Classes

Girotondo Italian School is a full-immersion Italian Preschool and Elementary school that is Reggio-Emilia inspired, and is open to children of all cultures.

Students enjoy an Italian atmosphere with a warm loving environment while developing respect and awareness of diversity and multiculturalism. The primary mission of the school is three fold: to give to children the gift of a second language, to build a community of people that have the same interests, and to create an environment where children can find peers with whom to share their Italian language skills.

Girotondo Italian School also offers Mommy and Me "Cento Gioco" for ages one to two, art classes in Italian for ages two to six, and afterschool "Doposcuola" for ages six to 14.

The school offers four, week-long sessions of summer camp, with themes including cooking, puppetry, tide pools, and building with recycled materials. Check the website for the schedule and complete descriptions.

Spazio Italiano SF provides Italian language classes and workshops for children and their families. Native Italian speakers teach all programs, with an emphasis on immersion and culture. The curriculum incorporates a variety of learning styles - speaking, listening, games, music, movement, visual aids, reading, and writing.

Morning classes are language specific and are focused on children from 18 months to four years of age. Afternoon workshops offer language classes as well as cooking and soccer for children five to ten years of age. Caregivers as well as families are encouraged to participate in the language programs with adult language classes offered in the evenings.

Admissions Director: Aimee Giles, 415.861.5432

Admissions Deadline: Preschool applications due mid-December; K-8 applications due mid-January


Children's Day School (CDS) excels as a community of learners who believe in a better kind of learning and possess the passion and the skills to shape and continually grow the school. CDS launched a new middle school in the fall of 2003. The school's first class of 8th graders graduated in 2006.

At CDS, children are given the room and inspiration to learn and grow. Located in the sunny Mission District, CDS has one of the largest outdoor campuses in San Francisco with more than an acre of open space featuring a farm and organic garden, and a large playground.

CDS is the perfect setting for a challenging academic program that is project-based, integrated across disciplines, and grounded in the practice of social responsibility. Class sizes are small, with dedicated, inspired teachers working in teams to create a learning environment that maximizes each student's creativity and skill development, and promotes a life-long love of learning. Specialists collaborate with classroom teachers to integrate Spanish, art, music, environmental education, and physical education into the curriculum.

Grades: Preschool to Grade 8

Class Size: 24. Current enrollment is 260.

Facilities: Large sunny campus including on-site farm and organic garden (with sheep and chickens) and large playground, library, science resource center, with computers and Internet access in all elementary and middle school classrooms.

Programs: Spanish, art, music, physical education, environmental education, team sports.

Lunch Program: No

Afterschool Program: Until 6pm.

Uniforms: No

Report Cards: Detailed progress reports (preschool-5th); grades and report cards (6th-8th).

Children's Day School offers afterschool enrichment classes, open to students in the Bay Area, for three seven-week sessions throughout the school year (fall, winter, and spring terms). Classes for preschool, elementary, and middle school students have included yoga, beginning Spanish, chess, computer art, movie making, cartooning, mosaics, tree frog treks science club, sewing, singing, rocketry, creative writing, black and white photography, study hall, drama, and gymnastics.

Classes take place during the after-school program and generally run for one hour, one day a week. Class fees range from $130-$185 for a seven-week class. Please contact the school for dates and details.

The school also offers camp programs during the summer and school vacations, also open to students in the Bay Area. A large outdoor play area, farm, and lovely garden offers unique summer experiences for children. The preschool program incorporates a wide range of projects, games, activities, and adventures, while themed camps for elementary aged students allow young people to delve into a specific interest.

Dragonfly Designs brings the creativity of beading to a location of the client's choice with age appropriate beading parties for children, teens, and adults.

The company also offers age appropriate after school jewelry making classes in its South San Francisco location for children and teens.

Included in the two-hour party are invitations, beaded jewelry projects, and a party pouch to hold the newly made treasures. Custom theme charms are also available.

A class that teaches kids about the world of modeling without the pressure. Participants work with a photographer and class takes place in a studio.

Photographer Kathi O'Leary specializes in creating intimate, beautifully lit portraits of children of any age and their families.

Portraits start at $240 and with digital capture customers have instant review of the shoot and a choice of images in both color and black and white. Parents can take individual classes from Kathi to learn how to capture their children with their own digital cameras.

Summerfoto is a week-long summer digital photography workshop held in Kathi's studio on California Street in the Fillmore. Children between the ages of seven and 15 learn to improve the quality and composition of photos and to appreciate photographs as art. Projects include still-lifes, portraiture, a nature field trip, and a group exhibition. For more information and pricing, please visit the website.

Kathi also teaches after school and on school breaks.

Kathi's birthday parties for kids from ages seven and up include a mini portrait lesson on location. Kids take turns photographing each other using portrait studio equipment and dress-up clothes. They leave with their matted portrait photo.

This is an online social network with a variety of resources for parents. You can meet other local parents.

BabySteps
-commuity resources
-family-friendly places-family events
-classes
-groups

All of which are within San Francisco

Please visit
http://www.cpmcbabysteps.org/resources

The Tulip Grove is a resource center and store for new parents.

The center offers a comprehensive childbirth education series, childbirth preparation classes, and workshops on a wide range of topics - including breastfeeding, newborn care, CPR, baby signing, infant massage, pregnancy nutrition, and more.

The Red Cross is an excellent resource for health and safety classes as well as disaster preparation, Babysitter Certification classes and the one and only...Pet First Aid class.