Impact Stories
Real Stories, Real Impact
See how PSF & FoPSF have made a difference through the words of those who know it best. From educators in the classroom to parents and board members, these stories highlight the meaningful impact of our programs.
“If we think of PreSchool Family as a bright light providing warmth & clarity to our families as they define their family values & build a supportive community, Friends of PreSchool Family is the lamppost that holds us high & secure. FoPSF enriches the school community through full-school celebrations like Fun Day, hosting community-building Fun Parties, sponsoring guest speakers, and underwriting the costs of parent-teacher conferences & 3s Class home visits. The funding they provide allows us to keep our art shelves & book nooks well-stocked and our tricycles & mini cars maintained & replaced when needed. Thanks to them, we have never been lacking in the materials that our children need & deserve. Thank you, FoPSF for your unwavering support!”
— PSF Toddler Teacher Terri
“FoPSF provides great support to PSF teachers and families. Here are some examples.
Last November they organized a "beautification day". Not only did our outdoor spaces get spruced up with new planters and plants, cleaned sandboxes and new outdoor music centers; parents, teachers and alumni had a great time working together and building community.
In December, FoPSF held a very successful fundraiser. This school year we received new tricycles for the 4s yard. The 4s parent conferences were also paid for by FoPSF.
FoPSF brings families (and teachers) together with Fun Parties and PSF Fun day. A speaker event that is free for all PSF families and the wider community is just around the corner. FopSF works tirelessly to enrich our community. I'm grateful for all their efforts!”
— PSF 4s and Dinner Class Teacher Marjan
“FoPSF has been instrumental in keeping our play materials and outside play spaces updated. The Campus Beautification Day this Fall brought the community together from across all classes to construct music walls in every play yard, planting and garden space improvements, and an amazing ribbon wall in the infant yard.
FoPSF adapts to the changing needs in our community. During the COVID shutdown, FoPSF funded play kits that teachers designed and prepared for families to have meaningful sensory, art, and play learning experiences at home.
The outside shade structures and the blue accessible playground were paid for with significant FoPSF support. Can you imagine all our play areas without the shade cloths?
Each spring, FoPSF brings a guest speaker to share their expertise with all families at our school and in the community. We've had topics on resilience, kindness, positive discipline, and emotional development. It is meaningful for the whole community to learn the same messages from outside experts.”
— PSF 2s Teacher Maria
“Many parents say, “PSF is the best thing that ever happened to our family,” and I couldn’t agree more. PSF isn’t just about your child’s education—it’s a place that transforms the whole family.
Here’s why it works for us: First, you get real insights into your child by seeing them interact with other kids in a learning environment. It’s a perspective you just don’t get at home. Then, you learn from watching the teachers, who model how to engage with kids in ways that really make an impact. And parent-education classes are a lifesaver. You talk through your challenges with other parents, share ideas, and walk away with real strategies for making your life easier.
Most preschools either have a drop-off model where you’re out of the loop, or they’re parent-participation but without the experienced staff that truly helps you learn as a parent. PSF is different—it’s a place where both your child and you grow together. You’ll come out of it with a more connected family and stronger relationships with your child.
The first 5 years are crucial for your child’s development, and studies show the most important factor is their relationship with you. So if you’re looking for a place that invests in your child and gives you the tools to be the best parent you can be, PSF is it. This is not just a preschool for your kid, this really is the best thing you can do for your family.”
— Tia, Parent and PSF Alumni
“Preschool Family’s investment in parent education and play based preschool education has been amazing to our family. We started in the 6-12 month class for my oldest child, and the teacher provided assurance and knowledge which helped me navigate motherhood. Preschool family also gave me a community of parents looking for connection and support. We have since gone through dinner classes, toddlers class, 2’s, and 4’s co-taught classes. Every year l learn more about myself and my children. I would recommend Preschool Family to anyone looking for a community and a safe space for parents and children to learn and grow together.”
— Patty, Parent and PSF Alumni
“We are so happy we chose PSF school for Amber. She looks forward to going to school every day. As a parent, having the opportunity to join her in class once a week is incredibly valuable. Amber always comes home excited to share her day with us, especially about her interactions with friends, the crafts she makes, and the games she plays. This kind of learning environment has taught her how to cooperate and share, while also encouraging her independence. Being involved in her education process not only strengthens our bond with Amber but also helps us better understand her needs as she grows. We are truly grateful for this unique learning experience the school provides.”
— Anna, Parent and PSF Alumni
“When we stumbled upon PreSchool Family when my older son was 18 months old, we had no idea how important this community and these educators would be in our lives. We have met some of our best friends here, and they have become the village that helps share fun ideas, creates safe places to play (inside and outside of school), and helps in times of need. The educators here are dedicated and amazing in their knowledge of kids and their development, in fact, I often wonder how I would have parented without the knowledge I gained in our adult classes. (What will I do when they are teenagers??) In fact - it was the keen eye of an outstanding teacher that helped us recognize our son’s particular educational needs and set us on the right path of advocacy for him as the demands of elementary school increased. PSF has enriched our lives in so many ways beyond just “school”, we cannot recommend it enough!”
— Kristen, Parent and FoPSF Board Member
“We are so happy we chose PSF school for Amber. She looks forward to going to school every day. As a parent, having the opportunity to join her in class once a week is incredibly valuable. Amber always comes home excited to share her day with us, especially about her interactions with friends, the crafts she makes, and the games she plays. This kind of learning environment has taught her how to cooperate and share, while also encouraging her independence. Being involved in her education process not only strengthens our bond with Amber but also helps us better understand her needs as she grows. We are truly grateful for this unique learning experience the school provides.”
— Ashley, Parent and FoPSF Board Member
“We feel very fortunate to have found PreSchool Family. We’ve been with the program since our daughter was a baby, and stayed through while the teacher adapted their classes during the pandemic, and we are now in the 4’s classroom. It’s been such a joy to be able to spend time in the classroom with her, other parents and their children.
Class time for the children is so fun, while educational at the same time. They really have the best time enjoying the many wonderful play invitations and activities put together by the teachers. The classrooms are also so spacious and well equipped with age appropriate toys, and they spend so much time outdoors in the huge yards. Because parents are there in class, the adult to child ratio is very high so the children get lots of help with conflict resolution. They have so much fun that they don’t want to leave and can stay on to play for hours after school ends.
The teachers are all stellar, and they have patiently guided us through the many ups and downs of raising a very young child. They are mostly alums of the program and are really able to provide an empathetic lens and solutions for our concerns. They are also so passionate about their work and spend extra time to bring the very best to the classroom. They are also so knowledgeable and up to date with the latest books and studies. I’ve learnt so much through the parent ed classes that it’s hard to imagine life as a parent without it – it’s dedicated time for us to put aside the craziness of life to focus on being a parent, think through our values as a family, learn about early childhood development and to bond with other parents.
The very best part of the school is the community. The parents in the program are incredible and it’s wonderful to have a supportive group of parents who are so giving and always have your back. While it’s been a big time investment for us as a family, it has been so rewarding and I am so grateful to have PSF and can’t recommend it enough.”
— Carolyn, Parent and PSF Alumni
“We’ve been a part of Preschool Family for the past 4+ years, starting with the infant program, continuing through the pandemic via zoom classes, then dinner classes, 3s, and now the 4s class and have been very satisfied throughout and would highly recommend all the offerings.
As first time parents, we continue to find the parent ed classes critical in keeping up with and supporting the different phases of our child’s development, regulation, behavior, and temperament. We also really enjoyed and benefited from connecting with and learning from other parents, kids, and families to be better parents ourselves, and also more supportive members of the broader parenting and early childhood education community. Aside from parent ed classes, the daytime classes are also a great opportunity to observe, practice, and continue learning and growing (while spending invaluable class time with your kid!). There are also community events including guest speakers (including top authors and thought leaders on early childhood education and development), dance and other classes, book clubs, fun days (reuniting with PSF alumni), and much more - organized and led by the amazing teacher community.
In summary, we believe PSF to be a true gem - a diverse and welcoming community of committed, passionate, supportive, and experienced teachers, parents, administrators, and of course our wonderful kids. They say “it takes a village to raise a child” - PSF has been ours. Come for a tour to learn more and see why.”
— Charles, Parent and FoPSF Board Member
“Preschool Family is a high quality play-based co-op preschool for both children and parents.Parents learn a lot from here. Like a child's development, importance of playing, positive discipline etc.
Raising my first child alone in a new country made us nervous before entering PSF, but we can make friends(other parents) and share burning issues or hurtful moments with them.That let us feel so much better. And while staying in class, I can see what happens in school, so we can talk and share a lot of information with our children. Also, observing other children's behavior inspires us well. Sometimes it surprises us and sometimes it eases our anxiety of raising children.
On the children’s side, they get a great environment. They play with good learning toys and materials in classrooms and at huge playgrounds. They also experience cooking projects, art projects, easels and lots of messy sensory play, because we have enough people to manage to do. Children socialize with not only teachers and other kids but with other parents. They rely on other parents as well. Our relatives aren’t near here, so my children feel as if we would have aunts or uncles here. My 10-year-old alumni here still feels so.What a great community!!”
— Rina, Parent and FoPSF Board Member
“This school has truly been a life-changing experience for me. I can't even quantify how much this school improved my parenting skills, relationship with my son, and confidence in parenting. The parent education classes are a wonderful way to meet other parents, talk about burning issues, realize that we are not alone in our parenting journeys (and struggles), connect with other parents and develop wonderful long-lasting friendships, and join this amazing community of like-minded adults that nurtures the whole family.
At first, I was intimidated by the thought of the parent participation commitment of volunteering in the class each week because both my husband and I work full time. However, after discussing my desire to be very involved in my son's development, my management supported this, and we worked out a way to make it happen with my work schedule. I am so glad that I did. I never imagined how much I would absolutely love being in the classroom each week! It was such a joy to get to know all of my son's friends, and ultimately their families. But most importantly, it was the key to practicing and sharpening my skills to be a better parent that I learned in the parent education classes.
PSF has large outdoor areas for the kids to play and run. The curriculum is structured for play-based learning, and the teachers are very knowledgeable about childhood development. The parent education classes teach parents/guardians about developmental milestones, behaviors typical to each age group, and strategies for developing a very strong bond with your child. With parent participation at PSF, I found there were two very important parts that make it so successful. First was attending the parent education classes to learn about child development, the skills to be a better parent, and to connect with other parents. Second was to volunteer weekly to put those skills into practice in the classroom and shadow the teachers that have developed these skills over decades. I learned so much at PSF, and I can truly say that it has changed my life. I feel much more confident as a parent, and I feel that I now have a toolbox of skills to help me be a much better parent. I highly recommend PSF if you are looking to be involved in your child's development, want to be a better parent, or are looking for a wonderful community of support to help you on your parenting journey.
Every single PSF teacher and staff member is an amazing part of this wonderful community, but a special thank you to Teacher Jenn, Teacher Marjan, and Teacher French.”
— Samantha, Parent and FoPSF Board Member
“Preschool Family is a high quality play-based co-op preschool for both children and parents.Parents learn a lot from here. Like a child's development, importance of playing, positive discipline etc.
Raising my first child alone in a new country made us nervous before entering PSF, but we can make friends(other parents) and share burning issues or hurtful moments with them.That let us feel so much better. And while staying in class, I can see what happens in school, so we can talk and share a lot of information with our children. Also, observing other children's behavior inspires us well. Sometimes it surprises us and sometimes it eases our anxiety of raising children.
On the children’s side, they get a great environment. They play with good learning toys and materials in classrooms and at huge playgrounds. They also experience cooking projects, art projects, easels and lots of messy sensory play, because we have enough people to manage to do. Children socialize with not only teachers and other kids but with other parents. They rely on other parents as well. Our relatives aren’t near here, so my children feel as if we would have aunts or uncles here. My 10-year-old alumni here still feels so.What a great community!!”
— Jas, Parent and PSF Alumni