Neighborhood Playgarden

Our Teachers

Our teachers are caring adults dedicated to the wellbeing and growth of each child. Each teacher has prepared for the important task of nurturing the growth of the next generation. This preparation includes Lifeways training and continuing courses in Waldorf education through Rudolf Steiner College as well as child development course offered through accredited colleges that qualify us to offer a Preschool For All program for our four-year-olds.

Parent participants take turns providing support for classroom activities and helping to ensure that each child is cared for in a homelike environment.

Julie Fellom, Director and Teacher

Julie Fellom, M.Ed has been a Waldorf early childhood educator for 32 years. Julie’s passion is exploring process art with children and finding ways to infuse outdoor and nature experiences into her work with children. In addition to directing and teaching at NPG, Julie also developed Diaper Free Toddlers in 2006 as a response to parents’ questions about toddlers’ toilet learning. Since 2006, Julie’s Diaper Free Toddlers classes have helped over 7,000 bay area families successfully reduce environmental waste while meeting the developmental needs of toddlers’ quest for self determination and independence in toileting. Julie is an active participant in the San Francisco Family Child Care Association, NAEYC, CAEYC, NAFCC and WECAN.

Indianna Hale, Lead Teacher

Indianna Hale is a trained Waldorf Teacher and professional musician. A graduate of

Testimonials

“We wouldn’t be where we are without Neighborhood Playgarden. The school has supported our family over the last years in more ways than I can count. The school is play-based and places great emphasis on outdoor play and outdoor education via weekly hikes (rain or shine) and daily adventures in the garden, which has a wood shop, a tree house, vegetable beds, chickens, a bunny, and a large sand play area. The teachers are very knowledgeable and hands-on in just the right way: not too much and not too little. The community is tight - annual camping trips, potlucks, and regular parent work shifts ensure that everyone knows each other pretty well. The school also sponsors craft nights and parent education classes, which have been invaluable in our development as parents. We feel very fortunate to have found this little gem of a preschool just a few minutes from home.” - Viola (Parent review on Yelp)

“We are a new family at NPG this year and could not be happier with our experience so far. Though we just started I have felt part of the community since I started the application process about 10 months ago. There are so many things that I feel set NPG apart from a more standard preschool experience - the homey, magical indoor playroom/kitchen, the beautiful adjacent garden and outdoor play area, the exceptionally nutritious food, the emphasis on free play, nature and outdoor activity (weekly hikes!), the parent education program, the emphasis on community and parent involvement (it’s a co-op of sorts), and the director herself, Julie Fellom, who is a ‘kid-whisperer’ and sage advisor to all parents in the community.  Julie empowers parents and families to help create happy, competent, responsible children. At the beginning of every school year the entire community of parents, teachers, and children go camping at Camp Mather. Having done it now, I think every preschool should do something similar - my children and I started the school year already feeling like we knew most members of the community outside of school, which helped all of us so much in the big transition to starting school life. It would have taken a long time for us to get to know the other kids and families the way we already do.  This is a truly special place and we feel so lucky to be part of it.” - Celeste (Parent review on Yelp)

“Neighborhood Playgarden is like a fairytale wonderland in the heart of San Francisco. It is the perfect place for little children to explore their imaginations and develop early social skills while being ‘held’ by warm and nurturing teachers who have in-depth knowledge of early childhood development. They seem to know just what each child needs at any moment. I love that my daughter will forever have her experiences from NPG in her heart as part of her growing up years. The community of families that develops is really special, and they go the extra mile with events such as the autumn lantern walk, holiday Advent spiral, spring May Fair celebration, and summer Family Camp, to name a few. NPG is a true San Francisco treasure for families with small children, and also for the community in general.” - MC (Parent review on Yelp)

“Our eldest is about to graduate into kindergarten after 2 years there and our youngest still has another year. I’d recommend it to anybody who values the outdoors and fostering community. It’s the only home-based Waldorf (WECAN) accredited school in the nation. It’s a parent participation school so if you’re looking for a daycare like drop off and forget then this is not for you. Long outdoor hikes once a week, school days are now 8:30-3pm, two camping trips a year. It is non-ironically described as magical for the children.” - Lamont (Parent review on Yelp)

Philosophy

Neighborhood Playgarden is a parent participation preschool program in the upper Castro/Noe area of San Francisco. We are committed to creating a sustainable community for San Francisco families with young children, especially those who may live far away from their extended family members.

Our curriculum is a play-based, non-academic approach to developing skills designed to provide a firm foundation for later academic success. Here your child can develop feelings of security, accomplishment, and self-esteem while living the daily and weekly rhythms that are woven into the cycle of the year.

Daily your child is nurtured by free play and structured activities. On any given day, we may enjoy singing, movement, art, stories, gardening and animal care, and lots of outside time.

Weekly we enjoy arts and crafts, coloring, baking, household tasks, and hikes and excursions to nature spots throughout our urban environment.

Throughout the year we celebrate life with seasonal festivals, family camping and community gatherings. Together we work to improve the school grounds and gardens. Parents are encouraged to share their skills and passions with us.

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Location

We are located in a lovely home in the upper Castro/Noe area of San Francisco.

Our Learning Environment:

The young child’s senses are open and receptive to every element in their environment. All the senses have been taken into account in the design on our learning environment.

Open areas are provided for groups of children to gather and smaller spaces are set aside where one or two can play quietly.

Inside, the children’s creative imaginations are complemented by wooden blocks and toys, a rainbow of play clothes and handmade dolls, vivid beeswax crayons, and books.

Outdoors, the children’s rich imaginations come alive in a secure play yard. A sand area is seeded with hidden ‘treasures’ to excavate. Children have daily opportunities for working in the garden and caring for our dogs and chickens during outside play time. Our outside area also includes a woodworking area,  a clay table, creative messy art area, water tables and a large sandbox.  A committed group of parents raised funds to build a tree house partially made of branches we collected on our weekly nature hikes as well as a boat deck play structure with a view of the San Francisco bay.

Our proximity to Kite Hill and the Corwin St. Garden lets us play outdoors in the neighborhood regularly. Our weekly nature hikes provide plenty of opportunity for nature exploration.

Nature:

Children are sensory beings who learn with their whole bodies.  Immersion in the natural world is one of the best teachers in early childhood.  

We go outside nearly every day at NPG rain or shine. We also spend the morning outdoors once a week, usually at Glen Park or Golden Gate Park in the Children’s Garden. On other days we might take a neighborhood walk and enjoy Kite Hill and the Corwin Street Community Garden.  

We care for our bantam hens who lay eggs most days. We have classroom therapy dogs who help children with special needs navigate the day. The children are involved in working in our organic garden and enjoy weeding and planting and watering. In addition, we have planted herbs and flowers that the children are welcome to use to make “soups” and “potions” while they play in the mud kitchen. As much as possible, we offer daily outdoor art activities.

About our program

Neighborhood Playgarden is a non-profit parent participation preschool in the upper Castro/Noe Valley neighborhood. Our school was founded in 2005 and serves children ages 2-5. Children may attend 2, 3 or 5 mornings per week.

We are a Lifeways program and accredited by Waldorf Early Childhood Association of North America (WECAN), as well as Gateway to Quality at San Francisco State University.  We receive funding for 4-year-old children through First 5 San Francisco’s Preschool for All (PFA) program.

Parents participate in the classroom as volunteers; each parent is in the classroom with us approximately 10 times per year. In addition, parents are required to attend 6 monthly parent education meetings per year, as well as one mandatory annual all-parent business meeting held in the weeks before each school year begins.

Optional activities include family camp-outs, snow trips, occasional weekend gatherings at parks and playgrounds, and a parents’ handwork and crafts group that meets biweekly. Neighborhood Playgarden strives to attract families who are interested in all aspects of the program.

Food at NPG:

Food is an integral part of our day at NPG. The children help to prepare some of the food we share together each day. We serve  snacks and lunch according to the guidelines of the Federal Food Program.

In addition, we strive to bring the highest quality food to the children. We use nutrient dense organic ingredients and pasture-raised eggs and meats whenever possible. We are inspired by the work of Sally Fallon and Nourishing Our Children. We make our own stock and bread each week.

Parent Education Workshops:

Parent education is an important part of our program at NPG. Parents have the opportunity to attend a variety of classes and hear guest speakers as well as to knit, make beeswax candles, do felting, basket making, and other handcrafts throughout the year. Enrolled NPG parents are required to attend 5 parent education classes over the course of a school year. All of our parent education classes are open to the public.

We offer a wide variety of speakers and classes. Our 2018-2019 speakers include Susan Perrow who visited us from Australia in October 2018 and talked about her work with stories as healing for young children, Faith Collins, author of Joyful Toddlers who will be with us in March, and Suzanne Down of Juniper Tree Puppets who will visit in April and offer a half day parent workshop on healing puppetry.

Handwork & Crafts:

One of the best ways to get to know our NPG community is to attend one of our craft classes. As human beings, we use our hands regularly in our daily lives. In our technological age, we have moved away from the creation of the home made in favor of online pursuits. In today’s busy world, working with your hands to create something your child or family will enjoy is a way to slow down from the sometimes hectic pace of life and connect person to person.

You don’t have to be “crafty” to enjoy our classes. Beginners are welcome! Come learn to knit or crochet. Make a doll or a puppet or a spring basket or dip some beeswax candles for your table. Our knitting and handwork group meets twice a month on Monday evenings during the school year.

Festivals:

The inner life of the child is supported through celebrating seasonal festivals. As a community, we celebrate together with our fall lantern walk, our Winter Solstice gathering, the annual Spring Egg Hunt and our May Faire. Our May Faire is open to the public and will be held this year on May 19, 2019 in Half Moon Bay. Tickets will go on sale in April 2019. Our smaller festivals take place during school mornings and incorporate nature and the traditions of currently enrolled families.

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Admissions

We have a detailed application process so that applying families are well informed and comfortable with the school before they apply. Here is the process:

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. Please also visit the Lifeways website to learn more about how the Lifeways approach to early care.

2. Visit us for a brief tour

We offer tours every Tuesday and Thursday at 11:00am (except during vacations). This tour will introduce you to the program and lasts about 10-15 minutes. Scroll to the top of this website to schedule your tour.

3. Complete background reading

Read “You Are Your Child’s First Teacher” by Rahima Ballwin Dancy. It is available at Bird & Beckett Books in Glen Park or online. This book will give you a detailed overview of Waldorf education for young children.

4. Sign up for a parent/child class or event at our school

Come see what makes Neighborhood Playgarden unique. Sign up for a parent-child class and/or come to a parent education or public event sponsored by our school. You may do this by emailing us at [email protected].

5. Complete a 4-hour morning observation session

After you have completed steps 1-4 above you can schedule a 4-hour Tuesday or Thursday morning observation of the program in action. You may do this by emailing [email protected]. The morning observation visit is for parents only. Please do not bring your child, although non-mobile babies in carriers are welcome. Classroom observations are scheduled throughout the year. This is the best way to see a day in action at NPG and to determine if this is the right choice for your family.

At the end of the 4-hour observation visit, you are eligible to complete an online application if you would like to apply to NPG.

6. Submit an Enrollment Application

At the end of the Parent Observation we will give you an application. Please return it with a photo of your family and a check for $25 made out to NPG Inc.

7. Enroll

We will get back to you to let you know about availability within ten days of receiving your application.

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