Kathy and Petra have created a wonderful program and experience for young toddlers. Leveraging their strong background in childhood education, the program is an unmatched balance of nurturing free play while instilling values and social development among the children. Every day and week are filled with new experiences that make each child feel valued, special, and independent! Our son learned so many skills and developed such a fondness for his teachers and time with his classmates. Kathy and Petra provide amazing information about the kids' activities, growth, development, and lessons in parenting. It is truly special to get this level of attention both at the child and parent level. They are endlessly available for questions, conversations, and feedback. We miss our time at MSS and wish there were an option for older kids!

We were so fortunate to have stumbled across Mount Sutro School and staid for two full years. Kathy and Petra are loving, intelligent, and skilled teachers who are passionate about their craft. They really get to know the children and love them as their own. Children have access to a wide variety of quality materials and activities, as well as outdoor time including nature walks. They are given space to explore at their own pace, but also challenged different ways. The community is wonderful, and we learned and grew so much together. Joining this school was one of the best decisions we ever made as parents. Don't hesitate to visit this wondrous little school.

Kathi and Petra made our transition to school the most enjoyable we could ever imagine. We were nervous to have our then 18mo old away from home and from us but the open environment, the parent participation days and most of all their amazing communicative skills made us felt reassured and an active part of the project rather than only spectators. The teachers at Mt Sutro will treat your child as a fantastic human being, will facilitate their creative take of the world and give you precious tools to better address all the challenging of parenting, from tantrums to transitions. The place is very inviting itself, with plenty of natural materials to engage the kiddos in storytelling, art manipulation, gross and fine motor skill and to just have so much fun with a small size class of friends. Outdoor time is an everyday component, both in the beautiful green garden or in the close public space below Sutro Tower. Best of all we received weekly updates on the activities our daughter was involved in, with a full explanation on the meaning of them from a pedagogical viewpoint, with picture and insightful observations. Can't recommend Mt Sutro School enough, and we are so grateful to have meet them!

It's hard to put into words what Mount Sutro School has meant to our family. The school is a true partnership in raising your child. The teaching quality (2 masters level--Reggio-Emilia trained with lots of experience in larger preschools in the area...and a 3:1 student-teacher ratio) is unmatched. Kathy and Petra provide a thoughtful, purposeful, safe, joyful, and caring indoor and outdoor environment for your child to grow in. Additionally, they create community among families and offer ongoing support inside and outside of the classroom. If you are looking for a part-time preschool for your 18m-3 y.o., look no further- you've hit the jackpot!

Post Pandemic, we were searching for a preschool for our daughter so that she could get more social interaction with her peers. Mt Sutro School was a solid fit and ended up exceeding our expectations in so many ways. She not only got safe quality time with kids her age, she was also introduced to so many important developmental stepping stones that prepared her for preschool and beyond. From potty training to morning routines to art exploration to expressive play. Kathy is a great resource. She is a professional and experienced lead who genuinely cares about the kids. She is kind, educated, and organized. The facility is on the back side of Kathy's home. It is clearly curated with care and it is so fun to watch the little kids bounce around the art/play tables, the reading nook, and the backyard. As a first step into the world of learning and social play, I can't recommend this school enough.

Finding Mount Sutro last year has been one of the most joyous parts of raising our daughter Elena--she has thrived with the other 5 children under Kathy and Petra's creativity and support. The intention with which Kathy runs the school, child/teacher ratios, the parent participation and community support has been incredible and welcoming during a tough two pandemic years. Watching our daughter develop friendships and bring her learnings from class--songs, explorations of the outside world, art--is the best part of our week. She loves going to school and never wants to leave, we could not recommend Mount Sutro School more!

It's rare to come across a magical teacher like Kathy. She has the unique ability to offer children inspiring opportunities to explore the world and their interests in a safe and supportive environment. I had the good luck of finding Kathy and her Mount Sutro School when my daughter was almost 3 years old and we were there for a year until we moved out of state. Kathy created a true community of the families that were with her. As we all took turns volunteering in the classroom, we got to know and love each other's children and we created beautiful bonds with one another. Under Kathy's expert guidance, our children were able to learn without being "taught". And I learned as much as the kids did! Kathy hosted childhood development classes throughout the year where she helped us parents understand the development stage our children were in and how they were individually navigating through those stages. To have community and support and guidance from this open-hearted, grounded and present woman was such a gift for our family. I highly recommend Mount Sutro School to anyone.

Mount Sutro is a beautiful place that invites you in. I was so worried the first day that my sensitive child would cry when I left him. He cried when he had to leave... the first day! Kathy teaches with intentionality- you know she has thought everything through and has a well-researched reason for doing the things she does, even though it is so light-hearted and play-focused. Mount Sutro really brings out the joy of childhood... the first time I went there I just felt like, "yes, this is the way a preschool should be."