Preschool (PreK)

PreK at McLaren

At John McLaren Early Education School our curriculum of choice is Creative Curriculum. Creative Curriculum is a comprehensive, research-based curriculum that features hands-on, project-based investigations as a pathway to learning.

We have a balance of indoor and outdoor learning experiences that support children in their cognitive, social and emotional, and physical development skills. We set up the classroom in learning centers to accommodate children of all learning styles.

We provide opportunities for hands-on-activities, indoors and outdoors. We have an outdoor garden area where children learn and connect with nature. Our children have opportunities to enjoy physical play in our beautiful outdoor space, and on rainy days and when needed, children do physical play in our movement room.

PreK Programs

Integrated General Education Class

Early Childhood Special Education teachers monitor and provide support with IEP goals in a General Education setting with typically developing peers while also keeping the standard education with instruction.

PreK Special Day Class

Early Childhood Special Education teachers provide intensive instruction with a small teacher to student ratio to support goal progress and peer engagement

PreK Schedule and Year Round

PreK Hours & Schedules

PreK Hours

Our PreK General Education (GE) classes have various start and end times based on contract hours

Monday through Friday: 7:30 AM - 5:30 PM

Our PreK Special Day Class (SDC) and PreK Inclusion program have the same start and end times 5 days a week

Monday through Friday: 8:40 AM - 12:40 PM

 

Daily Schedule Example for PreK General Education (GE) and Inclusion

07:30 - 08:30

Arrival / Free Choice Activities

(All children meet in an alternative classroom)

08:30

Students report to their regular classroom

Breakfast / Free Choice Activities

09:00 - 10:15Open Exploration in Centers / Projects
10:15Clean Up Time
10:20 -10:35

Large Group

(morning greeting, story, songs, music, movement, Kimochis, simple phonics)

10:35 - 10:55Small Group Activities
10:55 - 11:00Toileting / Hand Washing
11:00 - 11:55Outdoor Exploration
11:55 - 12:00Hand Washing 
12:00 - 12:30Lunch
12:30 - 12:45Toileting / Hand Washing
12:45 - 02:45Nap
02:45 - 03:00Wake up from nap / Bathroom / Put cots away
03:00 - 03:15Snack
03:15 - 03:30Small Group, Story Time
03:30 - 04:30 Outdoor Play
04:30 - 05:30

Free Indoor Play 

(Regular Scheduled Classroom students transition to Alternative Classroom)

05:30Dismissal

 

Daily Schedule Example for PreK Special Day Class (SDC)

08:40Drop-Off / Welcome Students to the Classroom
08:40 - 08:55Check Individual Schedule / Toileting
09:00 - 09:25Breakfast
09:25 - 10:20Indoor exploration / Merge small group activities
10:20 - 10:40Outdoor class is open (garden / sand box)
10:40 - 11:00Toileting and Community Circle
11:00 - 12:00Recess Time
12:00 - 12:30Wash Hands / Lunch
12:30 - 12:40Closing Community Circle / Goodbye Song

 

Please Note:

  • This is an example of the daily routine. This schedule may change based on district guidelines or staffing needs.
  • Student arrival and departure times depend on contractual hours.

Year-Round

Full-Time, Year-Round PreK

Full-Time, Year-Round PreK is offered at John McLaren Early Education School. School hours are from 7:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.

EED instructional calendar.

School-Term

Our School-Day, School-Term PreK and PreK-SDC program run in alignment with TK for a school day of six hours following the School-Term Academic Calendar from SFUSD.

Academic instructional calendar.

Fill Out An Application

The PreKindergarten (PK) Program serves children ages 2 years and 9 months to 5 years old. We offer both full-time and school-day options, and both subsidized and tuition-based enrollment slots. 

Pick up an application at the Early Education Enrollment Office or download one from www.sfusd.edu/prek. Make sure you complete all sections and sign and date the application form. You can also complete and submit an online application at www.earlylearningsf.org

PreK Applications

English PreK Application     Solicitud de preescolar en español     中国学前班申请

 

For more information, visit How to Apply for Early Education Programs: PreK

Waitlist

It is common for families to be placed on a waitlist during preschool enrollment. John McLaren Early Education School staff do not have access to this waitlist. If you have any questions about the waitlist process please contact the central office Early Education Enrollment Specialists at (415) 241-6085.

How to Apply

The Early Education Enrollment Office is open from 8am to 4:30 pm Monday thru Friday. You can also reach them at: (415) 241-6085 or (415) 401-2500 or email at EEDEnrollment@sfusd.edu to schedule an appointment.

To apply for subsidized PreK, parents can complete the online application at www.earlylearningsf.org.  Or email their application to EED at EEDEnrollment@sfusd.edu and we can enter it into Early Learning SF.  For families who are applying for the Tuition Based slots, they can mail PreK application along with the non-refundable $100.00 (money order or cashier’s check) to either address indicated on the application.

If you have any questions about the PreK application or enrollment process, you can contact the Early Education Office by email at EEDEnrollment@sfusd.edu.

For more information, visit the Early Education Department

This page was last updated on November 2, 2024