachers, and the parent community is pretty cool as well. No complaints either about the new management which took over in 2003, the year before our kid entered the school. heidi

My daughter is currently in the Hearts Leap Bridge K program and this year has been wonderful for her. She loves school and has grown tremendously socially, emotionally and academically. The two teachers are fabulous with the children. They are very experienced, love kids and create a warm and inviting classroom that kids thrive in. The program is very rich, full of field trips, library trips, yoga, and cooking. A lot of creative artwork is done in the class, the teachers play music, the children sing, and right now the class is practicing a play they will perform soon. I've found the staff and the administration to be excellent. I don't know how things were before Fall '06 but the school is well managed currently. Jennifer

Our son is currently in the Heart's Leap Bridge-K program and we love it. It is a small, cozy, wonderful place for someone who needs one more year of pre-school. The community is amazing (not just in the Bridge-K classroom, but throughout the school). The teachers are warm, patient, and really know their stuff. I'm not familiar with the past administration, but the current Director (Ellie) is excellent. Good luck! Polly

March 2007

Does anyone have recent feedback on the Heart's Leap Bridge K program? My son currently attends another preschool, which we love, but if I decide to wait a year on kindergarten (he has a late September birthday), I'd like to find a new environment for him for that ''extra'' year. If you have specific feedback about teachers, play space, and classroom activities, I'd love to hear it. My son is quite bright but is somewhat shy and slow to warm to new situations, so if you can comment on teachers' ability to handle this kind of kid, that would be great too. Plus, what is the current tuition like and how much does it tend to go up each year? Thanks very much for sharing! Holly

My daughter used to go to Hearts Leap. Although she did not go into the Bridge K program, the few families I talked to were very, very happy with it. I also know a family who had their child there last year and whose daughter is now in K. They, too, were very happy with it. I don't know if the teachers are the same, but they were in very good standing with the HL community. One of them, I believe, was an interim director for a while. They really seemed together and to care very much for the children. This was true of all of the HL teachers, in my opinion. k12mcc

Re: Pre-K Progams for December Birthday (Oct 2005)
HeartsLeap on College Ave ( at the Julia Morgan Center) has a true pre K program (they call it bridge K). It is designed for kids who are just a bit too young for kindergarten but ready to move on from pre school. The class is 12-13 kids and two teachers. sara

Jan 2004

Does anyone have experience with a fairly new program at Heart's Leap for kids that just miss the age cut off for public school kindergarten? I think they call it their transition program or developmental kindergarten program. Thank you! Parent

In response to the question about the ''Bridge K'' program at Hearts Leap: Our son was not in the program, but the two teachers who created it (and continue to teach it) were my son's teachers for three years at Hearts Leap, and they are superb. I have been in that classroom several times this year (we have a daughter in the ''2s'' class there), and it seems like a wonderful space, where the kids are getting kindergarten-level educational input in a softer, pre-school environment. if it was age-appropriate for one of my kids, I would do it in a heartbeat (or is it Hearts Beat?) aj

I currently have a son in the Heart's Leap Bridge-K program, for kids of kindergarten age, but not going to kindergarten for any of a number of reasons.

Frankly, the program has not been all I had hoped. One of the things I'm least happy about is the physical facility. The classroom is small, and far from the play-yard. And the play-yard itself is very small for an active bunch of 5 yr olds... no room to play ball or run. I knew this in advance, but decided to ignore it. I think it is a problem for my son.

I'm somewhat disappointed with the classroom teachers. My son and a friend of his have been having some interpersonal problems with another child, and the communication between the classroom teachers and the parents has been too little, too late, and somewhat critical of us. I can go into more detail off the list.

Nevertheless, I still think it was a good decision to wait a year for kindergarten. The school offers a good selection of enrichment programs, like movement, Spanish, and frequent field trips. I consider these a necessity, given the meager facility of the school. Lynn

My son has been enrolled in the Bridge K program at Hearts Leap this year and is thriving. He has benefitted from the small class size of 12 students and from the nurturing and stimulating classroom activities.The program is a true bridge between preschool and kindergarten and gives those students who need the extra time, for intellectual, emotional or social reasons, the opportunity to develop the confidence needed to enter kindergarten. The program offers a rich curriculum supplemented by twice weekly Spanish classes, a music and movement class, monthly trips to Lawrence Hall of Science for classes, a partner program in dramatic arts with the Julia Morgan Center right next door, as well as field trips to Ardenwood, the Oakland Museum, Mrs. Grossman's Sticker Factory. The class is led by two very experienced teachers with backgrounds in both early childhood and elementary education. Hearts Leap will be holding an Open House on Saturday January 31st, with applications available for next year.
A Happy Hearts Leap Parent

2003

August 2003

We are contemplating sending our very active 3 year old son to Hearts Leap Preschool. We are concerned that the outdoor area might be too small and juvenile for our child who loves large slides and climbing structures. We liked the teachers, the student teacher ratio and the indoor space. I am also concerned that the program might be too unstructured for him. He would be in after school program until 5:30 on most days and we don't know if only a few kids stay. The last posting was in the fall 2002. Does anyone have recent experience who could answer my questions? Thanks

Heart's Leap is a great place for the kids who will be happy there. My best friend taught there and told tales of many joy- filled days. You should ''trust your antenna'', as my mother told me when I was looking for daycare 20 years ago. I haven't regretted following her advice because daycare was the most powerful formative experience my child had outside of her relationship to me. If you feel doubts, keep looking. Go back to Heart's Leap again. Maybe your child can spend a few hours there and you can observe. Go to other places your friends recommend. This is a big decision, worth a lot of research. You won't be comfortable for a minute if you don't trust that your child is in the right place. Linda

My active 5 year old son is beginning his third year at Heart's Leap and has found that the play ground and nearby Willard Park satisfy his need for movement and activities. The teachers and the school have been a terrific fit for our family and we look forward to sending his 2 year old sister there next year. happy heartsleap parent

Your posting really resonated with me...we had a very active 3 yr old boy in their program last year. H.L. has a very impressive and diverse program, which in many ways is unbeatable. They offer dance/movement, music, theatre arts, and creative art. My son loved it. However, I believe the class room environment was too unstructured in many ways, which brought about huge behavioral issues at home. The teachers were observant, responsive and quick to introduce new things to the program that would engage my son(and other active boys in the class) like more nature, science and math activities. Overall, I was very impressed with H.L. despite some of my frustrations. Your welcome to email me. maya

I have 3 VERY active kids at Hearts Leap right now and they're in the full time program from 8-5:30 5 days a week. We have really loved the program overall and our kids have really thrived there. My son is 4.5 yrs and extremely athletic, and the teachers have been great at devising activities in the play yard that really wear the kids out - they dig long trenches in the sand and fill them with water to make rivers, climb, jump, play frisbee, soccer, etc. We also have twin girls there who are 2.5 years and are very happy and doing wonderfully.

You mentioned that you're concerned about the lack of structure but that's not something I've felt about the program and I always tend to lean towards more structure. The classes have a pretty clear schedule of activities (reading, circle time, outdoor play, creative play indoors, snack time, nap time, etc.) When you look at the whole schedule for the entire day it ends up being quite a lot. The afternoon program doesn't have as many set activities because it just gets really exhausting for the kids who are there all day long. I know my kids are pretty tired by the end of the day. Feel free to send me an email if you have any more questions. Cameron

Re: Preschool for a spirited child (Jan. 2003)
Your daughter sounds a lot like three of my daughter's best friends at Heart's Leap. These are not my children, but I've seen them up close for three years and have been impressed with how the teachers have both encouraged these girls to be who they are and helped them learn limits. As you mention, the program at Heart's Leap is great. The new owners (they've been there about a year) are organized. The teachers are experienced and nurturing and they see each child for who they are. When we were choosing a preschool, we had Heart's Leap and Duck's Nest (two blocks from *our* house) as the options. I was attracted to Duck's Nest partly for the sign language, by the way. At Heart's Leap, though, my daughter has loved movement, yoga, Spanish, and arts enrichment. We're very happy to have been part of Heart's Leap -- especially so in this last year, when the school community has been extraordinary. I recommend Heart's Leap very highly. Happy Heart's Leap Parent

2002

October 2002

I must recommend(highly) Chris and Carlotta at Hearts Leap school (2638 College and Derby in the Julia Morgan Center). They made my son feel very special, loved and cared for everyday with lots of hugs, a calm voice and caring hands. Call Eli the director for openings at 549-1422. Maya

I can heartily and happily recommend Hearts Leap presechool. My 3 yr old son is there and I've seen him learn and blossom wonderfully. There have been a lot of changes there this year - new ownership, some staff turnover (only in his class), but the head teacher in his class has provided real stability for the kids as well as a stimulating, play-based, gently-structured environment. The building is beautiful - the 3 upstairs classrooms have high high ceilings and wood floors, the yard is good (if a little shady)- and the new folks running the school (International Childrens Resource Institute: icri.org) are great. I'm happy to share more specifics if you want to email me. Jill

Wanted to add to my enthusiastic posting of several months ago since there has been a recent change of ownership at the school (located in the Julia Morgan building on College Ave). Hearts Leap is now owned and run by the International Child Resource Institute (www.icrichild.org). The new owners are WONDERFUL, and very well organized. The program will run year-round starting in July, and includes the option of an afternoon program full of great activities. If you are interested, call soon (510-549-1422) as I understand spaces are filling quickly. Also, if you have specific questions, don't hesitate to email me. Sooz

July 2002

Re: Preschools that use the Reggio Emilia approach
You might want to talk to Ellie (director) or Jackie (teacher) at Hearts Leap Preschool on College in Berkeley. They are not fully Reggio Emilia, but they incorporate a lot of the Reggio Emilia practices into their program. Jackie has lots of great ideas and is very excited about the Reggio program. Sara

March 2002

I would like any feedback about Heart's Leap preschool in the Julia Morgan theater building, especially people who currently have kids there. I know the school just went through a big transition and I'd like to hear an inside report on how things are going. I'm thinking of putting my 2-year-old there starting in September (he'll be 2y9mos). He'd be in the 3-year-old room with Chris. I want to find a school where he can stay till kindergarten, so I'm interested in the classes for older kids too. THANKS. Looking Before Leaping

Heart's Leap has indeed gone through a big transition, and the results have all been good. The teachers at Heart's Leap have always been terrific--in the past, they were the reason to choose the school. They were and are creative, committed, and always alert to the children's best interests. Now the new administration is backing that up with stable management, fiscal responsibility, and an eye on the future. The teachers seem happier than in the past, the children have new opportunities for enrichment, and the afterschool program offers many more age-appropriate activities than it ever did. We're only sorry that our child will be ''graduating'' at a time when the school appears to be becoming golden. A Heart's Leap Parent

Feb. 2002

We are considering Giggles (Oakland) and Heart's Leap (Berkeley) preschools for our child. There is some information listed in the archives, but Heart's Leap recently changed ownership and I only found one comment on Giggles. Any recent experiences that you can share, either positive or negative, regarding either school would be greatly appreciated. Anonymous replies okay. Laurie I can heartily and happily recommend Hearts Leap presechool. My 3 yr old son is there and I've seen him learn and blossom wonderfully. There have been a lot of changes there this year - new ownership, some staff turnover (only in his class), but the head teacher in his class has provided real stability for the kids as well as a stimulating, play-based, gently-structured environment. The building is beautiful - the 3 upstairs classrooms have high high ceilings and wood floors, the yard is good (if a little shady)- and the new folks running the school (International Childrens Resource Institute: icri.org) are great. I'm happy to share more specifics if you want to email me. Jill

2001

Oct 2001

To the parent seeking a preschool for her 2-yr.-old next fall: check out Hearts Leap School, in the Julia Morgan Center on College Avenue in Berkeley. They have a "2's" class for kids who are 2 by Sept. 1 (actually, this year, there are two 2's classes--one for older 2's and one for younger 2's). Potty training is not a requirement. Pam 2001

Admittedly, the school appears to be a bit organizationally challenged ... but amidst the flurry of paperwork and at times less-then-ideal planning is a warm, receptive, stimulating, and loving environment. My son LOVES going to school and comes home every day singing a new song, telling favorite passages or phrases from a new book, excited about in-class projects, eager to see his friends, etc, etc. The teachers are extremely attentive, and give me lots of feedback /anecdotes about my son's time spent there. Overall, I'd say we're really very happy with the school, and also with the other families we've met. Sooz

The new posting about Hearts Leap prompted me to write, especially since I know many parents are making decisions about where their children will be in preschool next year. I was not happy with my child's experience there and opted for another preschool after a year.

Though I say this with some hesitation, I could not recommend Heartsleap. I think there are several problems there. The director has many good ideas, but I don't think they are that well carried out. There is a lot of disorganization. The building is not ideally set up--entry and exit through the one cluttered and narrow hallway always made me nervous about how they would evacuate in any emergency.

But most telling, many of the warmest and most imaginative teachers have recently left. I want my kids to be cuddled and played with. The teachers I saw in action were responsible and competent but not particularly warm. Of course, the children and families I encountered there were very nice. Perhaps others will want to share a different perspective. Anon

I too had a very bad experience with Heartleep PreSchool. We were not admitted although I called a year before I wanted my son to go (September 2000) at that time I was told that they did not maintain a waiting list and that I should attend a parent visitation session in January 2001. I attended the session, filled out an application on the spot, paid my application fee and waited. I was given a date that I would hear by, I let that date pass and then called. I was given the run around, but finally spoke to someone who told me that we were not selected and that we were very far down the list though she wouldn't tell me how far down. I finally spoke to the director who was rude and contradictory. She told me that we hadn't gotten in because there were people who had been on the list since birth, when I questioned this since I had been told that they did not maintain a list and I wasn't even given an application until January she became defensive and couldn't really respond or answer my questions. I was then told that I would receive a letter asking if I would like to remain on the waiting list (that was supposed to happen in February) well I'm still waiting. My overall impression was of disorganization, murky admission guidelines and a crowded space. Needless to say we will be attending another school.

2000

On Hearts Leap . . . I have two sons, ages 4 (almost) and 6. My six year old went to Hearts Leap for two and one half years and my 4 year old is in his second year there. Hearts Leap offers an incredible program for preschoolers as well as pre-kindergartners and the community of families there is icing on the cake! The enrichment programs are wonderful, and the emerging curriculum produces a dynamic learning environment that the kids really get into, ponder and explore. I think my older son's experience was better than my younger son's -- a combination of a number of things, teachers, class size, his temperment, etc. I believe Lois Cotrell is teaching kindergarten next year. If so, you are in luck--she is fantastic. If you want more information, send me your phone number and I will call you.
Andrea

Our daughter goes there now, and will likely be going to the kindergarten next year. We switched from another school (see previous posting) and are *very* happy. Pros: very involved parents, very good teachers, resource-rich school with lots of great things to do, nice back yard, nice way they've set up the afternoon care to involve a mixed-age grouping with several teachers to make it feel like a real community with a number of different adults and kids who know and care about your kid. Cons: Not a lot of African-Americans or latinos, not a lot of class diversity, although there is some, also it's pretty big for a preschool, it feels like a real *school* so it is a little harder for me to think about sending our 2-year-old there.
Allison

1999

My daughter went to Hearts Leap for two years, when she was between 3 and 5 (the two years before she started kindergarten). She is now eight so it's been several years since she went to Hearts Leap.

She started preschool at Ducks Nest down on 4th St. because Hearts Leap was full the first year we applied. But her second year of preschool, we were offered a place at Hearts Leap and gladly took it.

I thought the program at Hearts Leap was absolutely wonderful. I feel that the director, Judy Jones, really knows her stuff when it comes to children. She hires excellent staff and creates wonderful physical environments for the children. My daughter started at the Talbot St. site, which was a house. It was wonderful, and though we were disappointed by the move to the Julia Morgan Center, it turned out that Judy was so creative in using the space there (at the JMC), that she turned large rooms with high ceilings into lots of cozy little child-sized areas.

Last year I saw one of the teachers, Linda, who was there the year my daughter was 3. She was one of my favorite teachers (I think she's in the 2's room now). Kathryn, my daughter, just loved her, and seeing Linda brought back all of those warm feelings that I had for her and for Hearts Leap.

The one sort of down side of the school was that the business end of the school was not Judy's strong point. Parents who were looking at the school were often frustrated because she didn't return their phone calls in a timely matter, and for awhile she had no office help. I don't know whether she has improved her operation on that score.

I am to this day, still impressed by Judy's "vision" for the school. Though vision is an overused word these days, I have come to realize the value of the director having a "vision" for his/her school and being able to implement it. Judy has that vision and at least when we were there implemented it though the curriculum, physical space, and staff that she hired.

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