Home-School Connection

OVERALL RATING (4.1)

Conducts an open house at start of school year

Conducts a parent-teacher meeting at start of school year

Conducts regular parent teacher conferences

Provides summary of child’s learning at end of year

Provides guidance on developmental goals for the following year

Provides guidance on best Kindergarten and elementary schools

Separation

OVERALL RATING (4.6)

Director's and Parents' Comments

Parent #1
It's a co-op, so all parents spend lots of time in the classroom.

Parent #2
Dandelion is a cooperative school and as such there is a high degree of parent-teacher interaction and parent participation in the overall life of the school. My son adjusted very easily to preschool and loves the play-based model. We are very happy with the preschool.

Parent #3
For my child, who did experience separation issues and had always been far more attached to adults than to his own peer group, Dandelion proved to be a fantastic choice. So much care is taken to address the relations of the children to one another and my child has been able to make good friends in a comfortable atmosphere with warm and consistent teachers to guide him.

Parent #4
Dandelion has been a wonderful experience for our family, my daughter is excited to go every day and has blossomed socially and emotionally in ways I think are very much connected to being part of this new community of children and adults.

Parent #5
Dandelion is a cooperative pre-school. The parents work at the school and become very involved. The teachers keep us aware of how are children are developing emotionally and generally for their age. As parents we get to know each other very well!

Parent #6
Very active parent cooperative with wonderful, exceptional, dedicated, long-term teacher and director -- you learn about parenting and your whole family becomes known by the staff and other families.

Parent #7
The teachers at Dandelion know and communicate with every family in the school in an extremely useful and caring way. Each child is known well by the teachers and all the parents (as they work in the classroom) so each child's individual needs are met.

Parent #8
The educational philosophy of this school is both play-based and goal-oriented. The goals relate to the students abilities to feel confident in his/her interactions with classmates and teachers, exploring all forms of expression including art and music and improving physical development.

Discipline

OVERALL RATING (4.7)
Parents' Opinions
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

Parent #1
I'm a better parent thanks to the teachers at the school. Through their amazing modeling, participation day wrap-up sessions, monthly parent meetings, and impromptu help, they guide the parents with just as much wisdom and grace as they do our kids. Other wonderful things about Dandelion: the other families, the other kids, the genuine community, and the opportunity to participate with and learn from one another. Dandelion is one of Berkeley's best kept secrets.

Parent #2
My son has been in a couple of playground spats at preschool. The teachers have stepped in both to assure his safety and to resolve the issues. They are also very open to helping the parents who are participating that morning learn more about resolving conflict. I was especially encouraged when another child hit my son with a toy shovel and the teacher helped my son (who is speech delayed) express who hit him and how it made him feel. I also liked the gentle but firm manner in which she addressed the guilty party and then worked to integrate my son back into the play group that had formed. Because of this wonderful response, my son has now learned how to stand up for himself and articulate his feelings on the playground.

Parent #3
Dandelion is not a shiny space because the focus is on giving children what they need, not on looking spiffy. Rather it's chock-full of very well thought out areas that enable the kids to interact, learn about themselves and the world, and have fun.

Extended Care

Notes on Schedule and Extended Care

Notes

Schedule and tuitions above do not cover all available options.

Basic Hours:
9:00 a.m.-12:00p.m. M-F

Extended Care Available:
8:00-9:00a.m.
12:00p.m.-2:00p.m.

2, 3, 4, or 5 days available

Application Process

Admissions Process