Basics
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Our Teachers
Ms. Shelly Verville. I am the Director and have been in this field for 40 years. I have taught 2’s, 3’s, and 4’s. I love to watch the children grow and flourish into independent little Kindergartners ready to take on a large school environment with confidence and self reliance. This is what we strive to accomplish in our small loving environment.
Ms. Kristy Truscott. I have been a teacher for all preschool ages for the past 38 years. My strengths are curriculum and organization. I thrive on having our students accomplish learning their letters, numbers, shapes and colors. I love art and feel our students should display as much art as we can allow them to explore with. Sensory is also another love of mine and watching them explore with their senses the environment we have provided for them is absolutely exhilarating. I am the Curriculum and Resource Teacher for Pilgrim Learning Academy and I will provide your child with the best learning experience humanly possible.
Ms. Lauren Abraham. I am the Pre-K teacher and I have been teaching for over 10 years. I love watching my students coming into my class with limited knowledge and leaving knowing their sight words and prereading skills. I love to watch their coloring go from scribbling to staying beautifully in the lines and holding their pencils and crayons correctly. We foster independence and I love watching them know where their belongings go and be able to place them in their proper places with out their parents. This achievement lets me know that they are ready for Kindergarten and will soar in their new school with out fear and with self confidence.
Ms. Finn Ennis. I am the Pre-k teacher and have had 8 years plus experience. I love to watch the threes move into their pre-k class exploring the new adventures they face through books and science, writing and reading. Expounding their vocabulary every day and recognizing their name and learning to write with the confidence of first graders by the time they move to kindergarten. It is a pleasure to help and watch them grow.
Ms. Cait Truscott. I have taught for about 5 years now. I am the teacher for the three year old class. I love to see them come from a room where their teacher is just teaching them to clean up and recognize shapes, colors, numbers and letters. Here I will teach them to hold their pencils and crayons correctly, we will engage in art activities and work hard to recognize our own name. I love teaching this age child and watching them grow. We will be preparing to move to the more advanced Pre-K class.
Ms. Mary Medrano. I am the teacher for the two year old’s and this is my first year teaching my own class. I am excited and love working with these little ones. We have fun and laugh, we create art and play games, we sing and count, we learn our alphabet and read lots and lots of stories. We are learning to clean up our toys and put them where they belong as well as getting along with our friends. We are learning new vocabulary every day and we love to play. I am looking forward to all the new things they will learn and explore this year.
Ms. Debra. I am the afternoon supervisor on Monday and Tuesdays. I am semi retired and have worked in this field for over 35 years. I love to watch my little friends become independent and able to put away their toys, and their own belongings. It is a thrill to watch them grow and flourish under such love and encouragement as we offer here. I am glad to be a part of this exciting school.
Ms Lena. I am a parent of two students first. Then when I observed how the staff works with the children I decided to go back to school and become a part of this team. They assist the children in becoming self sufficient and confident. They encourage them to try new things and become who they are as an individual. They do not expect these children to fit into a box of expectation and as an educator that is what I wanted to be a part of and assist these little ones in becoming who they are meant to be. I love being taught by these teachers on how to handle different situation and how to become the best teacher I can be as well as learning to understand the children and how best to assist them in their accomplishments. I am looking forward to my new career as a teacher in this loving environment.
Philosophy
Our philosophy emphasizes the uniqueness of each child and their individual learning style. We are dedicated to understanding and enhancing their learning journey by tailoring our approach to meet their needs.
Additionally, we are committed to fostering a safe and nurturing community inspired by the Reggio Emilia philosophy. Our program encourages hands-on learning, collaborative problem-solving, and creative exploration. We equip our students with the skills to be independent, effective communicators, and proficient problem solvers, preparing them for a successful educational journey through loving support and consistent guidance.
Location
We are located on the corner of Stanton Ave and Castro Valley Blvd, right next door to Jiffy Lube. We are about a 2 minute drive down the street from Stanton Elementary School. Our location is quick on and off to 238 or 580 East or West. It will take you less than 15 minutes to drop your child off and hop right back on the freeway. We are about 50 paces from the nearest bus stop as well.
About our program
At Pilgrim Learning Academy in Castro Valley, children thrive in a stimulating environment that fosters growth and independence. Our hands-on approach to learning sets us apart, focusing on real-life experiences for early childhood education and development.
Admissions
We ask that all our potential families book a tour to make sure that the environment is a good fit for the family as a whole. Then from there we send the paperwork to you and ask you to fill it out and complete it and turn it in 3 to 7 days prior to your child’s first day of school. Once completed you are on your way.