Our 2024-2025 Classes
Toddler & Me
For children Ages 15 - 23 months by Sept. 1
1-day per week
Monday 9:30am - 11:30am
TUITION 25-26’ $1800
$145 monthly after enrollment deposit
The Monday Toddler & Me program will focus on enhancing the simple joy of childhood while equipping caregivers to nurture curiosity through exploration. Mountain School’s philosophy remains at the heart of this program, with Child-Directed Play, nature-centric activities, community building, and parent education all woven throughout the class curriculum.
This class is a gentle introduction to our co-op nursery school. Caregivers are expected and encouraged to stay close to their children during class and model positive social behavior. Children will learn that the school environment is a safe, fun, and magical place to be. At the same time, caregivers feel supported by the community Mountain School provides and have opportunities to learn about child development to help aid them in their parenting journey.
2-year-olds
1-day per week
Wednesday, Friday, or Saturday*
9:15 am - 11:45 am
TUITION 25-26’ $2,484
$221 monthly after enrollment deposit
Age 2 years by September 1st
*Sat Morning class is now mixed age; children must be 2 years by September 1st, but must not turn 5 years before June 1st.
Parents attend class with their child every week. They are there to observe their child and learn from the teachers and other parents. Children experience a safe and supportive environment where they can develop a sense of trust with teachers and be with other children.
Physically, the 2s explore the outdoor school yard setting and develop skills on the climbing structures. The garden, sand, and water play areas are key activities for this group. Lots of different tactile experiences (finger painting, play dough, textures) are offered.
Socially, the 2s engage mostly in parallel play with their classmates. They come together at cooking time and circle time where they begin to learn how to be part of a group. Cooking is an integral part of the morning, both the preparation of the food and the sharing of it with classmates and teachers. The children come to understand where food comes from; and they have the opportunity to try new and different foods.
Indoors, there are lots of manipulation materials - i.e. puzzles, magnets, building blocks, farm, trains, cars, animals. A variety of art experiences are presented. There are materials for role playing and dress up. Small animals like our school's guinea pigs, are part of the classroom. Stories, songs, finger plays, and movement are introduced, especially at Circle Time. Music rhymes and silly songs are woven into the activity.
This new "school experience" is sensitive to the age and development level of two-year-olds. It is fun and engaging; safe and supportive.
NEW This Year - Saturday Morning Class is mixed age!
Our same excellent Saturday 2s class is now mixed age to allow sibling and family groups to attend together. Children ages 2-4 years may enroll for this class. The intentions and structure of the class remain the same as our 2s program, with age and developmental modifications for older children based on the unique makeup of the class each year.
3-year-olds
2-day per week
Tuesdays & Thursdays
9:30 am - 12:30 am
TUITION 25-26’ $4,663
$463 monthly after enrollment deposit
Age 3 years by September 1st
NEW this year: More time to play! Now 3-hours, twice a week.
Parents attend class once a week and are responsible for two children (including their own). This class usually has the youngest of the 3s and there is less socializing than in the older classes. There may be a greater dependence on the parents and teachers. Individual and parallel play is typical early in the year.
The class provides a nurturing environment as children take steps toward more independence. Children are encouraged to enter into more cooperative play through the use of words and the successful handling of conflict. Language development, self-expression, and physical activity are important aspects of all activities.
3-4 year-olds
3-day per week
Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays
9:30 am - 12:30 pm
TUITION 25-26’ $4,888
$488 monthly after enrollment deposit
Age 3 years by September 1st, must not turn 5 years by June 1st
NEW this year: an added day! This class is 3 hours, 3 times a week in the MORNING!
In the 3/4s class, parents attend once a week and are responsible for their own child and another child (Family Partnership of two).
This class provides a nurturing environment as children take steps towards increasing independence and become more and more interested in social interactions and cooperative play. It gives children a safe space where they can grow their creativity and cultivate important life skills. The 3/4s class is about play (!), discovery, and wonder. Driven by natural curiosity, children explore and discover the world around them; they investigate, experiment, ask questions. Together with their peers and teachers, through activities, and play, they collaboratively make sense of it. With the gentle guidance from teachers, children learn to communicate and negotiate, solve problems, and resolve conflicts. Teachers foster critical thinking and social-emotional skills.
In this class, children engage with the environment and nature and experience the seasons in Mountain School’s outdoor classroom. The curriculum is emergent and inspired by the children, nature, and the environment. Children may choose from a variety of activities during the day. Offerings vary and keep the children’s interests in mind. Physical activity is an important aspect of this class. It meets outdoors most of the time, goes on hikes, walks, and fieldtrips.
PreK
4-day per week
Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday & Thursday
9:00 am - 1:00 pm
TUITION 25-26’ $6,688
$688 monthly after enrollment deposit
Age 4 years by September 1st, must not turn 7 years by June 1st
NEW this year: Half-day Pre-K class for ages 4-6 years with reduced parent participation.
In this PreK class, emergent curriculum is woven into a foundation of play-based learning. The curriculum focuses on social emotional learning and environmental stewardship. Listening to storytelling helps children practice staying engaged and builds empathy. In addition, Art projects, journaling, tinkering, and dramatic play foster confidence, curiosity, language, and readiness skills. The children are expected to attend circle and meal times. Group gatherings allow children to practice executive function skills, listening to friends speak, or following a teacher-led activity.
Parents attend one day every two weeks in an assistant teacher role, helping with all the children in the class. The PreK class meets primarily in our canyon classrooms below the schoolyard and other seasonal locations such as Quarry and Singer Park. Playing in natural environments fosters emotional regulation, resilience, creativity, and collaboration. Outdoor classrooms provide opportunities for physical movement and gross motor activities that promote deep learning at this developmental stage. Field trip days feature longer guided hikes, seasonal farm visits, and beach play.
Saturday PM Family Class
1-day per week
Saturday
12:30 pm - 3:30 pm
TUITION 25-26’ $2,588
$232 monthly after enrollment deposit
Age 3 years by September 1st, must not turn 7 years by June 1st
The Saturday afternoon class has a multi-age, family-oriented format.
The class is for 3, 4, & 5 - year-olds and their older siblings (up to 1st grade). Parents attend class with their child every week. Children in this class are generally more active, more socially aware and adept, more adventuresome and anxious to try new activities and assert their independence. Teachers watch, guide, facilitate, and usually step back to let the children solve their own problems and conflicts.
Children attend and participate in Circle Time activities, songs, and conversations. Language and school readiness skills are developed through conversation, discussions, science projects, and special materials. Hikes and field trips challenge the physical abilities of the children and respond to their increasing independence.