Sequoia Nursery School

"Sequoia Nursery School is the place to thrive, both as a child and an adult! We couldn't have asked for a more supportive community to be a part of and we feel so lucky to have spent preschool at Sequoia. As a working parent in a co-op preschool I got to spend time with my daughter and her growing circle of friends—and invaluable experience. Located among the beautiful forests of Oakland the Sequoia school grounds are a meditative paradise. In the morning, when the sun shines through the leaves you're embraced by gold sequins of light and the happiest laughters as kids run down the grass hill of the play yard. We will miss Sequoia very much and cherish our memories there forever."

"I recommend Sequoia Nursery School, a co-op nursery in the Oakland hills. Our son started at Sequoia in the fall of 2019 when he was 3 years old. He was a little anxious at first and not happy when I left him alone, but the teachers, Lori and Susan, always treated him with affection. One day, he started to love Sequoia and now every morning he asks me, “Is Sequoia open?” and if I say yes, he is so excited and can’t wait to go. Kids can do different activities like playing with play dough, or paint at the Art Station. There’s a huge playground, with a sandbox, monkey bars, and a slide where they can burn off all their energy. In March 2020, the school closed due to COVID-19, but we continued online classes where the kids read stories, sang songs, and drew pictures. In February 2021, in-person classes started again, with the kids in 2 different groups of 12 max. The teachers were very good at always keeping them masked and spaced 6 feet apart. Not easy! Our son is happy every morning that he can go to Sequoia to see the teachers and his Sequoia friends. We are a little sad because he has not been able to enjoy more days at Sequoia due to COVID-19, because we love Sequoia very much and so does our son."

"Being a part of this school has been awesome for our entire family. My 4 year old looks forward to going, my almost 2 year old has to be dragged out during drop-off because she thinks it's so awesome and wants to stay forever, and we've been able to participate in the school as parent volunteers, and experienced the amazing Sequoia community. We love everything about Sequoia (especially the teachers and incredible setting)!"

"Sequoia Nursery School has been our beautiful, loving, home away from home for the last 5 years. Our three kids have attended, the baby is getting ready to graduate in May. We have loved the community that is created each year by committed, connected, super-cool families that invest in their child's first school experience. It is work, but it feels like a labor of love to give back to both my children and their peers. The play-based curriculum is wonderful, flexible and open to what the families and children bring to the space. Teachers Lori and Susan are incredibly giving, warm and knowledgeable. We are so grateful for our time at Sequoia and highly recommend it to anyone who can make it work for their family."

"My family truly loves Sequoia Nursery School. We love the community, we love the teachers, we love the environment. The community is made up of two teachers and about thirty families every year. Around twenty-three kids attend each school day (3-5 days per week for each child). The families are warm and welcoming, and parents are so ready to support each other. Some examples include passing down clothes and books from one family to another, helping each other with childcare in a pinch, setting up play dates, advising one another on issues ranging from potty training to kindergarten selection and everything in between, dropping off meals for families with new babies, and generally just being there for each other to listen in this phase of family life. Our teachers Susan and Lori both come to Sequoia every day with hearts full of love and patience to guide our children. They are both former parents of the school, and they appreciate and respect the special place that is Sequoia Nursery School. They are experts on child development, and committed to play as the work of the child. The children get to play inside and outside at the beautiful Sequoia Lodge. It is set in a park, with inviting redwood trees all around the play structures, sandbox, and tricycle lot. The lodge itself is open and spacious, with a big skylight, large windows, and beautiful wood floors. Inside, there are engaging choices including two art stations (new and creative activities all the time), a rice table, a play dough table, and a collage table, plus a cozy library with big comfy pillows for cuddling up together with some books, a creative play area with a toy kitchen, dolls, and costumes, and a big closet full of puzzles, cars, trains, building toys, and more that children can select for play. Because we pack away the materials at the end of every week (so the Lodge can be used for events), the space stays uncluttered and intentional, not over-stimulating. Prospective parents need to know that this is a parent cooperative nursery school, which means that parents work one morning per week (per child) at the school during the academic year, and participate in school maintenance and operation. It is an investment of time. For me, this has been one of the most appealing aspects of the school, because I get to actively engage in this really precious part of my children’s education and development."