Centro VIDA Children's Center

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  • Neighborhood: Berkeley West
  • Telephone: (510) 525-1463

Summary

Contact Info

Centro VIDA Children's Center
1000 Camelia Street
Berkeley , CA  94710
Tel: (510) 525-1463
Fax: (510) 524-1317

Director: Beatriz Leyva-Cutler
CentroVIDA1975@aol.com

Application Information

Applications accepted While child is in utero
Wait list Yes
Deadline for applications Rolling

Key Statistics

Total enrollment 64
Extended day Yes
School year Year round program

Kindergarten Placement

Kindergartens that preschoolers from this school are now attending

Berkeley Public

Parent Ratings

Parents at this school would recommend this school to other parents. Five Stars
Quality of teaching Four And Half Stars
Development of social skills and work habits Four And Half Stars
Home-school connection Four And Half Stars
Parent community Four Stars
Discipline Three and Half Stars
Facilities Four Stars
Health Five Stars
Safety Four And Half Stars
Handling of separation Five Stars

Survey Information

Number of parents surveyed:  2

Savvy Source survey: Yes

Parents who send their child to this preschool also like the following preschools:

  • Step One Nursery School
  • Duck's Nest Preschool

General Info

Basic Stats

Total enrollment 64

Transportation and Drop-off Policies

Transportation

- Located close to public transportation

- Parents bring their children to and from school


Dropoff Procedure

- 7:30 AM is the earliest time a parent can drop off a child

Features of the Preschool

Some experience serving children with special needs Yes

Facilities

CONDITION OF FACILITIES RATING (4.0) Four Stars
Building, bathrooms, hallway Three and Half Stars
Classroom equipment and furniture Four Stars
Outside play equipment Four And Half Stars

Facilities Include:

Classrooms (with bathroom attached)
Classrooms (with kitchenette attached)
Music room
Art room
Library Check
Playground Check

Parents' Comments
Parent #1
I LOVE that Centro Vida is bilingual! I would welcome a little less structure and more movement.

School Philosophy & Day in the Life

School Philosophy and Mission

Director has not yet submitted this information to the Savvy Source



Typical Day-In-The-Life At This School

Director has not yet submitted this information to the Savvy Source

Curriculum & Teaching Approach

Social Skills & Work Habits

OVERALL RATING (4.8) Four And Half Stars
This school has increased my child's:
Ability to listen and follow directions Four And Half Stars
Ability to sit still for longer periods of time
 Four And Half Stars
Ability to be a part of a group of children Four And Half Stars
Self-sufficiency and independence Five Stars
Awareness of others’ feelings Five Stars
Cooperation with other children Five Stars

Curriculum and Teaching Approach

Free Play Free Play Free Play with Some Structure Free Play with Some Structure Free Play with Some Structure
Language YES
Oral language - Free play with some structure - - n/a
Nursery rhymes, poems, songs - - Predominantly teacher-led instruction - n/a
Storybook reading - - - - n/a
Emerging literacy skills - Free play with some structure - - n/a
Cognitive Development n/a
Math and number sense - Free play with some structure - - YES
Time & space - - - - YES
Sci. reasoning/physical world - - - - YES
Music - - - - YES
Visual arts - Free play with some structure - - -
Physical activity - - - - YES
Other subjects taught n/a
Parents' Comments

Parent #1
The school includes most of the activities on this list as teacher led and free play for children (visual arts, reading, music, exercise) hard to classify as one or the other.

Quality of Teaching

Teachers Are:

OVERALL RATING: (4.7) Four And Half Stars
Full of energy and seemingly happy in job Four Stars
Patient and affectionate with children Five Stars
Talks with children and listens carefully when they are talking with him/her Four And Half Stars
Praises children for accomplishments and good behavior Five Stars
Provides feedback on what my child does during the day Three and Half Stars
Shares insights on my child that are helpful and accurate Four Stars
Identifies my child’s strengths and weaknesses Four And Half Stars
If necessary, provides additional support to my child during pickup and drop-off Four And Half Stars
Resolves disputes quickly, calmly and fairly in a manner that allows children to learn from the dispute Five Stars
Notices children who are not on task and/or engaging with other children appropriately and quickly reengages them Five Stars
Manages the energy level of the children so that all children feel safe and able to learn Five Stars
Provides additional support to a child when s/he is clearly failing in her/his efforts Five Stars
Strikes the proper balance between active and quiet play for children Five Stars

Home School Connection

Home-School Connection

OVERALL RATING (4.6) Four And Half Stars
Conducts an open house at start of school year Five Stars
Conducts a parent-teacher meeting at start of school year Five Stars
Conducts regular parent teacher conferences Four Stars
Provides summary of child’s learning at end of year Five Stars
Provides guidance on developmental goals for the following year Three and Half Stars
Provides guidance on best Kindergarten and elementary schools Five Stars

Separation

OVERALL RATING (5.0) Five Stars

Director's and Parents' Comments

Parents' Comments

Parent #1
We love our school and after preschool we continue on in the after school program!

Drop-in Policy

- During school parents are welcomed as the school has an open door policy

General Parent Education

-This preschool does conduct parent education classes

-This preschool does connect parents with services and activities that can help you help your child develop better at home

Parent Community

COHESIVENESS RATING (4.0) Four Stars

Parents:

- Hold social events at the school to build community

- Fundraise

- Are able to visit the school anytime we want

- Go on field trips

- Volunteer in the classroom

- Receive newsletters

- Hold social events outside of the school (with and/or without children)

- Schedule family field trips


Parents' Comments

Parent #1
Parent Advisory Committee.

Parent #2
Have our own parent advisory committee.

Modes of Communication Between School and Home

- Notes

- Phone Calls

- Special Meetings

- Two or More Regular Conferences

- Drop-Off

- Pick-Up

- Regular newsletter/printed updates circulated to the whole school

Discipline, Health and Safety

Discipline

OVERALL RATING (3.8) Three and Half Stars
Parents' Opinions
Parents at this school, on average, believe that conflicts between children: are handled well in a way that gives me confidence in the safety of my child

Health

OVERALL RATING (5.0) Five Stars
Temperature and overall air circulation is comfortable Five Stars
Healthy and nutritious snacks are provided Five Stars
Toys and furniture are cleaned regularly Five Stars

Safety

OVERALL RATING (4.8) Four And Half Stars
Screen and identify all visitors Four And Half Stars
Parents may not bring sick children to school where they may infect others Five Stars

Ages, Schedule & Tuition

Extended Care

- This school does have extended care

Calendar Year

School Year

Year round program

Application & Admissions

Application Process

Applications are accepted: While child is in utero

There is a wait list for upcoming school year.

Deadline for applications: Rolling

Admissions Process

Financial aid is available.

Savvy Source's Comments

Comments

Program is subsidized for low-income families. Extracted from Centro VIDA listing at Bananas Child Care Resource Network

Age/Child Requirements

Child does not need to be potty trained to enroll.

Enquiries accepted on a rolling basis.

Kindergarten Placement & Tips

Kindergarten Placement

Kindergartens that preschoolers from this school are now attending

Berkeley Public

Parents' Admission Tips

Advice from Parents to Prospective Parents on Admissions

Parent #1
Get on the wait list ASAP!

The Savvy Source for Parents © 2006
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