WELCOME TO STRAWBERRY PRESCHOOL!
You're invited to come visit and tour our school
We encourage you to set up a tour via email or by phone at (415) 388-4437—and bring your child so you can both observe and experience a typical day at school. This is important, so you understand our philosophy and programs before entrusting your child to our care. We conduct tours all year.
Waitlist forms and tuition bulletins for both of our schools are available for download.
STRAWBERRY PROGRAMS
2's Program
Preschool (3-4 Year Olds)
Preschool (3-4 Year Olds)
The Monkey class for 2 year olds is a 5-day program, occasionally with 3-day (MWF) or 2-day (Tues-Thurs) options. School hours are 9am-1pm.
Children must be 2 years old by the first day of school to start in August. This classroom has two full time dedicated teachers and is limited to 10 children with a special playground area outside designed just for their capabilities and needs. The Monkey classroom focuses on the basics: sharing, taking turns, sitting quietly, riding bikes/scooters, following directions, etc. The teachers also follow a play-based curriculum where they provide age-appropriate toys and educational materials to teach the children about the world and school as they play.
Preschool (3-4 Year Olds)
Preschool (3-4 Year Olds)
Preschool (3-4 Year Olds)
Our preschool offers 5-day, 3-day (MWF), and 2-day (Tues-Thurs) programs. School hours are 9am-1pm.
The preschool classroom is a spacious playroom divided into three learning areas with a large outdoor yard and garden. The indoor space includes an Art Room for creative expression, a Library that includes children's access to our large collection of children's books, and tables for cognitive small-motor tasks and science exploration. The Library also includes a dramatic play center with dress-up costumes, furniture, and housekeeping equipment. Our third indoor area is the Block Room, complete with small unit blocks and large hollow blocks for play. The space can also support large-motor activities such as music, body movement, musical instruments, dancing, and the use of other movement equipment.
Pre-K (4-5 Year Olds)
Preschool (3-4 Year Olds)
Early Child Care & After Care
Pre-K is a 5-day program with one teacher per 10 children. School hours are 9am-1pm.
Located in the newly remodeled church building, our program is designed for children who just miss the TK cutoff or are old enough to attend TK, but whose families feel an additional year in preschool would be beneficial. Enrollment is determined by birthday and age order of current students (the older the child, the higher the priority). Our project approach and emergent curriculum focuses on children's interests, but expands on their knowledge by creating group projects. We use the "Handwriting Without Tears" program for literacy, with a combination of phonics and a letter of the week. Children move between classrooms and outdoor areas with learning materials designed to enhance their social, emotional, cognitive, and physical development.
Early Child Care & After Care
Engaging Learning Environments, Inside & Out
Early Child Care & After Care
Additional childcare is offered from 8-9am and from 1-4pm in two blocks (one hour from 1-2pm and two hours from 2-4pm).
During the afternoons, there is a rest/nap time for all children. We have cozy cots and rest areas where they can relax and sleep. After, the teachers plan fun, engaging, and educational play time and activities.
Engaging Learning Environments, Inside & Out
Engaging Learning Environments, Inside & Out
Engaging Learning Environments, Inside & Out
Our classrooms and playgrounds are full of hands-on learning materials and designed to enhance children's social, emotional, cognitive and physical development.
We have several playgrounds designed for age-appropriate activities. One of the playgrounds is a large-motor space with a play structure, sandbox, and building materials, while the smaller yard is an outside classroom and transition area for outdoor creative projects.
Special Guests & Classroom Experiences
Engaging Learning Environments, Inside & Out
Engaging Learning Environments, Inside & Out
We love hosting a variety of special enrichment guests and events throughout the year, to provide unique, memorable experiences for the children.
In recent years, these have included the Lizard Lady, Perry the Magician, the Insect Lab, Music Time, Jamaroo, puppet theater shows, soccer/recess games, yoga, and more.
MEET THE ADULTS DEVOTED TO YOUR CHILDREN
Our Director, Lisa Vaillancourt
Lisa Vaillancourt is an alumnus of Strawberry Preschool class of 1980. She began her journey in early childhood education at Cal State Northridge on a full basketball scholarship, studied Child Development, and graduated with a BA in Sociology. After graduating, she returned to Strawberry Preschool and taught for 5 years while continuing her Early Childhood Education at College of Marin. During this time, she was also the Director of the after school program at St. Hilary’s. After 5 years at Strawberry, she decided to pursue her dream of being a children’s photographer—Lisa served 10 years as the head photographer for Classic Kids Photography, and opened and ran their downtown Mill Valley studio. But realizing she missed teaching, she returned to Strawberry Preschool in 2012 and joined the Pre-K classroom. She was promoted to Director in 2021—and she's thrilled to be leading the Strawberry staff. You can contact Lisa at (415) 388-4437 or via email.
Our Dedicated Staff
Hired based on their professional commitment to children, Strawberry teachers have been trained in Early Childhood Education and participate in regular in-service training sessions, workshops, and seminars. Each teacher strives to be supportive and responsive to children throughout the day, by facilitating play, arranging the physical environment for appropriate learning challenges and guiding children's behavior and emotional development.
Our Board of Trustees & Involved Parents Like You
We have a nine-member Board of Trustees comprised of parents from both schools, with the Presidency and Vice Presidency alternating between the two schools each year. The Board meets monthly, working closely with the Directors and Chief Operating Officer to oversee fundraising, facilities, finances, operations, and policies. The Board also coordinates programs and events throughout the year, including the sale of spirit wear, a Halloween extravaganza, and an Annual Spring Joint Meeting for parents and teachers. Board members are nominated in March and serve one-year terms. We encourage all parents to volunteer and participate in Board-sponsored activities and, of course, get involved in their children's education with parent-teacher conferences, classroom volunteering, and family events.
Download our Social Calendar for the 2024-2025 school year in Parent Resources below—and get involved!
Officers
President: Kristen Righetti, Tamalpais Preschool
Vice-President: Crystal Maloney, Strawberry Preschool
CONTACT THE SCHOOL
is housed within the Westminster Presbyterian Church at 240 Tiburon Boulevard, Tiburon, CA 94941
(415) 388-4437
