Mechita Temescal Child Care & Preschool

Our Teachers

Nursery and Tot Teacher Mercedes was born and raised in Peru and is fluent in both Spanish and English. She is a proud mother of five. With over 20 years of experience as a nanny prior to opening her childcare facility, Mercedes has over 20 Early Childhood Education (ECE) units. In her free time, she enjoys cooking and dancing.

Preschool Teacher Ana was born and raised in Bolivia. She speaks Spanish, Quechua, and English, and is a proud mother of two. Ana brings a nurturing and culturally rich perspective to her work with children. Ana is currently pursuing ECE units remotely at Fresno State University. Outside the classroom, she enjoys cooking and sewing.

Director Mechita is MACTE accredited and oversees childcare facilities around the Bay Area including Mechita Temescal. She also teaches part-time at Oakland Montessori Preschool. Mechita also manages parent communication, tours, and enrollment paperwork. In her free time, she enjoys exercising, listening to podcasts, and reading books.

Teacher Assistant Humberto was born and raised in Piura, Peru. He speaks both Spanish and English and has a calm, friendly presence that children love. In his free time, Humberto enjoys morning walks and spending time in nature. He attends continued educational courses with his wife, Mercedes.

Admin Assistant Helen is bilingual in Spanish and English and supports administrative and financial operations while studying computer science at California State University, East Bay. In her free time, Helen enjoys hiking and traveling.

Environment Assistant Francis helps with maintain a clean, safe, and welcoming space for children. He keeps our facilities clean daily/weekly/monthly.

Philosophy

At Mechita Temescal Child Care & Preschool, we believe students grow and learn best when they are engaged in rich experiences throughout their daily schedule and lives. From the rotating daily menu that celebrates founding teacher Mercedes’ Peruvian roots, to the full-immersion experience that promotes students understanding the Spanish language, at Mechita’s your child will grow and develop not only a sense of themselves, but also a deeper connection to different cultures and world perspectives. Our teacher warmly teaches Spanish words and throughout the day during activities, reading time, and went out and about. 

In addition to the full-immersion program, students have many opportunities to gain independence through do-it-yourself projects. We believe the process is more important than the end result when it comes to project work. Because of this, we encourage children to engage in projects focused on experimentation and self-exploration. In this way, children have the space they need to develop critical thinking skills and pursue their unique curiosities and interests.

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Location

Mechita Temescal Child Care & Preschool is located in a welcoming, cozy single family home in the Temescal neighborhood.

We’ve designed our care environment with play and learning areas that allow children to explore various developmentally-appropriate activities based on their interests. Some of our favorite areas include block area (for gross motor skills and problem solving), art area (for expressing emotions and ideas), and dramatic play area (for self-expression and empathy).

Children will spend about half of their time outdoors at mix of both my private yard and local parks and playgrounds. Connecting with nature is vital to a child’s happiness and growth.

At Mechita Temescal Child Care & Preschool, I want to provide an environment that supports the cognitive, social, and emotional growth of each child.

About our program

Why families love us: • Experience Curriculum via Brightwheel — a nationally accredited, research-based preschool program aligned with Head Start and early learning standards. • Low ratios: 1 adult for every 4 children = more personalized attention. • Daily circle time, art, music, outdoor play, and Spanish immersion. • Montessori leadership: Our director is Montessori-certified through a MACTE-accredited training program. • Healthy meals & snacks included. • Fully licensed childcare program.

Admissions

Join the Mechita Temescal Child Care & Preschool 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 Mechita Temescal Child Care & Preschool 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.