Calvary Preschool is a private non-profit, non-sectarian preschool located downtown Santa Cruz. We offer a full curriculum which includes field trips to the museum, beach, Seymour Laboratory, post office, library, and much more. We have a life lab garden in which the children get to work year round and we stress the importance of recycling and reusing in our everyday lessons.
We offer a program for ages 2 through 5 years with three different classrooms so that we can personalize the curriculum that best fits the needs of each child. We provide a safe, child-centered learning environment where children can develop at their own pace. We offer one of the best child to teacher ratios in Santa Cruz.
We offer a program for ages 2 through 5 years with three different classrooms so that we can personalize the curriculum that best fits the needs of each child. We provide a safe, child-centered learning environment where children can develop at their own pace. We offer one of the best child to teacher ratios in Santa Cruz.
Services
Our program has been designed to nurture children in every aspect of their development: social, emotional, physical and cognitive. We at Calvary provide an individualized, non-competative environment to help develop strong self images and confidence. We create an environment where children can have a variety of sensory experiences including water, sand and mud as well as physical challenges such as running, climbing and building.
Reviews (9)
Ayla M.
Jan 26, 2019
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Love love love this preschool! I literally cannot say enough good things about it. I was a wreck trying to find a preschool for my almost 3 year old. He's so sensitive but has a strong will. I was worried about soooo many things. My husband found this one and I took a tour. I really liked what I saw and my son immediately got excited. The first 2 weeks he cried during drop offs but after that he was great! He LOVES his teachers (they are some of the most amazing group of women you will ever meet) and gets excited right when we walk through the door! Usually he will run to his teacher and hug
Margaret W.
Oct 10, 2018
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This is my daughter's 3rd year at Calvary. Its a really difficult struggle as a working parent - to entrust their child to some else's care. I was so happy to find this place and blessed that they had room for my daughter after having to pull her from another facility that failed us. The teachers are very connected to the children and offer feedback and support. I have grown very fond of all of the staff and would 100% recommend bringing your child to Calvary. The teachers are so friendly and engaged with the children. We are thrilled to find such a supportive community with Calvary
Carla R.
Jun 21, 2016
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Choosing a preschool for your little one may be one of the most important decisions you make in the first few years of your child's life. You are trusting essentially strangers with your most precious little person. What makes Calvary so awesome and why should you check it out? Below are just a few reasons:
1. The staff is amazing - Liann, Jen, Ashley, and Leah (to name a few) are warm, caring, supportive, patient, friendly, and just all around awesome people.
2. Warm environment - this place feels like home. Not too sterile and regimented, but also isn't dirty and smells like urine
1. The staff is amazing - Liann, Jen, Ashley, and Leah (to name a few) are warm, caring, supportive, patient, friendly, and just all around awesome people.
2. Warm environment - this place feels like home. Not too sterile and regimented, but also isn't dirty and smells like urine
Maria F.
Jun 02, 2016
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This is the first preschool I tried in Santa Cruz after we moved. My son was 2 and a half and he cried every day for two weeks. They called us to come and pick him up half of the days. It was heart wrenching. Then the director told us that he was not ready for their school. Luckily we tried another school and my son adapted really quickly even though it was a bigger preschool with more kids. I regret having my child experience his time at this school and wish we never had this experience. The teachers didn't give him time to adjust and expected him to be perfect little boy without giving him
Stacy N.
May 20, 2016
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I can't say enough good things about Calvary Preschool! I moved here from SF where my son attended an extremely pricey private school's preschool and I can wholeheartedly say that I like Calvary Preschool even more. The staff makes this place amazing! The teachers are so connected to the students and to me that's the single most important trait of anywhere I'm taking my son. He has a strong relationship with each of the teachers and the director and I love hearing stories from all of them about his day. I am 100% certain that my son is loved and cared for by the team here and
Zoe E.
Apr 15, 2016
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This is the third year my older son has attended Calvary, and we plan to send our younger there as soon as he's old enough. I cannot speak highly enough of this school and how much it has brought to our lives. They offer the perfect combination of structure and free play, providing learning while also giving the kids ample time for running around outside. The kid to teacher ratio is low, and each teacher is wonderful and well-suited to their particular age level. Liann, the director, is endlessly accommodating of our varying schedule, which is so much appreciated. I will miss Calvary when
Mara H.
Jan 20, 2016
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I have now had the privilege of sending 3 kids to Calvary Pre-School. My oldest cried through a large portion of pre- k and was always treated with kindness, compassion & support and so was I.
My 2 now in Elem. both entered kindergarten prepared well beyond the kindergarten curriculum and fully prepared socially. My youngest is now in his 2nd yr. and on the same path.
Liann & the teaching staff are experienced, caring people who make every effort to create a great preschool environment for the students and their families. Over my 5yr enrollment Calvary has repeatedly been able to accommodate
My 2 now in Elem. both entered kindergarten prepared well beyond the kindergarten curriculum and fully prepared socially. My youngest is now in his 2nd yr. and on the same path.
Liann & the teaching staff are experienced, caring people who make every effort to create a great preschool environment for the students and their families. Over my 5yr enrollment Calvary has repeatedly been able to accommodate
Gabrielle K.
Jan 25, 2013
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Calvary is AWESOME! The teachers are caring, loving, and energetic. When I started my daughter there almost a year ago, she had never been away from me. She cried at every drop-off for about two months, and cried during the school day for about a month. Teacher Patience (yes, that's her name and it fits!) carried her around for much of that time until my daughter got acclimated. Now my daughter begs to go school, even on the weekends. I credit Calvary with helping her gain self-confidence and come out of her shell. I love hearing stories from the teachers about her transformation from
Maureen M.
Nov 10, 2009
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I work full-time, so when searching for a preschool for my then 26 month-old daughter, it was critical to know and feel that the environment in which I would be leaving her for six to eight hours a day was a safe, nurturing and fun 'home away from home.' I made many inquiries in various work and friend circles and Calvary kept coming up repeatedly. After touring the facility and meeting the staff I knew this was the place, and so did the many other parents who put their children on the loooonnng waitlist. I needed immediate placement so I settled on another ultimately dissatisfying preschool
