RLS will have an opening in the Penguin Room (4 year olds) in December 2012/January 2013 because our family is moving out of the area and, sadly, we are leaving the RLS family. My son started at RLS in the Monkey Room (3 year olds) last year and has thrived there. He has made great friends with both the teachers and children alike. The school has been a happy and inspiring place for him with lots of creative art, science and craft projects to choose from. They also have wonderful music and movement classes that our son really enjoys. The teachers really connect with the kids and seem to truly love their work. We are sad to leave RLS, and know our son will really miss his teachers and friends. If you are interested in learning more about RLS, please contact the Director, Holly Gold, at 510-420-1200.

Re: Spaces left in a nursery school that accepts 24 mo
Rockridge Little School on Taft is a charming pre-school that accepts 24 month old's. My son is 3 and is having a wonderful time at the school. The teachers are gems - they are very warm and diverse. The space is cozy and ample, toys are multi-sensory. There is always art, sports and circle time; they had near daily science projects going a few months ago which i hope continue. You might want to talk to the owner Holly about affording tuition Holly@rockridgelittleschool.com. It's worth it if you can swing it. happy mom

Our twin toddlers began attending Rainbow School on Taft Street in 2010. It was a great facility run by an experienced woman who had been there for several years. She had established the program as one if the best in the area. Following her retirement earlier this year, Rockridge Little School assumed control, and my wife and I are thrilled with the new management and their approach to early childhood education. Heather, the new Director, has an enthusiastic, warm, caring and engaging approach that our children have responded to extremely well. There are a multitude of creative and educational activities going on throughout the day, and the teachers (some of whom remained from the former program) are diverse, talented and compassionate. I can't recommend the school highly enough, and by all means shoot me an email if I can provide more information. Thank you.
fkaynor

Hi -- Please let me know your opinion/thoughts on the Rockridge Little School. I'm interested in hearing about experiences on both campuses. For those of you at the Taft location, has there been any difficulty with the transition? Thanks! Liz

The kids were all happy in both locations too, no doubt because the teachers are so wonderful. The Taft location also has the wonderful benefit of having a male teacher, who was lively and sweet and clearly adored by all the little ones. There's a good mix of older and younger teachers, too, which provides a well-roundedness. The ratio seems pretty high too - each of the teachers was able to take some time to speak with me, calmly and thoroughly, without their kids being unattended. I was impressed by their thoughtfulness and experience, and an overall feeling of calm - everyone just seemed really happy to be there.

I know there are openings at the Taft location, and I would highly recommend the school. Good luck! RLS fan

Re: Any preschool openings or short wait lists?
Rockridge Little School, a dynamic play-based preschool, has added a second school - also in Rockridge, which has some openings. The original school is on College Avenue (next to Dryers) and the new school (Formerly The Rainbow School) is located on Taft right off Broadway.

Both schools are happy and inspiring places - the kind you don't ever want to leave. They are comfortable and inviting, and the teachers (and kids) are interesting and engaged! There is a great selection of creative art, science and craft projects to choose from. Both schools have wonderful music classes, great dramatic play areas, sand play areas (indoors and outdoors), all sorts of building materials, great libraries, nice play structures with slides and gardens. The teachers love the kids, and they love their work, and their approach is consistently inspired. The kids are never bored. The teachers encourage kids to stand up for themselves and identify their feelings and needs and feel a sense of belonging with their friends at school.

Please check out the website at www.rockridgelittleschool.com. College Avenue School (420-1200)takes ages 2.8 yrs to 5 yrs. Taft Avenue School (658-2034) takes ages 2 yrs to 5yrs (and may have limited immediate openings too). A Former RLS Parent

I am writing to recommend Rockridge Little School on College Avenue which has a few openings for the 4 year old Penguin room in the fall.

My daughter was in the Monkey room (3 year olds) last year and is a Penguin (4 year olds) this year. Since the second day of school, she leaps out of the car each morning to run inside. School days, she says, are her favorite days of the week. Why do I think that is? Based on what I know from my visits to the school and compulsive reading of the daily blog the teachers maintain so parents can learn about their kids' days, it's a combination of the creativity the teachers inspire, the variety of activities available and focus on letting each kid shine in their own unique way.

I chose the school because upon visiting for the first time, it felt like our home. Bright, busy, the right combination of neat and mess (the kind that shows there is a lot going on under supervision), happy children and engaged adults. The teachers across the board have been engaged and friendly and brought out a level of confidence I am proud to have seen blossom in my daughter. The curriculum is play based and it's fun to read on the blog the origin of each project. One week the kids are building a city based on a recent vacation. Another painting their own museum based on a book someone else brought in. The school has also had a steady stream of visiting teachers who bring dance, yoga and language to the kids. Our family couldn't be happier with RLS! Stacy

I would like to hear updated reviews about Rockridge Little School, particularly the 3-year old classroom, as I understand that the teachers there are new this year. Thank you in advance. Anon

I am writing to recommend Rockridge Little School in Oakland's Rockridge area which has a couple of openings for the fall of 2011. My four year old son has been there for a year and a half and he has loved his experience there. He is always happy to go to school in morning, and I attribute that to the warmth of the teachers and the variety of activities he can engage in on a daily basis. Being an elementary school teacher myself, I have high expectations for my son's teachers. At RLS the teachers have definitely impressed me. They are friendly and patient. They engage the students in fun and educational projects that stem from the interests of the kids. For example, many of the students have been interested in building, so one teacher has helped them to create buildings, towns, bridges, etc out of recycled materials. Other teachers have them planting, looking at insects with magnifying glasses, or creating art collages just to name a few. Everyday there are new creative opportunities. They also have rotating guest teachers who come in to teach the kids various types of dance, music, yoga, and more. Parents and grandparents are encouraged but not pressured to come in to read a story, lead a project, or share a cultural tradition. My family has had a wonderful experience there and will be sad to say goodbye at the end of this school year. Kate

Re: Oakland/Berkeley Preschools with Caring Teachers
Dear Carrie, All of your requirements sound reasonable! I would suggest that you check out Rockridge Little School http://www.rockridgelittleschool.com/ located on College Avenue near Claremont Ave. Our son attended for two years, he is now in 1st grade, and our daughter attends presently. There is a lot to love at RLS. The teachers are caring and funny, and promote independence for our toddler. They are also always ready to provide loving comfort when needed. The school is small, so it is not loud and chaotic and your child will never be lost in the fray. The size of the school- two classrooms of about 22 kids allows you to get to know the other children in your child's class and their parents. Every morning the little ones do fabulous art and sensory projects, and there is a lot of creative play- dress up etc as well. When I pick my daughter up she is well rested from her nap, and always deeply engaged in play with a group of children outdoors. I cannot say enough about how much fun our daughter has at this school, and how happy I have been, (now in my third year there!) with our kids level of engagement in all of the activities at the school. There is also an enrichment program which adds dance, mandarin and yoga to their curriculuum on a rotating basis. Lastly, the school has a super blog which is updated daily to include the books your child read, the activities they did and photographs. This has transformed the question of 'what did you do today at school' to a richer conversation that begins with 'so you read about scuba divers today, what did you think about that?' etc. At least three of the teachers speak spanish, and sing in spanish as well. Best of luck with your search! Elizabeth

Re: Son's dairy and gluten allergies at preschool?
Hi, I saw your post and wanted to respond. My son has severe allergies to tree nuts and eggs. I would like to recommend his preschool, Rockridge Little School on College Avenue in Oakland. We are in our third year there (as my son has late fall birthday) and am extremely pleased with the way they have handled his food allergies. No nuts of any kind are allowed on the premises, and all the parents, grandparents, caregivers are notified of this. The teachers are very sensitive to his allergies. They go out of their way to make sure he never feels left out. He has special treats in the freezer for birthdays. He is able to eat the snacks they provide for morning snack and I provide his lunch. Please feel free to email me if you'd like to discuss further. I give Rockridge Little School the highest praise for their sensitivity, open communication, and most of all, the opportunit for my son to be able to have a ''normal'' preschool experience. Elena

Rockridge Little School is one of the options for our 3 year old son for next fall. I have not had the time to do a ton of research because we were out of the area, but I wanted to get some feedback on Rockridge Little School. Thank you Anon

Re: OAK Pre-school recommendations for confused mom
Our son went to Rockridge Little School, a play based preschool located on College Avenue across the street from Barclay. They are renting a section of a church including a small backyard, where kids can have access to outdoor. Being at the church was great, since it allowed them to use a much larger room upstairs time to time. However, the church regularly provides some kind of service to homeless people, who at times sit/eat/sleep right at the entrance of the preschool when kids arrive and leave. Some of them would use the front yard area to relieve themselves occasionally. But we did not hear any of them being a real threat or disturbance to kids/staff/parents while our son was there.

Overall, we had a great experience there.

Re: finding a preschool in December
Hi Anonymous parent of 2 year old twins,

I am writing to let you know that my son attends a wonderful preschool, Rockridge Little School and that you have not yet missed the deadline for fall 2010. Tours are beginning this week and I would very strongly encourage you to visit the school, or at least call the director, Holly Gold, at 510 420-1200, so that she can address any questions you might have. I clearly remember that choosing the right school for my son was a daunting process. I went on several tours and saw a number of places that for a variety of reasons, did not seem like a good fit.

This all changed when I walked through the doors of RLS. I immediately got a god feeling about the school and the way it was being run. My son is thriving there and I am really pleased that my first impressions have translated into such positive experiences for our whole family. Holly is an approachable and engaged director, the teachers are lovely and genuinely care about the children and in addition to all the inspiring art projects and imaginative play, there is singing, dancing and storytelling galore, not to mention a gaggle of very happy kids and their parents.

I hope this helps and good luck with making the right choice.

We are writing in to recommend Rockridge Little School for pre-school. In the frenzy for finding the right preschool for our very social, outgoing 2.9 year old boy last year, we looked at a lot of schools in the Berkeley/North Oakland Area. Some were too serious for us, some not structured enough. Of all the schools we looked at, my partner and I soon decided that RLS was our first choice. We like the atmosphere, the way that the teachers and staff interacted with children and the way they communicated with parents. Also, the schedule options worked really well with my part-time work schedule(and the price-well, they are all expensive, what better to spend money on than your child's education and well-being). Anyway, our son has been there for a year plus now and he is thriving and happy. I really appreciate the way the staff comes together with families to address social and community issues and I really like the approach teachers and staff take to helping children navigate social and emotional issues. The BLOG is a great way to find out what kids are doing everyday, the music classes, drama classes and extra activities are exciting and stimulating. As a side note, we had a major injury which left my son in a body cast for 6 weeks at the beginning of the school year. The school staff was flexible, caring, supportive and helped us through that time-letting us come as aides for my son with family members in tow whenever we wanted.
Thats enough, you get the picture. We love the school- the complaints we have are the same at all the schools we looked at: some of the closure days are hard for two parents who work, individualized communication from staff is hard if you do extended day and the class sizes are about 20 but you can always get a call back from staff the same day you ask a question. cc

Another school on College Ave. to look at might be Rockridge Little School. It is near College & Chabot (close to the Dryer's building). I have had 2 daughters attend. It is smaller than other schools, mixes together different philosophies, and the teaching staff is great. My daughters have always felt loved and been very happy to go. They have a safe back play area, and one of the best options I have seen in terms of flexibility. You can send your children 3, 4, or 5 days a week, 1/2 day, 3/4 day, full day. They bring in nice enrichment programs, and it is also year round which is great. One of my daughters who attended is now in 1st grade and the transition to elementary was easy for her, she now loves school and is doing really well. I would recommend it. Kristil

Re: Need Recent Reviews of Oakland Preschools
Hi - I noticed that the one school you left off your list of Oakland preschools is Rockridge Little School on College Avenue. As a parent to a current Rockridge Little School student, I am thrilled with this nurturing and dynamic school that has fostered creativity, pride and a bit of spunk in my little one. Like you, I visited these same preschools as I navigated the 3 year old preschool process and from my perspective, Rockridge Little School was the one place that emphasized preschool is time to love learning and school. The teachers are less concerned with what they teach but focus instead on how they teach -- do the children like to be there? do they thrive? do they like school? I embrace this approach because it's teaching children to like school which will hopefully translate into years of strong education down the road. Not to mention that Rockridge Little School is just a wonderful environment with a vibrant staff, eye on creativity and good-natured fun. I strongly recommend you consider Rockridge Little School.

Re: Preschool in Temescal/Piedmont Avenue/Rockridge
For those of you who have inquired about preschools in the Berkeley/ Oakland/ Rockridge area, I wanted to make sure you knew about Rockridge Little School (RLS). Two of our daughters have attended the school. We have had such a positive experience in their small family-like environment. RLS stands out from other preschools in the area by their commitment to helping the children learn, grow and express themselves through many creative outlets. Our family has found RLS to be a safe and happy place for preschoolers to explore and understand more about themselves and others. The teaching staff have a remarkable way of applying what they know about child development through unique and fun learning activities. For more information go to their website: http://www.rockridgelittleschool.com/ Katie

Re: Full-Time Preschools in Oakland
Our preschool, Rockridge Little School (RLS), has one last- minute opening for a three year old, on a full or part-time schedule. Before choosing RLS, we looked at several schools in the area, and, after 3+ years at the school, I still believe the quality of care at RLS is outstanding. The classroom environment is very warm and relaxed, but also well organized. I don't have to worry that my children's needs (physical, emotional or social) will ever go unattended or slip lunder the radar.n The school's educational approach is play-based, with a great focus on interacting with others, and I am thrilled to find that my initially shy child has grown increasingly confident in her social and emotional self. Imve also observed that the RLS classroo's work well for many different kinds of kids because the teachers pay special attention to the temperament and personality of each individual kid, so the experience can be successful for that particular child. Wemve seen a great variety of enrichment opportunitiessmusic, dance, drama, language, and great parent participation (which is welcome, but not required). Feedback from the teachers is also excellentsany behavioral or developmental issues (or potential issues) were always brought to my attention in a timely, positive and supportive manner. In our experience, all the teachers have worked very well as a classroom team, each with something special to offer the kids, but note that Jackie, head teacher in the 4 year-old room, is truly exceptional-- a gem if ever there was one! As we prepare to move on to kindergarten, we are deeply appreciative of the time our child spent at RLS, and the individual attention she received there. (While it wasn't our family's focus, we are also completely confident that she has honed the lacademicn skills necessary to join a kindergarten class.) One final, noteworthy thing about RLS is that neither the parents or the children are asked to fundraise for the school. The focus stays on the kids, and the RLS community enjoys social events without pocketbook pressure. I highly recommend this school, and I am planning to send my youngest child there next year. www.rockridgelittleschool.com, 510.420.1200 RLS mom of two

Re: Preschool spots for 4 year-olds?
Just wanted everyone to know that Rockridge Little School has some openings for fall (for kids aged 3.5 and older). RLS is an amazing play-based preschool with incredibly talented, loving, creative, and communicative teachers. My son has been enrolled there several months now and is thriving like never before--inspired, curious, and very comfortable in his environment. He and I are both secure in knowing that his teachers deeply care about him, and he is also gently challenged every day--they truly care about his future and go out of their way to help him grow. And the art projects at RLS are out-of-sight--once you walk through those doors, you'll never want to leave! I highly recommend the school for anyone looking for a loving, inspiring environment for their child---and you can learn more from RLS's wonderful website, www.rockridgelittleschool.com, or by contacting me with any questions. Good luck! Tiffany

I visited Rockridge Little School and was impressed on the tour. I'm interested in reviews from parents in the 3 year old class. I know it's a new school so there's not too many parents out there, but would appreciate any feedback. I'm especially interested in finding a preschool where the teachers are really warm and loving, having had my child in one where there a little too much focus on discipline and not enough on giving hugs. Thank you! curious mom

All the teachers at RLS are very warm and kind people, and their love of children shows. I continue to be impressed with the quality of activities that they provide - the art projects are outstanding (a wide variety of materials and mediums) and the environment is rich. I have visited a lot of preschools, and have personal experience with other types of programs. If you are turned off by the strictness/rigidity of some other preschool programs, you will probably be very pleased and comfortable with RLS. The children are free to explore whatever activities they choose, and at circle time they gather quietly and pay attention... it is a nice balance. My only gripe is that for some reason, they don't serve fruit for snack, just dry crackers and juice... which is less than I'd expect considering the relatively high tuition. mom of happy child

After a few weeks my son adjusted and now loves going to school. In my opinion, and it seems to be shared by all the parents I've talked to, Rockridge Little School is a gem, and I feel very fortunate to have found it. I can't imagine a more nurturing, creative, joyful place to send my child for preschool - he has blossomed and gained so much self-confidence over the last 6 mo. I have never had a reason to question the competence or professionalism of the staff; they are truly dedicated and it shows. We have been incredibly happy with our experience at Rockridge Little School and I would recommend it without hesitation to anyone. Christa

Communication is something the school is always working toward improving but I have found the director to be very open to feedback. She has insituted parent ideas that help make parents more informed and that also improve the school. I'm sorry the other parent had such a negative experience but there are those of us who have also had very positive experiences. Good luck in your search! Happy RLS parent

I took a tour of Rockridge Little School and was very impressed by what I saw. We are considering sending our child there. However there aren't any recent reviews in the archives. Any impressions of the school from current parents? Thanks in advance! Oakland mom

Our family is considering applying to Rockridge Little School for our preschooler, but it has only been up and running for a couple of months. Can any current parent comments on their experiences there so far? parent of a preschooler

We are thinking of sending our child to Rockridge Little School and are curious what other parents impressions are of the school. We think the director seemes very nice and the space is very clean, bright and welcoming. The scheduling options are great too. Our concerns are around the newness of the program, the fact that there aren't teachers hired yet and the lacking of years of preschool experience that the program will have. It would really help our decision if we could get feedback from others who are considering the school as well. Thanks in advance!

She is a well-respected, intelligent, compassionate and straightforward individual. I have seen Rockridge Little School and find it to be developmentally appropriate with the various tools she provides for the children to promote learning as well as emotional and social growth.

I also intend on coming in to teach yoga and creative movement at Rockridge Little School this year. I understand your concerns as a parent. I am the parent of a three year who attends the preschool where I work, in a different classroom. Of course one of the greatest concerns are the teachers. I know Holly will personally ensure the quality of her program and hire capable and experienced staff. Since I am a teacher, I especially understand what makes an excellent school. The director of Rockridge Little School shares my values and will bring great energy to this school in which she has made a personal investment.

I have a previous commitment at my current school, but I am also making a commitment of time and support to this director in any way possible. Michelle

I have an older child and still have nightmares about how she was treated at a pre- school that was older and suppose to have been well established. I am pleased to know that my thoughts and experiences are being heard and I am able to help create the best environment possible for my child. I looked into the Director's background and found out that she has won awards for her leadership, one from the city of Berkeley. She has a masters degree in the field, is a mother herself, and obviously has a heart for children. The school may be new, but she has over 20 years of experience working with children. The facility couldn't be better, it's not tired and worn like a few others that I looked at. From what I was advised the key staffing is underway, and it's a huge priority to hire the right people so I'm glad they are taking the time to do so. I am relieved to have a better option for preschool this time around. anonymous

hey all you fabulous moms out there:

It's preschool season, and if you're like me, you've been visiting tons of schools and signing up for waiting lists and paying application fees. Ack!!

I wanted to let you know about a fabulous new preschool, The Rockridge Little School, that is opening this fall, and still has spaces! The school is in the heart of Rockridge on College Avenue, and I highly recommend the program.

Here's a little more about the school - It's an enriched preschool for kids 2.5 through 5, that offers 8:30-5:30 hours (or fewer). There are two classrooms with 20 kids each, and each classroom has three teachers. The space is beautiful - located in an old Julia Morgan building with big windows, a nice outdoor area, tons of toys and art tables and a kitchen area and cubbies.

My good friend Holly is the owner/director, and under her leadership, I'm sure this place is going to be incredible. Holly is a smart woman with a generous heart, a wonderful mom to Bella, her three year old, and one of my best friends. She is currently the director of Ala Costa, a program for disabled kids, and has worked in non-profits for 20 years. I absolutely trust her ability to create an ideal preschool!

The Rockridge Little School will have a few open houses, and I'll keep you posted. In the meantime, if you want to check the school or it's website out, please contact:

Holly Gold, Director, Rockridge Little School
510.420.1200
holly AT rockridgelittleschool.com
www.rockridgelittleschool.com