Debaz yo
Lang yo sipòte se lang founisè a oswa manm pèsonèl yo kapab kominike avèk paran/gadyen yo. Sa pa endike lang ansèyman an ak/oswa kourikoulòm ki baze sou lang nan pwogram nan.
Paran yo te chèche tou
Pwofesè nou yo
A small, family-style daycare where children are loved, supported, and free to learn through play.
Melissa – Owner & Teacher Hi! I’m Melissa, the owner of Top of the Hill School. Starting my own program has always been a dream of mine. I wanted to create a space where children feel safe, supported, and excited to explore and learn through play. I have over 17 years of experience working with young children. I spent 8 years as a preschool teacher, including 3 years as a lead teacher. Before that, I worked as a nanny for several families, caring for children from newborn through school age.
I’ve completed 24 Early Childhood Education (ECE) units at City College of San Francisco, including CPR and First Aid training. I also enjoy participating in professional development with other directors so I can continue learning and growing in the work I love.
Outside of daycare, my husband and I have been foster parents since the summer of 2016. Through that journey we adopted our three wonderful daughters, who love getting to know the babies and toddlers in our daycare community.
Kathy – Teacher My mom, Kathy, works alongside me each day and helps make our daycare feel like a true family environment. She is a mom to five daughters and a proud grandma to eight grandchildren. She has always loved being around kids and has a special spark that children seem naturally drawn to. Her warmth, patience, and playful spirit bring so much joy to our program.
Kathy is also CPR and First Aid certified and loves being part of the children’s daily adventures, from playtime to storytime.
Achievements
Kòmantè ak revizyon paran verifye
Revi
Filozofi
At Top of the Hill School, learning happens through play. Kids explore, imagine, and create while building skills, confidence, and independence—all in a fun, hands-on way. We provide the space, guidance, and encouragement so every child can discover and grow at their own pace.
Kote
We’re located in a quiet neighborhood in North Beach, just a few blocks from the library and playground, perfect for little ones to explore the community safely and comfortably.
Our care environment is thoughtfully designed with dedicated play and learning areas that invite children to explore developmentally appropriate activities.
We enjoy the outdoors every day, whether at a nearby park or neighborhood walk. We believe kids need space to move their bodies—run, jump, climb, and explore the world around them!
At Top of the Hill School, my goal is to provide an enriching, nurturing environment where children feel safe, inspired, and free to play and discover at their own pace.
A quick note: We do have a sweet cat named Spot who lives in our home. She is not around during school hours, but we like to give families a heads-up in case of allergies.
Konsènan pwogram nou an
Welcome to Top of the Hill! Our play-based home daycare provides a warm, nurturing environment where children learn through hands-on exploration, creativity, and everyday play. We believe young children learn best when they feel safe, supported, and free to be curious about the world around them.
Formerly located in Nob Hill, we have proudly served families for over 8 years and are excited to continue offering the same trusted care and loving environment in our new neighborhood.
Our daycare is truly a family setting—my mom works alongside me each day, bringing extra warmth, attention, and care to the children in our program. Together we create a calm, supportive space where every child is known, valued, and encouraged to grow. We focus on building strong relationships, supporting social-emotional development, and fostering a lifelong love of learning through play.
Ritm Jounen an
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8:00-8:30amFamilies Arrive
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9:00Morning nap/activities for older kiddos
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9:45amSnack time
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10:00amWake up from nap, outside and exploring time
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11:45amLunch Time
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1:00 pmNap Time
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3:30pmAfternoon Snack Time
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4:00-5:00 pmplay and exploring time/pick up
2025-2026 Calendar
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August 12thFirst day of school
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Sept 1stLabor Day
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October 13th-17thSchool is closed
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October 31stSchool closes at 4
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November 5th no schoolTrudy’s adoption day (our foster daughter)
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November 11thVeterans Day
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November 24th-28thThanksgiving
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December 22nd-Jan 5thWinter break
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January 19thMLK Day
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February 16thPresidents day
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April 3rdSchool closes half day 12:30
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April 6th-10thSpring break
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May 25thMemorial Day
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July 9th-10thSchool is closed
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July 3rd4th of July (observed)
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July 27th-August 11thSummer break
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2026/2027School Calendar
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August 12thFirst day of school
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Sept 7thLabor Day
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Oct 19th-23Closed
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November 23rd-27thThanksgiving break no school
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December 21st-Jan 5thWinter break
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January 18thMLK Day no school
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February 15thPresident's day
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March 26thHalf day school closes at 12:30
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March 29th-April 2ndSpring break
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May 31stMemorial Day- no school
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July 8th-9thSchool closed
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August 2nd-13thSummer break- no school
Admisyon
Join the Top of the Hill School community in four easy steps:
1. Explore our website
We’ve provided information about our philosophies and offerings to help you decide if our program may be right for your family.
2. Tour our program
Come see what makes Top of the Hill School unique. Please schedule a tour or attend an Open House event.
3. Submit an Enrollment Application
If you would like to enroll, please submit an application. Please note that we require tours for all prospective families. Please do not submit an application if you have not visited the program.
4. Enroll
After reviewing your application, we’ll send an enrollment invitation. Upon accepting your invitation you’ll pay your enrollment fee, fill out enrollment documents and review our Parent Handbook.