We recently toured Learning to Learn while considering it for our son, and we were really impressed…read morewith the changes under Teresa's new leadership. We had a less positive experience in the past, but the environment now feels so much warmer, more welcoming, and better organized. Teresa clearly brings a thoughtful, nurturing approach, and we'd absolutely consider L2L in the future.

My son has been attending Learning to Learn in Petaluma since last summer. The staff have been…read morefantastic, very communicative and quick to respond to messages. The property and layout has been ideal for this little guy and his development. The space has a great indoor outdoor flow, with a small garden, little break out rooms, nap zone, and mini kitchen. The program has been especially accommodating to our unique co-parenting schedule and a change we requested middle of the year when more child care was asked for. Highly recommended

This is a small 1 class per grade country school. They teach growth mindset, toolbox, kindness,…read more and empathy. My children have loved this school and the family that they have created. The active pto helps pay for the garden, drama, and music enrichment programs. The teachers and staff are able to really meet each child that their level so that no one gets left behind and get the children excited about learning. So grateful that we found this amazing school!

After attending Dunham for five years (we moved or we would have been their longer) we have nothing…read morebut good things to say. The staff was supportive through the years when my son was behind in reading. Because of their help he is now up to grade level and excels in math. My daughter is also excelling. Those formative years at Dunham have really created a love of learning in our kids. The teachers, administration, and parents collaborate effectively to run the school in such a way that funds are well allocated to additional curriculum that are fun and educational for the kids. The garden is by far a wonderful addition to the school and really created a community connection between the families and the local agriculture of Sonoma County. Things like apple pressing, seasonal "plant start" sales, and the pumpkin patch where each child gets a pumpkin...these are things that kids remember for the rest of their lives. The end of year carnival is always a blast! It's a close knit community. As a small school, be prepared to face the challenges of kids getting sick of one another. There is only one class per grade so kids stay together. That results in bickering and splitting off eventually with their people. They are like siblings by the time they leave the school. Some kids get along better than others. But the variation of personality types and the inclusion of all demographics really gives these kids a sense of how to treat many types of people in and out of school. in my opinion, this small country school is one of the best in Sonoma County. It's a secret gem.

We have only been here for six months and feel like we have been welcomed with open arms by staff…read moreand fellow parents alike. All the teachers in the school seem to know our children's names. Parents all greet each other warmly each morning during drop off and will introduce themselves to newcomers. Becoming involved in school programs and committees has been easy. The PTA officers are completely approachable and excited to have new parents get involved. The Kindergarten teachers have a deep understanding of early childhood development and the importance of creative, imaginative play and artistic expression as part of the daily curriculum. The kindergarteners are thriving academically and exceeding state standards in this low-pressure, nurturing environment. We feel that this school is a hidden little gem that needs to be discovered!

My son has attended OA for 3 years. In my experience with the school, I think the teachers and the…read moreprincipal truly care about my son's growth. He has struggled in a few areas and they have worked with him to improve his skills and grades. The only issue I see is student to teacher ratio - initially this started out 22 to 1 and now it is 30 to 1, which is too much for elementary students. Also, OA has a very low student population (~250) which ensures the students are lost in the shuffle of a big school.

We absolutely love Rainbow Bridge Montessori! My son started here right after his 2nd birthday, and…read morethe positive effects were almost immediate. His manners, his helpfulness, his patience, his independent play, his friendly sociability - all blossomed with the help and gentle guidance of his wonderful teachers! After keeping my son at home with me for the first two years of his life, I was concerned he would have trouble adjusting to a group environment, but he has absolutely flourished and is excited about school and seeing his friends and teachers every morning. We cherish the photo updates we receive throughout the week of whatever the outdoor seasonal activities the kids are doing, along with their regular engaging classroom work. We love this school so much.

My daughter started at the preparatory class last February, when she was 2.5yrs old. After a few…read moreweeks, I started to hear her say please and thank you. She started helping me with the dishes and asking if we could sit outside to eat. She would tell me about the songs she is learning and teach them to me. Now she's in the primary class, and I couldn't be happier. She just asked me tonight if I could show her California. I google-imaged it. She traced it with her finger, on my phone! Now, I'm certain the kids aren't tracing states on I-Phones in the classroom, but the fact that my 3-year old daughter wanted to see California and was curious about it is so fantastic. She is curious about everything now, she loves books, music, puzzles and spending time outside. I am so pleased that when she's not with me, she's at Rainbow Bridge.

I went to this school. It's good. The superintendent was my principal when i went. She is super…read morenice and staff are nice too. I love all the teachers there. There is a new principal now so I don't really know about him all I know is that he does not dress like a principal and he acts like a student not a principal. Almost all teachers are great. One of the kindergarten teachers, I will not name her because that's messed up, is very mean. She flipped off a mom outside of school and is mean inside of school too. But if you are looking for a school for your kids, this school is great. They are also great with attending students with disabilities. My younger sister has spina bifida and they do a great job to help her with her needs. This is a very long review and yes, I'm a minor and no I don't go to this school anymore, but I used to. Ok bye I'm done typing hope this helped anyone who needed it

The best teachers and staff.. positive, friendly environment. My son has attended TK,K,1st,2nd and…read more3rd here and will continue on. He loves it and so do I. Great after school care program as well! Highly recommend !!

I can't say enough wonderful things about this preschool. My little one went to this preschool for…read moretwo years, and it's absolutely the best! The teachers are truly amazing! I have high standards, especially when it comes to my children's school/education, and this preschool is the best in Sonoma county. Sharry, who is the director of the preschool has years of experience and is the best! All of the teachers have strong educational backgrounds when it comes to child development. My little one always says how much she loves her teachers and how much fun she has every day. I would highly recommend this preschool to everyone!

I can't say enough about this amazing pre school. I currently have one granddaughter enrolled and…read morehave another that attended and is entering 1st grade as well as a 3rd granddaughter that starts in August. This is such a warm, affectionate environment that encourages creativity, encourages Independence, and praise the children constantly. The focus truly seems to be on getting the children prepped for kindergarten, praising accomplishments, encouraging the children to interact well with others. The teachers are patient, warm, and obviously rooting for each child as an individual. Our family absolutely loves this pre school and you can't put a price on being worry free with our little ones. If I could rate it higher I definitely would.

We were initially drawn to this school because of its beautiful philosophy and child-centered…read morelanguage about independence, exploration, and nurturing a love of learning. Our grandson started there shortly after turning two, and he absolutely loved going to school. Unfortunately, our family's experience with the administration did not reflect the warm and developmentally appropriate environment described in the school's mission. From early on, my daughter was repeatedly approached with concerns about completely normal toddler behavior -- including delayed expressive speech at just over two years old and difficulty sitting through circle time. Many toddlers, especially active young boys, are simply not ready for highly structured group expectations at that age. Rather than partnering with parents in a supportive way, the communication often felt pressuring, judgmental, and lacking in understanding of normal developmental variation. At one point, the director even suggested that although we were paying for three days per week, our grandson should be removed for the middle day "to reset." That recommendation made little sense to us and did not feel supportive or solution-oriented. In our experience, families should understand that despite the Montessori-style language and emphasis on following the child, this program operates with fairly rigid behavioral expectations for very young children. If your child is under four, still developing speech, highly energetic, slow to warm up, or not naturally inclined toward structured group participation, this will not be the right fit. This environment may work well for children who are already very verbal, compliant, and comfortable with structure at a young age. But for active toddlers who are still developing at their own pace, it did not feel accepting or supportive of the "whole child" philosophy the school promotes.

We truly love Pepper Preschool and the wonderful teachers. The space is so thoughtful and sweet…read more The "Montessori Light" style has been perfect for our sensitive son and the themes for each months learning have taught him so much. There is a wonderful balance of outdoor and classroom time and his two years of Pepper Preschool have made him more independent and interested in learning. Each teacher brings a unique perspective and we love that they have all been at Pepper School for years. Most importantly he has learned how to be a kind friend and his ability to interact with other children and adults has blossomed. When recently deciding between TK and a third year at Pepper we opted for another year at Pepper. We know the skills he is learning and the wonderfully low teacher to student ratio will prepare him well for school.

My fourth child has gone here for 2 years. Our family through the years and moving from different…read moretowns have gone to three other preschools and this is by far my favorite. The positive discipline solutions we learn through our Monday night meetings has been helpful. The community is strong. It is a fun place for parents and kids to share in the joys of these magical years from 2.5-5. The snack is wholesome mostly organic food. Their is a garden. The curriculum is play based.

My family loves this preschool community. My children thrive in this exploratory learning…read moreenvironment. It is very family focused. I highly recommend checking this school out.