The Mulberry Tree 2426 32nd Street, Santa Monica, CA 90405

"We happened to come across The Mulberry Tree with what felt like an accident, and then good fortune. Our needs were shorter term than a typical school year program - summer. We did not want a private school or the other extreme, a day camp/summer camp atmosphere. Those can be good options, just not what we were looking for. Upon entering The Mulberry Tree, the first thought is, “what exactly is going on here?” Instruments, kid-scale wooden objects, a small dog, little nooks, and an opening to a curiosity garden with edible plants and explorative play space. They incorporate a handful of educational methodologies yet not beholden to any, which feels very unique. There is some daily routine and structure which is a critical component for us as well as free range activities - and lucky for us, it happened to be exactly what we were hoping to find. If you’re quick to judge, you’ll easily overlook the unique, thoughtful gem embodied within. It doesn’t look like other places or programs, doesn’t feel like them either, and its filled with wonder. The adult to child ratio is higher than we expected, with each teacher offering a unique engagement style, calmness and focus. The seniority of the teachers seems biased to those who are deeply experienced, and are fully present and attuned to the frequency of the children - no hurry, no stress, nothing is wrong, with a totally engaging atmosphere. After the first week our children were gushing with curiosities, unlocked by their experiments and explorations with their teachers: * a transformation in their fear of dogs * a willingness to try new foods * a deeper connection to making music * a newfound self assuredness and confidence * A new level of observing the world around them and surprisingly, a deep and fond, respectful connection with their teachers and cohort. Gigi created a brilliant program with very thoughtful curation and The Mulberry Tree delivers it with greatest care."

"I can't articulate much more eloquently than the two moms who have also written the reviews below. Their descriptions of the teachers are spot on. My son loves school and talks about his friends on the weekends. He has been attending off the wait-list since age 2.5. the school is kept small to maintain the student teacher ratio, most of the times I walk in the morning. It can be as low as 1:4 or 1:3. If a child is having a difficult transition or just a bad day, there is always a nurturing teacher to provide hugs, love, and calm reassurance. It has been a perfect place for my son to freely explore his interests in food prep, gardening, obstacle courses, construction/open ended toys, and develop independence. The vegetable based healthy lunches and snacks are a unique draw of this school. Some of the meals are prepared by a Cordon Bleu trained chef. I am so happy I made the right choice for my son, and I plan to send my youngest when the time comes so she can blossom in her language and social development in a cozy, wholesome, and accepting environment."

"Mulberry Tree is a top-notch preschool that is very much a hidden gem in Santa Monica. The Director, Gigi deMarrais has very seamlessly blended a variety of philosophies, Reggio, Waldorf, Play-based etc, by taking the best parts of each of them and creating an environment that is quite magical. They also incorporate a unique food/farm to table education as well as an enriched music program, which are both central to the curriculum. This is my son's second year and I have seen such an openness and receptivity to trying such a wide variety of new foods, which I appreciate so much! His love of music has begun to flourish and truly blossom since being at this school. The teachers are all so caring and attentive and each one seems to bring something significant to the table. Teacher Jacqueline has such a fun, engaging personality with the kids and they all adore her. Teacher Miya brings next level artistic creativity that allows the kids to connect with their inner artist. Teacher Michael brings a wonderfully grounded, authentic camaraderie that all the children seem to respond to. And last but certainly not least, Teacher Philip is truly transformative with his imagination and skill at introducing the children to so many different concepts of this big, wide, world, and all with such aplomb and infectious joy! In a sea of Santa Monica preschools, that to my mind, has become an overcrowded market with little distinguishing characteristics between them, The Mulberry Tree Preschool truly stands apart for its curriculum and overall program, its teachers and its Director, Gigi, who has so beautifully managed to instill and maintain an extraordinary experience for these little ones that I believe with whole heart, is setting them up to be incredible human beings. My last note is that they are actually reasonably priced. So, all and all, this preschool is the best kept secret in Santa Monica!"

"I have so many great things to say about this school. My toddler started here and had never been separated from me. All of the teachers did such a great job consoling her and making her feel comfortable. She has now been there over 6 months, and every day asks to go to school. The teachers are GEMS. Gigi is such a sweet caring woman and her passion for music and dance has really made a difference in my daughter's life. She places lots of emphasis on healthy eating and outdoor exploration, so if you have a picky eater worry no more! She will expose them to new healthy foods daily. On certain days the kids are also involved in the preparation of their foods too. My daughter LOVES cooking now, and always asks to help. Jacklyn is very nurturing and she is always in a great mood. She has lots of energy and she really takes the time to connect with the kids. You can tell she loves her job and wants to be there. My daughter lights up everyday when she sees Jacklyn in the morning. Right away I knew Jacklyn would be one of her favorites. Phillip is a science teacher and SOOOO creative. He comes up with new exciting ways to do science projects with the kids. He also values music and has invented some extremely creative ways to teach it. Whenever I talk to him I am blown away by the ideas he has. My daughter got attached to him very quickly and he helped her a lot with getting over some of her fears. She has a gross motor delay, and after sharing this with him, he actually started working really hard trying to help her improve it. She has improved greatly from where she was when she first started. Aside from the amazing teachers. The children here are so sweet and friendly. The entire school is a warm environment. My daughter is learning so many social skills that I don't feel she would have gotten without coming to The Mulberry Tree. She went from 1-2 word sentences to 8-10 word sentences. She is really blossoming at this school. I am so very grateful for every day she has been able to go here. The Mulberry Tree is more than a school, it's a family."