Preschool & PreK Program

Let us introduce ourselves.

Setting Strong Foundations

Through warm, positive relationships with the child’s teacher, a child develops a sense of trust in the world around them and a feeling of confidence.  Such interactions are critical to the development of a child’s self-esteem and self-worth. The trusted adult becomes the secure base from which the child begins to explore the environment.

We provide an environment that supports families and embraces diversity. This is accomplished by the use of an anti-bias curriculum, hiring staff that reflects the race and culture of our families and involving parents in the development, implementation and evaluation of programs.

Our services are offered to eligible low-income families who need care for their child so they can seek employment, seek housing, work, go to school or complete a training program. 

Early Education Center

Preschool & PreK Program -Downtown Children’s Center

(831) 429-3050
120 Weeks Ave, Santa Cruz
Open 8:00am to 4:00pm, Monday-Friday

Ages of Children Accepted for Care

  • The Downtown Children’s Center (Preschool & Pre-K): children age two years until entering Kindergarten.

Application Information

Applications are available in print at our Early Education Center or as a printable PDF here.

Please return your filled out application to our Early Education Center.

Daily Activities

Our daily activities include both free play and structured activities.

Preschooler & PreK age children learn best through play that is purposely constructed to increase a child’s knowledge of literacy, math and science.  The curriculum encompasses activities that support the child’s growth in the following domains: social, emotional, physical and intellectual.  The most appropriate teaching technique for this age is to give ample opportunities for the children to use self-initiated repetition to practice newly acquired skills and to experience feelings of autonomy and success. Patience is essential.

Since children learn through concrete experiences, opportunities are given to explore through age and developmentally-appropriate curriculum and activities. Through play, an essential part of the learning experience, the children learn social skills and problem solving. The staff of the center are here to support parents in their role as their child’s first and primary teacher. We encourage and look forward to your involvement in the caring for and education of your child. This is your center.

We provide subsidized childcare through a grant from the California Department of Education.

REFRAIN FROM RELIGIOUS INSTRUCTION POLICY: Walnut Avenue Family & Women’s Center’s Early Education programs refrains from any religious instruction and worship.

DAILY ACTIVITIES

  • A focus on Kindergarten Readiness

  • Emergent Curriculum

  • Literacy Activities

  • Learning Circle time

  • Art

  • Music

  • Gardening and Science Activities

  • Free & Structured Play

  • Math Activities

  • Social Skills

  • Exploratory play in a supervised setting

The Preschool & PreK program is funded/supported by: California Department of Education, Santa Cruz County CORE grant, City of Santa Cruz Children’s Fund, COE QRIS (Quality Counts) Funds, CACFP (California Child & Adult Food Program, Monterey Peninsula Foundation, Community Foundation of Santa Cruz , generous agency donors and the Present Now program.