Ice Cream & Shoe Preschool: Tuition, Admissions and Reviews | Marin Private Schools

San Rafael, California

Full of wonder, rooted in love

We are a nonsectarian preschool with five classrooms, each with its own morning program designed for the age and developmental range of its children.

Ch. 1

The Story

Ice Cream & Shoe is dedicated to nurturing the emotional, social, and cognitive development of the whole child. By expanding the child’s sphere of intimacy and gaining his or her trust, we help children learn how to be happy in relationship with one another and their environment. Our approach is to raise children in love and relationship.

Conflicts are dealt with as learning opportunities. Each child involved is heard and supported, and comes away more fully in touch with their feelings.

We understand discipline to be a process of setting appropriate, respectful, and consistent limits.

Ice Cream & Shoe is a nonsectarian, privately owned corporation. We welcome families from all backgrounds and celebrate all cultural traditions. Our families often stay in touch for many years after graduation, sharing photos and accomplishments of beloved alumni.

Ch. 2

A School Day

Our school is a year-round program. During the regular school year, we follow the same holidays as the Miller Creek School District.

9am

Arrival

Our Frogs program day begins at 9am.

Outside

Each day our four older classes are in a different setting, exclusively playing within their own class during the morning.

2:30pm

Pickup

Our Frogs program day ends at 2:30pm.

Ch. 3

Programs

Each classroom has its own morning program specifically designed for the age and developmental range of its children.

Tadpoles

The Tadpoles Class is an introduction to the world of preschool.

Ages2 years 6 months to 3 years

DaysProgram options Monday to Friday

Hours9am-1pm; optional care 8:30-9am, 3-4:30pm; optional nap/rest 1:15-3pm

Ice Creams

The Ice Creams Class is another of our beginning classes.

Ages3 years to 3 years 6 months

DaysProgram options Monday to Friday

Hours9am-1pm; optional care 8:30-9am, 3-4:30pm; optional nap/rest 1:15-3pm

Shoes

The Shoes Class is a very important transition into a new stage of growth.

Ages3 years 6 months to 4 years

DaysProgram options Monday to Friday

Hours9am-1pm; optional care 8:30-9am and 1-4:30pm

Dragonflies

The young four-year-olds in the Dragonflies Class step up their transition in broadening their increasing cognitive skills and emotional/social growth toward independence.

Ages4 years to 4 years 6 months

DaysProgram options Monday to Friday

Hours9am-1pm; optional care 8:30-9am and 1-4:30pm

Frogs

The Frogs Class emphasizes individual learning through the availability for students to progress at their own speed and own level of competence.

Ages4 years 6 months to 5 years 6 months

DaysProgram options Monday to Thursday

Ch. 4

The Campus

Our five classrooms are brimming with creative energy.

Our low student/teacher ratio allows for an intimate setting.

Children play outside in our very large backyard, which includes several different areas: downstairs, the "pretend" grassy hill area with slides, a large sandbox and a mud kitchen for messy play on warm days; upstairs, the garden area with tree swings, a huge two-story wooden structure and a large sandbox; and next door, an area with many climbers, a swing set slide structure and a huge sandbox. There is also a blacktop area and a small redwood stand with our resident barn owl, Julio.

For our Tadpoles Class, a big sandbox, climbing structures and small ride-upons are featured in a private fenced yard exclusively for this class.

Our Dragonfly classroom includes some of the same kindergarten wall items: a calendar, weather chart, chores chart, letter of the week, etc.

Ch. 5

Enrichment

We use the few precious years before kindergarten to nurture the development of creativity that can only be learned through play and fun with friends.

Time with our art teacher in the art roomGardeningYearly art showBaking and cookingHummingbirds and butterflies are fed and grownMusicYogaBike dayCircle timePainting easelCarpentry with real tools (Frogs)Artist of the Month (Frogs)

Ch. 6

Admissions

After a personalized school visit, families may submit an application. Susan and the teachers review applications, taking preschool readiness into account. We confirm a child’s spot once the initial fees are received.

Tours

It begins with a personalized visit, hosted by Susan - Beloved Director and Magic Maker. Parents and potential student are invited to view the school and ask questions about our program.

ii.

Age to enroll

Tadpoles do not need to be potty trained.

iii.

Application

Initiation fees are $150 for yearly materials, a one-time $250 registration fee, a one-time $25 scholarship fee and a one-time $550 deposit. The deposit is applied toward the final monthly tuition payment.

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