Summary
Contact Info
Alta Plaza Preschool
2140 Pierce Street
San Francisco
, CA
94115
www.altaplazapreschool.com
Tel:
(415) 928-6483
Fax:
(415) 380-1965
Director:
Sharon Bricker
altaplaza@comcast.net
General Approach to Learning
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| Play-based with some structure |
 |
Predominantly teacher-led instruction |
Application Information
| Applications accepted |
While child is in utero, upon birth |
| Deadline for applications |
Rolling |
Key Statistics
| Student/teacher ratio |
8:1 |
| Age cutoff for enrollment |
2 years and 6 months |
| School year |
Year round program |
| Summer Program |
06/2008 - 09/2008 |
Kindergarten Placement
Parent Ratings
| Parents at this school would recommend this school to other parents. |
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| Quality of teaching |
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| Development of social skills and work habits |
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| Home-school connection |
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| Parent community |
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| Discipline |
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| Facilities |
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| Health |
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| Safety |
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| Handling of separation |
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Survey Information
Number of parents surveyed:
14
Director survey: Yes
Savvy Source survey: Yes
Parents who send their child to this preschool also like the following preschools:
- Calvary Nursery School
- Little Gators Preschool
- Lone Mountain Children's Center
- One Fifty Parker School
- The Little School
-
General Info
Basic Stats
| Student/teacher ratio |
8:1
|
| Average tenure for teachers |
3.5 yrs.
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% of teachers with:
| - Teaching credentials |
50%
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Transportation and Drop-off Policies
Transportation
Dropoff Procedure
Features of the Preschool
| Provide a kindergarten and elementary school program |
No
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| Affiliated with a religious institution |
No
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| Some experience serving children with special needs |
Yes
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Accreditation, Membership & Awards
| Accreditation by the National Association of Young Children |
No
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Other Accreditations
Facilities
| CONDITION OF FACILITIES RATING (3.8) |
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| Building, bathrooms, hallway |
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| Classroom equipment and furniture |
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| Outside play equipment |
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Facilities Include:
| Classrooms (with bathroom attached) |
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| Classrooms (with kitchenette attached) |
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| Music room |
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| Art room |
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| Library |
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Playground
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Parents' Comments
Parent #1
We switched our son to this school mid year when a spot became available and it's been amazing to see him thrive in ways we could have never imagined. The staff and teachers are amazing! Warm, loving, and nurturing. My son has blossomed in both intellectual and emotional ways. I would 100% recommend this school.
Parent #2
This school does NOT focus on the individual needs of each child. The overall professionalism of the Director is poor and the teacher communication is also poor.
Parent #3
I have been very happy with Alta Plaza. My daughter has thrived and I love the environment. I like that they get to go to the park several times a day and do field trips.
Parent #4
APP is perfect for working parents who do not want to hire a nanny to cover the time not spent in preschool. The schedule is flexible as far as full time vs part time 5 days a week, 3 days a week or two days a week. Also it is open year round and the number of school holidays is reasonable. The open / mixed age program is great. The younger kids learn from the older kids and the older kids learn to be leaders with the younger kids. The program is also ideal for children who might get 'lost' in a larger program. If you want to go to a single sex Pacific Heights elementary school, APP is the preschool to go to. If you want to go to a private co-ed school, their experience and connections are not very good. The parent community is strong and getting stronger on a yearly basis as is the fundraising effort. The parents committee is a welcoming cohesive group that is very social and has the welfare of the school and our children at heart.
Parent #5
I feel that APP is strong in all areas. This year the Bluebird teacher has instituted a pre-K type summer program to keep the older kids engaged. I am very happy with this new program and hope they continue to build on it in the coming years. I believe APP has a unique feature as a year around pre-school. The kids become very close and I am constantly amazed and pleased and how much they care and respect one another and help the new children. It is a wonderfully nourishing environment.
School Philosophy & Day in the Life
School Philosophy and Mission
At Alta Plaza Preschool, we believe that learning is a natural enjoyable process experienced in a stimulating, developmentally appropriate, safe environment.
Positive learning experiences at an early age contribute to the development of each child's sense of self and emotional well-being.
The program addresses the individual, social, emotional and educational needs of children between the ages of 2 1/2 to 5 1/2. This open classroom format is designed around the belief that the younger children benefit from modeling their older peers, while the older children benefit from being the 'big kid.' These relationships foster self-esteem and personal growth, essential to the readiness for kindergarten.
The children are also given age-appropriate activities, with teacher guidance, to continually challenge them and stimulate each child's individual learning process.
Children at Alta Plaza Preschool learn by doing rather than by being taught. Independence is fostered in children through exposure to the world around them. Play is 'child's work.' Through activities offered each child can master skills in the areas of communication, cognitive and physical development and social interaction. By experiencing success in these areas, a child becomes more confident and self-reliant. These positive learning experiences contribute to the development of each child's sense of self and emotional well-being.
At Alta Plaza Preschool we emphasize the development of a positive and independent self-concept in each child, as well as a lifetime enjoyment of learning.
Typical Day-In-The-Life At This School
We have a circle time followed by snack and free play.
At 10:00am we have 1 hour group time followed by park time, lunch and nap.
The afternoon is a reflection of our morning program -- where the children are read to and fun activities are arranged.
Quality of Teaching
Teachers Are:
| OVERALL RATING: (4.6) |
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| Full of energy and seemingly happy in job |
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| Patient and affectionate with children |
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| Talks with children and listens carefully when they are talking with him/her |
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| Praises children for accomplishments and good behavior |
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| Provides feedback on what my child does during the day |
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| Shares insights on my child that are helpful and accurate |
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| Identifies my child’s strengths and weaknesses |
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| If necessary, provides additional support to my child during pickup and drop-off |
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| Resolves disputes quickly, calmly and fairly in a manner that allows children to learn from the dispute |
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| Notices children who are not on task and/or engaging with other children appropriately and quickly reengages them |
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| Manages the energy level of the children so that all children feel safe and able to learn |
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| Provides additional support to a child when s/he is clearly failing in her/his efforts |
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| Strikes the proper balance between active and quiet play for children |
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Director's Comments on Individualized Teaching
Parents' Comments
Parent #1
All of the teachers at Alta Plaza are wonderful and I cannot say enough good things about them. My son has one main teacher but after group time all teachers are responsible for all groups.
Parent #2
The program is an open mixed age program so my answers reflect a combination of all the teachers. They provide approx two extra activities a week. Gymnastics every week and music, dance, yoga, science once or twice a month. My kids attend almost full time so not only do the teachers provide academic age appropriate activities, they have become like a second family for my children. They treat the kids with a lot of love and respect.
Parent #3
I have been thrilled with the teachers at Alta Plaza Preschool. They are all in constant communication with me. I have been very impressed with their level of patience, understanding and care I have witnessed when volunteering at the school. Most importantly, my son adores all of them.
Parent #4
One of the teachers we ranked who was truly amazing is no longer with the school. Although our son wouldn't have had her as his primary teacher this year, her leaving is a genuine loss for the entire school. His new teacher is highly competent but just has a very different personality--she's less warm and more reactive vs. proactive with feedback or insight into our son's day/activities. I also rated one of the school's aides and she's fantastic all-around.
Parent #5
Clarification to above answers: all of the teachers were full of engergy for the children, and happy towards the children but were very unhappy working there b/c of lack of support from the director all the problems they saw at the school but could do nothing about b/c the director was rigid. The director, however, paid the teachers higher and higher salaries b/c she didn't want them to leave. Examples of problems: one of the teachers was responsible for moving all the furniture every friday afternoon to one side of the classroom so that the space could be used on the weekend for the church above. The teachers couldn't buy supplies, the director held a tight fist on purse strings and they were frustrated by not being able to buy supplies for the kids. When the 3 teachers left, most of the books left too b/c they were personal property of the teachers. Apparently the Director must not have allowed books to be purchased. The teachers who were there when my child was there, were very very good at so many things....setting up art projects, leading the kids in song, fostering friendships, etc. The only thing lacking, with one exception, it was rare for them to give hugs.....not a lot of love or affection here. There was a gymnastic teacher who came once a week, which was great for our child. The foreign language was taught but my child never spoke one word of spanish that year...the instruction didn't go well. There was no music teaching....but there were songs sung at circle time. The singing was so frequent and engaging that my child learned them all and sang at home all the time. The list of 'specialists' that the director tells you about are more about the ones you have come over a few years time, there aren't that many specialist who come in one year. None of the specialists come during the summer program!
Parent #6
The teachers at Alta Plaza are wonderful and they work with each child's personality to help them flourish in the preschool environment.
Parent #7
The teacher have very poor communication with the parents and offer no advice or resources when dealing with issues that arrise with the child.
Home School Connection
Home-School Connection
| OVERALL RATING (4.1) |
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| Conducts an open house at start of school year |
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| Conducts a parent-teacher meeting at start of school year |
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| Conducts regular parent teacher conferences |
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| Provides summary of child’s learning at end of year |
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| Provides guidance on developmental goals for the following year |
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| Provides guidance on best Kindergarten and elementary schools |
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Director's Comments
Open house/meeting at beginning of school year with specific learning goals and explanation of how struggling children will be helped and how children who are advanced will be challenged. Individual parent-teacher meetings at the beginning of the year. Notes, phone calls, voicemail, email, special meetings, regular conferences, drop-off, pick-up and regular newsletter are all ways that we communicate with parents.
Separation
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Pre-entry meetings with parents at school
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Small group sessions
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Extra staff dedicated to handle separation
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Director's and Parents' Comments
Parents' Comments
Parent #1
None of the answers apply to the My son/daughter's school handles start of preschool separation through (check as many as apply): question but I had to put one to move on...
Parent #2
I feel that if needed - there would be opportunity to discuss or visit regarding any challenges that my child is or was having.
Parent #3
Preschool seperation was handled in one way only.....they wanted you to bring your child in carrying his/her own lunch & coat, hang up coat, then put lunch in cubby. They wanted you to say good bye as quickly possible. (Drop off is between 8:30 and 9 am). Their philosophy was that the routine and brevity of the drop off would be best for the child. Nonetheless, the first couple weeks, they did allow the parent to sit down with their child for a few minutes doing an activity, as long as parents left by 9 am. If your child became upset, a teacher would give the child one on one attention while you were leaving.
Parent #4
This school does nothing regarding the home-school connection.
Parent Community
| COHESIVENESS RATING (4.2) |
Parents:
Modes of Communication Between School and Home
Discipline, Health and Safety
Discipline
| OVERALL RATING (4.4) |
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| Parents at this school, on average, believe that conflicts between children:
are handled extraordinarily well in a way that not only gives me confidence in the safety of my child but also reassures me that my child (and his/her peers) are learning the early skills needed to socialize effectively with one another
| |
Parents' Notes on Discipline, Health and Safety
Parents' Comments
Parent #1
Alta Plaza does not have its own play yard, but it makes use of Alta Plaza Park, which is directly across the street. I like this situation, because my son has been taught crosswalk and group safety.
Parent #2
Alta Plaza does not have outside play equipment at the school, but the children go to the playground at Alta Plaza park daily. The park is located directly across the street from the school.
Parent #3
There is no outside play equipment, but the question above doesn't allow you to say not applicable. What they do have....they just take small bean bags (to toss and make up games) to the grassy area across the street, no other equipment. They have no trikes, etc. b/c they have no yard. Childrens birthdays are celebrated at the school by the parent bringing cake or cupcakes. With the number of kids, it ends up being someones birthday every week or sometimes even 2 in one week. As a result, the kids are given a lot of sugar. Goodie bags are given to take home, filled with candy. All the functions are potluck and there's an exceptional amount of junk food (doritos, m&m's, cakes, cookies, etc.) and hardly any nutritious food. The snack they provide is graham crackers. The preschool is a one-room classroom, in the basement of a church. (There is a back area where children aren't allowed where artwork is stored and a small kitchen where snacks are made.)
Parent #4
Alta Plaza Preschool does not have its own playground facilities but it is located adjacent to Alta Plaza park which has a great playground with slides, climbing equipment, etc.
Parent #5
i think they need to re-do the bathroom (just due for an update, but it's really just fine).
Health
| OVERALL RATING (4.6) |
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| Temperature and overall air circulation is comfortable |
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| Healthy and nutritious snacks are provided
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| Toys and furniture are cleaned regularly |
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Food Allergies
Medications
Safety
| OVERALL RATING (4.6) |
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| Screen and identify all visitors
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| Parents may not bring sick children to school where they may infect others |
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Ages, Schedule & Tuition
Ages, Class Size, Days & Tuition
| Ages |
Class Size |
Days |
Tuition |
From
2 years
to
5 years
|
30 |
Mon 7:30am - 6:00pm
Tue 7:30am - 6:00pm
Wed 7:30am - 6:00pm
Thu 7:30am - 6:00pm
Fri 7:30am - 6:00pm
|
$1405/Month |
Extended Care
Notes on Schedule and Extended Care
Notes
Alta Plaza Preschool is open Monday through Friday from 7.30a.m. to 6.00p.m.
We ask that preschool children arrive no later than 8.45a.m. so they can benefit from the entire day's program.
In addition to the full-time five-days tuition shown above, there are differing monthly rates for less than full-time: Part-time 3 Days $1160.00; Part-time 2 Days $810.00; Half Day 5 Half Days $970.00; Half Day 3 Half Days $675.00; Half Day 2 Half Days $515.00. All parents are required to sign a one year contract with Alta Plaza Preschool for a schedule ranging from two half-days to five full days.
Calendar Year
School Year
Summer Program
Kindergarten Placement & Tips
Parents' Admission Tips
Advice from Parents to Prospective Parents on Admissions
Parent #1
I just called once each year to let Sharon (the director) know how much we like her school and were looking forward to the possibility of our child attending APP.
Parent #2
Persistence. We kept calling and did not wait for them to call us.
Parent #3
Include a photo, describe any way you may be able to contribute (ex: give a demonstration of your skill, make a movie of the kids for the parents, fundraising experience, demonstrate carpentry, give a presentation on something that would interest a preschooler). Attend the annual fundraiser the year before.
Parent #4
I don't think so - just be yourself.
