Learning at SPNS

During the school year, and every month, our preschool offers themes and props that reflect the changing seasons and provide new opportunities for exploration. We begin the fall by celebrating families, and as the weather cools down, we dive into the wonders of winter—such as water, snow, and ice - along with learning about the various holidays of the season. In February, we focus on the importance of friendship and being a caring, engaged member of our school and greater community. As spring arrives, we get excited about exploring our planet, learning about food, and the joys of planting and caring for our environment.

Through hands-on play, children engage with these life themes while developing essential skills like self-reliance, problem-solving, emotional awareness, and both physical and emotional safety. 

We are a cooperative preschool, which means that children benefit from having many wonderful adult role models every day. The teacher and adult volunteers in our learning environment work to create safe spaces, facilitate problem-solving, and support children's learning and growth. 

Designed for children through 5 years of age, our spaces and routine allow children to interact with a variety of manipulatives and materials at their own speed and throughout the morning, expressing their ideas and creativity while asking questions that encourage further exploration. Our goal is to foster a lifelong love of learning.

Our school offers many resources for comfort, adventure, creativity, and challenge. We also seriously support parents of young children. We warmly invite you to visit and see the place for yourself; we would love to show you around! Please contact us to schedule a visit for your family. Contact us at sequoiaparentsnurseryschool@gmail.com

Learn more about our programs at www.spnskids.org

Author Storytime at SPNS

We had a delightful Friday evening, November 14, 2025, listening to author Ellen HS read her new book, Merry Claus and the Holiday Dash. It was novel to be at school at night, wearing pajamas, and enjoying cookies! As we hoped, alumni families joined us, too! For more details about the book and to purchase, Follow Merry

Preschool or Transitional Kindergarten

Here’s a great article on the topic from our sister school, Cupertino Co-op Nursery School

The Art of Letting Go: Supporting Your Child’s Growing Independence

Parenting often feels like walking a tightrope. We want our kids to be independent thinkers, yet watching them assert that independence can feel like a gut punch—especially when it comes in the form of “I don’t want to do this anymore.”

This is the tricky territory of quitting. Whether it’s piano lessons, soccer practice, or a beloved extracurricular, every parent faces the moment when their child wants to walk away. The question is: Do we let them?

The Lessons We’ve Learned About Quitting

1. Listening Matters:
   When our preschooler announced she was “done” with dance class, our first instinct was to say, “But you love it! Don’t give up!” But after a little digging, we discovered she wasn’t enjoying the structure of the class anymore—she wanted more free movement. Listening showed us that quitting wasn’t about giving up; it was about finding joy​.

2. Quitting Is a Skill, Too:
   There’s value in teaching kids how to assess when something no longer serves them. That doesn’t mean walking away at the first sign of frustration. Instead, it means reflecting on what they’ve learned and deciding how to move forward.

3. The Right Kind of “Follow-Through”:
   If quitting is inevitable, teach your child to finish strong. Whether it’s attending the final practice or thanking their teacher, these small acts build character.

When to Step In (and When to Step Back)

There are times when perseverance is the lesson, not the activity itself. But as parents, we need to recognize when pushing them through is more about our expectations than their needs. Supporting independence isn’t always easy, but it’s an investment in raising thoughtful, self-aware humans.