Can Anyone Recommend a Good Preschool?

Mu mom is the 3 year olds teacher at Trinity Lutheran Preschool in Simi Valley off of Alamo. She has been there for years. My daughter went to summer camp there and loved it.

Another recommendation for Horizon Hills here! I live in Westlake Village and there are lovely preschools near me (Westminster, Growing Place, etc...) and all over, but I drive to HH (about 12 minutes) because it is an amazing program. Most preschools charge in the range of $400-600 a month (depending) and HH is one of the least expensive in the area (about $350 a quarter - 4 quarters in the year).

But that's not why we go. We go because it's outstanding! It's a "parent education program" which means parents are also the students. We are required to work in the class once a week, but it's been great because instead of me dropping off my children for 3 or 6 hours and gaining no knowledge, I have learned SO MUCH about child development (how to handle trantrums, how to handle conflict resolution, etc...). It's been a gift to me to be able to observe the master teachers there and learn from them. Whenever I have had problems or questions (about development) they are my first and best resource for information and answers. And it's been a great way for me to meet new people!

It's half-day only (9-12), and some moms prefer all day, so that may be a drawback for you.

My 8 yr old son thrived in Team class. I loved that class. My 4 yr old daughter has a more introverted personality and thrives in a much smaller class - Ms. Cheri's - there is a long wait list for her class.

I know people who have driven from Camarillo (even Ventura), Malibu, Simi and Woodland Hills to attend HH. So my little drive from WLV is a piece a cake compared to that!

Call them up today for a tour. Tour all the classes and see what you like. One of the benefits at HH is that you can choose the teacher and class you'd like (if there are openings) and there is a great variety of personality and classes, which helps a lot.

They have an amazing PARENT TALK Program with published child development speakers from around the country. And the talks are so affordable. I go to both the Parent & Teacher talks.
http://www.conejo.tec.ca.us/parenting/parenttalkseries.htm

With my 2nd, I immediately signed up for their "infant classes" just so I could be in the system for first dibs on their 2 year old classes. Those are highly regarded (they meet once a week for 3 hours and are mommy and me) because of the 2 great teachers to teach them. I wanted a certain teacher and got it! It was a great year because I learned even more and my daughter's little brain and body thrived also.

This school mostly is known by word-of-mouth, since it's not advertised as a preschool. It's a Parent Education program through the Conejo Valley Adult School and I regret that my first born son was not in their program from the very beginning, because I really could have used the knowledge/support in his 2nd year!

Good luck in your search. Just call all the schools you get good feedback for and take a tour, so you can compare and make a choice.

I'm not able to do co-op because I also have a baby as do you. My son has attended Crossroads Preschool in Simi Valley at the Methodist Church on Cochran/Erringer for the last 2 years and we've been very happy. Small class sizes, very dedicated teachers, and we like that the kids go to weekly chapel (we're Christians, but there are many families that are not and while they teach about God and Jesus,they aren't heavy). They have nutritious meals and snacks. They are a developmental preschool but Pre-K delves into a little more kinder prep but still in a developmental approach. Nice big clean rooms, tons for them to do. They have family events often as well. It's inexpensive-- our son attends from 8:30-1:30 3 days per week and I pay $340 per month. You can also do the 8:30-12 option and just have snack (my son likes staying until 1:30 and eating lunch with friends and a last outside play). You can also be flexible on days of the week you attend (how many days, what days)which is different from other schools.

No school is perfect, but we've been very pleased and when my daughter is old enough she'll go there too.

A friend of mine who lives in T.O. loves Horizon Hills. I don't know if Camarillo is too far for you, but we LOVE Mt. Cross Preschool. They came highly recommended by friends and I have never heard a bad story. The Director and the teachers are so very loving and believe in positive reinforcement. Each child can go at their own pace depending on their age, personality, abilities, etc. It's our second year and we just love them. Their teacher per student ratio is better than the other schools I looked into, and the rate is reasonable.

As a former preschool teacher, nanny and now (even better) a mom I can say with confidence that I have the best place for you. It's know as Horizon Hills. It's a child's wonderland! It is also inexpensive (It's a co-op) and in Thousand Oaks. My daughter attended here when she was 2 1/2 - 3. She is presently 4 1/2 and has been to a number of schools. They all cost much more than H.H. but she liked this place the best and so did I! The teachers are amazing and the support for parents is unmatched. We live in Topanga but it's worth it to me to drive to Thousand Oaks because there is nothing like it in our area. Just to give you an idea of why we like it so... Art, dress-up, water play and they always have an easel up! They have a ceramics teacher on Clay Days. They bring a mountain of snow in every year for the children to sled in. They offer concerts for the children and invite the highest quality speakers for the parents. It is a place where respect and kindness is shown to parents and their children. These are some of the reasons we are returning to the Team class (there are different classes available, we attend the one know as "Team") two days a week starting this Tuesday. Sometimes there is a waiting list to get a spot for your child so if you're interested I'd call right away. They will let you come and visit with your child. If you show up on on Tuesday or Thursday and see a mom named S. (me) please say hello. Here's the phone # and website:
Phone : ###-###-#### Ext 2001
http://www.conejo.tec.ca.us/parenting/aboutus.htm

My twin boys have been at Notre Dame preschool for alittle over a year now. I am really happy with the school. It is small and they are one of the few local schools that has a small ratio of kids to teachers. I looked at about 12 schools and they all max out at 12 kids to 1 teacher, which is crazy for 3 or 4 year olds.
You can call to schedule a tour. It is a very small school (about 60 kids), beautiful setting and they are so caring. They have a website which is http://www.sndca.org/ndlearningcenter/
Good Luck, A.

My kids also went to Horizon Hills. It was awesome. They just got a brand new playground the end of last year and my son all summer wanted to go to the park at his school. The teachers are the best around. It is afordable and the children thrive.We were in team class it was great. My youngest son started Kindergarten this year and I am bummed I will have no more kids at Horizon my older two are in high school but also went to Horizon for pre-school.They have classes from very young to 5+. If for some reason you are unable to work in the class once a week the park & recreation (Dover & Hendrix) also has an excellent pre-school program. Miss Kathy & Miss Koty are EXCELLENT. Good luck.

Preschool can be very expensive. I have my 4 yr old twins in the preschool through the Simi Valley Adult School. It's the cheapest one around. I needed that since I was sending tow at the same time. We've been very happy with it. You do, however, need to help in the classroom once a week. That's why it is cheaper. But honestly, I think it makes the transition easier for when it comes time to drop them off and leave them at school while you go about your day. There is also a preschool program through the parks and rec which is in the same price range. Another good one is the new program at Moorpark College. I know there is a waiting list there. I took the tour myself and was very impressed. Anyway, I hope that helps. Good luck!

Horizon Hills, Horizon Hills, Horizon Hills!!!

Do you get the feeling some of us are pushing for Horizon Hills? :>)

My son and I started there in the Mommy and Me class when he was two and will be in our second year of a multi-age (3-5) class this year. He also went to Summer School there this summer (ages 3 - 10 -- most of the older kids were program graduates).

As an ex-elementary and Jr.High teacher, I see SO many benefits to this program. Parents are the official students (through Conejo Valley Adult Education) and participate in the program. I think we learn as much as the kids do! It's a play-based curriculum and kids at Horizon Hills are not pushed to do anything. They learn through everything they do there! Horizon Hills kids are the ones who will enter Kindergarten able to make choices when someone asks them what they want to do. They will have spent their early formative years thinking for themselves instead of having someone tell them exactly how to do something every minute of the day (as you will see in a lot of child-care and preschool programs).

The teachers at Horizon Hills will not teach your kid how to write. They'll teach your kid that the world is full of wonderful things to write about when the time comes to write about them. It's a marvelous place and I'd highly recommend it to any parent in the area (we drive from Camarillo).

Good luck in your search.

M.

I have been very happy with Westminster Presbyterian preschool in Westlake Village. Both of my kids are/were very happy there (ages 6 1/2 and 4, with the 4 year old still there). I also hear that the preschool at St. Max's, Kolbe's Corner, is quite good.

My son went to Westminster Presbyterian preschool & we loved it. My youngest will also go there if we still live n the area. I highly recommend it. I've heard good things about Horizon Hills & Notre Dame too.