◈ Homepage — http://www.hillndale.org/BOOK A TOUR ABOUT ENROLLMENT PROGRAMS CONTACT Hill & Dale is a NAEYC accredited Early Childhood Education Center in Santa Monica. We've been caring for infants, toddlers, and preschoolers since 1950. explore programs  > OUR STORY ENROLLMENT LOCATIONS PROGRAMS INFANTS & TODDLERS PRESCHOOL PROGRAM MY FAMILY & ME CAMP IN THE CITY PARENT TALK “If not for Hill & Dale, I would 100% still be putting on my daughter’s socks for her. But Hill & Dale gave her time and space to struggle and learn to do it herself.” our values  > Previous Next donate ◈ Interior Pages — 6 pages crawledHill & Dale Search for: BOOK A TOUR Toggle navigation ABOUT ENROLLMENT PROGRAMS CONTACT BOOK A TOUR Hill & Dale is a NAEYC accredited Early Childhood Education Center in Santa Monica. We've been caring for infants, toddlers, and preschoolers since 1950. explore programs   > OUR STORY ENROLLMENT LOCATIONS PROGRAMS INFANTS & TODDLERS PRESCHOOL PROGRAM MY FAMILY & ME CAMP IN THE CITY PARENT TALK “If not for Hill & Dale, I would 100% still be putting on my daughter’s socks for her. But Hill & Dale gave her time and space to struggle and learn to do it herself.” our values   > PARENT TALK “It's all day, every day, year round. As a family with two working parents, this is amazing --- we don't have to scramble for summer camp!” our values   > PARENT TALK “The teachers really nurture my child's social and emotional learning, which is crucial in the preschool years. They've learned how to express their feelings and that's priceless.” our values   > Previous Next donate        × Book a School Tour Please enable JavaScript in your browser to complete this form. PROGRAM OF INTEREST Infant and Toddler Program Preschool Program Camp in the City My Family & Me Start Date How Did You Hear About Us? * Word of Mouth Connections for Children Yelp Facebook Next Door Google Search Other Name submit Enrollment – Hill & Dale Search for: BOOK A TOUR Toggle navigation ABOUT ENROLLMENT PROGRAMS CONTACT BOOK A TOUR ENROLLMENT PROCESS STEP 1 Group Tour   The Enrollment process at Hill & Dale Family Learning Center begins with a Tour. Tours are virtual and in person on select days. Upcoming tours are listed below.During the tour you will see our facilities and learn more about our history, philosophy, and programs. After the tour you are invited to submit an application and a $150 nonrefundable application fee if you feel Hill & Dale would be a good fit for your family. Once the application is submitted you will remain in our wait pool until a space opens up or your child ages out of all of our programs by starting Kindergarten. STEP 2 Apply for Selection Our school year begins on July 1, so most new enrollments happen in July and August as children move up or graduate and space becomes available. Applications are due by January 31st to be considered for enrollment starting in July. By mid-March we begin offering spaces for enrollment in July to families in the wait pool. The wait pool is not necessarily first come, first serve. We strive to keep our programs diverse and balanced so we offer spaces in our program to children that best fit the needs of the program at that time including the age and gender of the children. We give priority to siblings of current enrollees and alumni, and families that attend our My Family & Me program. These courses provide your family with an opportunity to learn more about our program and determine whether or not Hill & Dale fits with your family’s philosophy toward early childhood education. We also give priority to families that live or work in Santa Monica as well as those that work for the City and the Colorado Center. STEP 3 Accept & Attend Once your child is offered a space at Hill & Dale, we try to give you a few weeks to make you decision. When you accept, you’ll submit at one-time enrollment fee to reserve your space. We will then work with you to pick a start date and transition schedule that works for your family. PROGRAMS INFANTS & TODDLERS PRESCHOOL PROGRAM MY FAMILY & ME CAMP IN THE CITY donate        × Book a School Tour Please enable JavaScript in your browser to complete this form. PROGRAM OF INTEREST Infant and Toddler Program Preschool Program Camp in the City My Family & Me Start Date How Did You Hear About Us? * Word of Mouth Connections for Children Yelp Facebook Next Door Google Search Other Email submit About – Hill & Dale Search for: BOOK A TOUR Toggle navigation ABOUT ENROLLMENT PROGRAMS CONTACT BOOK A TOUR A CHILDHOOD CARE CENTER About Us Hill & Dale Family Learning Center is a NAEYC accredited childcare and educational facility in Santa Monica. We are a 501(c)3 nonprofit and our mission is to support the working families of our community. We have been helping children, families, and educators grow for over sixty-five years. We believe in play-based Early Childhood Education, built on secure, empathetic, and nurturing relationships within a community as well as within the individual.   Hours, Location and More Our Infant program is open from 8:00 am to 5:30 pm, Monday through Friday. Our Toddler program is open from 7:30 am to 6:00 pm, Monday through Friday. Our Preschool program is open from 7:30 am to 6:00 pm, Monday through Friday. Hot lunch and snacks provided by an on-site nutritionist. Our programs are open year-round. We close for most major holidays as well as a few Professional Development days for our staff to stay current with educational research and plan curriculum. We also close for two weeks in the Winter, one week in the Spring, and one week in the Summer around the 4th of July holiday. Hill & Dale has two locations: The Learning Center Campus in Clover Park houses our Infant and Toddler Programs as well as the My Family & Me program. The Discovery Center Campus in the Colorado Center office park houses our Preschool program. History 1950 – The Beginning Hill & Dale Family Learning Center was founded as a privately owned preschool in Pacific Palisades. After thirty years, the owners, Eleanor and Lee Kendall, no longer wished to continue operating their school, and a group of Hill & Dale parents decided to reorganize it as a nonprofit run by a parent-community Board. 1979 – Rebirth Inspired by the strong educational philosophy of the Kendalls, we opened our doors in September 1979 at 1512 Pearl Street in Santa Monica with 10 children. Less than a year later, we were at full enrollment with 25 children and have had a continual waitlist ever since. 1984 – Colorado Center Hill & Dale moved its operations in August 1984 to the business development at Colorado Center (formerly Yahoo Center). This move into larger facilities offered new opportunities for promoting quality education and child care. Hill & Dale at Colorado Center has also been a highly successful experiment in developer-assisted creation of new child care facilities in the Santa Monica community. The Colorado Center Campus houses our Preschool Program. 1987 – Firehouse As the program grew and the demand for infant care became greater, we opened the Learning Center, our second campus, in a converted firehouse owned by the City of Santa Monica at the West end of Clover Park. Hill & Dale holds a lease with the city for use of the building and Watt Industries, a local developer, committed funding and construction assistance necessary for building renovation and setup costs. The Learning Center Campus houses our Infant/Toddler Program and is another example of public/private cooperation to provide necessary child care for Santa Monica working families. Today The success of our school validates the principles on which Hill & Dale was established: Nonprofit status Well-qualified directing and teaching staff Parent participation A strong guiding philosophy We are proud to celebrate over 65 years of service to children, their families, and our community. Previous Next Our Philosophy Hill & Dale’s philosophy is built on the ideas of many theoreticians such as Dewey, Erickson, Bruner, Piaget, Blatz, Vygotsky, Adler, Maslow, Kohn, Brazelton and Greenspan. We’ve further refined our philosophy based on decades of interactions with children and their families. We believe: that human beings develop best in nurturing relationships; that there are stages of development; that emotions and feelings are what give development meaning; and that every human being is an integrated whole and must be related to as a whole person. Our goal is that each child sees himself or herself as a person who has valuable ideas and the ability to make decisions and take responsibility for their own feelings and actions. In addition, we strive to help parents gain the skills, knowledge and support to thrive as a parent. Nurturing Relationships Routines & Structure Our Approach Play Environment In a nurturing environment, children learn to communicate their feelings, reflect on their wishes, and develop their own relationships with peers and adults. These emotional interactions are the foundation of a child’s intellectual abilities. In a structured and predictable environment, a child is empowered to learn that they have good ideas and that they can affect change. This child will believe that they belong and can contribute. The child is encouraged to make choices and learns that there are consequences resulting from these choices. As children make choices and learn about consequences, they begin to develop the understanding that they are responsible for their own thoughts, feelings and actions. In this environment, the children sees themselves as competent and worthy of happiness. Trust & Security Trust and security are the basis of any child’s mental health. At Hill & Dale, we believe that the first stage of developing a relationship with a child is to provide opportunities for the parents and child to develop trust in the educators at the Center. This relationship starts with Hill & Dale’s My Family and Me program. This is a discussion group for parents and a playgroup for children. Families learn about early childhood development and explore Hill & Dale’s philosophy of early learning and family development with our educators and other parents. Transitioning When a child is enrolled in one of our learning center programs, an educator will be that child’s Primary Caregiver. By developing this trusting relationship, the child will feel secure as they learn the routines and structure at the Center. This reassures the children that their needs will be met and that they will be protected and cared for at the Center. During this transition time, one of the child’s parents stays at the Center, encouraging their child to develop trust in their new Primary Caregiver. It is important at this transition time that the parents see the Primary Caregiver as a support for the parent as well as for the child. We want the parent to see us as a member of their team helping them be the parent they want to be. This transition time also provides the parent an opportunity to observe how we interact with their child and to develop a trusting relationship with the adults in the Center. During this transition time the Primary Caregiver will also make a visit to the family’s home. This visit is another way for the child, parent, and Primary Caregiver to strengthen the connection between home and Hill & Dale. Team-Teaching Once the child has established a relationship of trust with their Primary Caregiver, we have found that most children enjoy developing relationships with other educators. These extended relationships are similar to the relationships your child develops with other members of your family (grandparents, aunts, uncles, etc). To support the development of relationships with other educators at Hill & Dale we team-teach. We plan for the children to spend time with each of the educators in the team for different curriculum experiences, circles, and discussion groups. This helps the children see Hill & Dale as a community that is safe and supportive. It also helps children develop skills when dealing with adults who have different personalities, cultures, and languages. Children build security and trust from nurturing relationships with parents and educators as well Support & Volunteer – Hill & Dale Search for: BOOK A TOUR Toggle navigation ABOUT ENROLLMENT PROGRAMS CONTACT BOOK A TOUR SUPPORT & VOLUNTEER Volunteer Hill & Dale greatly appreciates volunteerism from our current families, alumni families, and interested community members. Whether your passion is gardening, reading books to young children, or making good use of a hammer or paint brush, there are always volunteer opportunities at Hill & Dale. Please contact us at [email protected] if you would like to volunteer. Early Childhood Education Program Hill & Dale provides a learning environment for Early Childhood Education students who are enrolled in classes at many local colleges. We have provided this service to the community for over 30 years. Mentored by experienced Hill & Dale staff educators, ECE students learn while observing or working at one of our Centers. Please contact us if you would like to complete an academic observation or join our mentor program. Make a Donation Fundraising is an important aspect of any non-profit school. At Hill & Dale, fundraising helps support our Tuition Reduction Program (which allows in-need families to attend Hill & Dale for up to 90% off the current tuition) and benefits our programs through facility improvements and staff development. We hold various fun community events throughout the year and seek gifts from the community and corporate sponsors. Our largest Fundraising drives include our Annual Giving campaign and our Silent Auction. Donate as little or as much as you like, and, remember donations are tax deductible. To donate you can attend one of our fun family events, call with your credit card number, or send a check to our admin office. If you have any questions regarding our fundraising events, or if you are interested in making a donation, please email us at [email protected] . Thank you to our generous community partners and Silent Auction event sponsors! donate        × Book a School Tour Please enable JavaScript in your browser to complete this form. PROGRAM OF INTEREST Infant and Toddler Program Preschool Program Camp in the City My Family & Me Start Date How Did You Hear About Us? * Word of Mouth Connections for Children Yelp Facebook Next Door Google Search Other Email submit Contact – Hill & Dale Search for: BOOK A TOUR Toggle navigation ABOUT ENROLLMENT PROGRAMS CONTACT BOOK A TOUR Contact Us If you have any questions, please feel free to contact us via mail, phone, or email. Emailing us at [email protected] is generally the quickest way to get an answer about enrollment. For general questions please email us at [email protected]. We look forward to hearing from you! Infant & Toddler Programs MONDAY THROUGH FRIDAY 7:30 AM – 6:00 PM EMAIL   [email protected] PHONE   310.450.2803 FAX   310.581.0136 2801 25th Street Santa Monica, CA 90405   LEARNING CENTER CAMPUS   EXPLORE OFFERED PROGRAMS > Preschool Program MONDAY THROUGH FRIDAY 7:00 AM – 6:00 PM EMAIL   [email protected] PHONE   310.828.6766 FAX   310.581.0136 1540 26th Street Santa Monica, CA 90404   DISCOVERY CENTER CAMPUS   EXPLORE OFFERED PROGRAMS > volunteer donate amazon smile donate        × Book a School Tour Please enable JavaScript in your browser to complete this form. PROGRAM OF INTEREST Infant and Toddler Program Preschool Program Camp in the City My Family & Me Start Date How Did You Hear About Us? * Word of Mouth Connections for Children Yelp Facebook Next Door Google Search Other Phone submit Programs – Hill & Dale Search for: BOOK A TOUR Toggle navigation ABOUT ENROLLMENT PROGRAMS CONTACT BOOK A TOUR Hill & Dale Programs Hill & Dale provides Early Childhood Education that nurtures the development of children, families and educators through inquiry, collaboration, and play. We offer an assortment of classes for a range of ages at our two campuses. Infant Program 3 MONTHS – 18 MONTHS LEARNING CENTER CAMPUS Our infant program provides care for infants from 3 months to whenever the child is developmentally ready to move up into the toddler space. We believe an experienced, professional staff is the key to a successful infant program. We pride ourselves on our low child to educator ratio of 3:1. Since the infants have a wide developmental range, we have a very flexible daily schedule. Bottle feedings occur whenever the infant gets hungry and infants are encouraged to nap whenever they are tired. We work closely with each family to develop a daily routine that fits. We find that after infants have been together in the Center for a number of months they seem to get on the same food and nap schedule. Diapering, of course, occurs throughout the day. We provide diapers to every student until they are ready to transition to toilet learning. Our scheduled nap time for older infants is after lunch (12:30 or 1pm). The infants sleep as long as they need. CA License #191602008 Learn about Tuition and Fees > Toddler Program 18 MONTHS – 3 YEARS LEARNING CENTER CAMPUS Our Toddler Program focuses on children between the ages of 18 months and 3 years. Our toddler to educator ratio is 5:1. Toddlers need many opportunities to move about. They love to run, jump, climb and explore their world. Toddlers are interested in all of the work that adults do and are given opportunities to participate in the daily jobs of the Center. They love to clean, sweep, set tables, etc. The educators build the curriculum around all these developmental needs. Each child is grouped with a primary educator with up to six children per group. These small groups meet exclusively for circles and lunch time. During work and play times all children and educators get to know one another in our “team teaching” environment. CA License #191601480 Learn about Tuition and Fees > Preschool Program 3 YEARS – 5 YEARS DISCOVERY CENTER CAMPUS The Discovery Center houses our Preschool Program for children ages 3 to 5 years old or until they are ready to enter Kindergarten. Our Preschool child to educator ratio is 6:1. We have both outdoor and indoor play areas. Many gross motor activities and social interactions happen in the outside play yard, which includes a treehouse, bike path, climbing structure, sand box, garden, and plenty of space for open-ended play. CA License #191671164 Learn about Tuition and Fees > Camp in the City 5 YEARS DISCOVERY CENTER CAMPUS (AND THE WORLD!) The Camp in the City Program is an exciting 6 week summer program where recent preschool graduates and alumni are able to explore the City of Santa Monica. Guided by our dedicated team of Hill and Dale educators, the children are able to explore the city through field trips to local parks, museums, the library, and refreshing pool days at the Santa Monica Swim Center. Participants will have the opportunity to ride the Santa Monica Big Blue Bus as well as the Metro train on a few of these field trips. The Camp program serves as a great transitional experience for recent graduates, preparing them for their upcoming T-K or Kindergarten journey. Previous alumni are also welcomed back to join and reconnect with their peers. Previous fields have included: Cayton Museum Children’s Museum, The Natural History Museum, The Science Center, Skirball Cultural Center, and The Santa Monica Farmers Market. Learn about Tuition and Fees > My Family & Me PRENATAL – TODDLER LEARNING CENTER CAMPUS Parent education is highly valued at Hill & Dale and begins with our My Family & Me classes. These classes are open to parents of children not yet enrolled in the school as well as families that are already part of the Hill & Dale community. Facilitated by our professional educators, these classes provide an opportunity for parents to learn about the physical and emotional growth of their child, to share the common joys and frustrations of parenthood, and to get a feeling for Hill & Dale and decide whether it is a good match. Classes are typically held on Saturday mornings. Parents of infants and toddlers get support and encouragement as they enter the often confusing and daunting role of parenthood. Families learn about their child’s development during the early years and begin to explore and discuss the many methods, tips and tools they have at their disposal in supporting their unique child as they grow. In these 6-week sessions, we create a safe and engaging environment where children can play while parents have an opportunity to examine such issues as separation and autonomy, sleep, mealtime, play, discipline, tantrums, etc. Each class includes snack and circle time with music and literature. There are four sessions per year – one session each in Fall, Winter, Spring, and Summer. Prenatal/Infant: $400 Toddler: $450 Learn about Tuition and Fees > Nutrition Program BOTH CAMPUSES As one of the few childcare and learning programs in Santa Monica that offers a warm lunch, we’ve updated and improved how we plan and provide nutritious meals and snacks for your children. All meals and snacks are made in-house fresh daily. We serve organic produce and dairy products as often as possible. The recipes used are modified to feature whole grains and to reduce or eliminate added sugar. The children enjoy fresh fruits and vegetables that are often added in creative ways such as salads, homemade enchiladas, sweet potato hash, and sautéed cabbage. We provide meals that serve the nutritional needs of children but these meals have grown into a broader taste experience. We’ve added foods that can serve both regular diets as well as those with restrictions/allergies. Did you know that quinoa is high in protein, gluten free, and vegan? Food Restrictions Our nutritionists are sensitive to children with allergies and/or food restrictions. Don’t hesitate to speak with them if you have any questions or concerns. We can work with your child’s needs! Learning Center Campus Tasha provides nutrition services at the Learning Center. She’s been with Hill & Dale since 1993. Her mother, Judith Brunk, was a founder of Hill & Dale. She is the proud mother of an adult son who also attended Hill & Dale. Discovery Center Campus Irma provides nutrition services at the Discovery Center. She’s been with Hill & Dale since 2003 and is a parent of four. Two of her children are Hill & Dale alumni. What foods are the children enjoying most right now? The children really love the Green Monster Smoothie! It’s a combination of raw organic fruits, organic plain low fat yogurt, and raw organic spinach leaves. Another recently added favorite is Roasted Veggie Dip with whole wheat lavash. This recipe is directly from Alton Brown on the Food Network. We have a few standbys with updates that are always a favorite: Macaroni and Cheese made with quinoa pasta, crispy fish which is made with sustainable tilapia and enchilada casserole made with homemade “refried” beans. At the Discovery center, some of their favorites are chicken teriyaki with brown rice, vegetable lasagna, chicken pot pies, chili with corn bread and mini turkey burgers. Family Style Dining At Hill & Dale we believe that family style dining is critical for child development. The children experience this style of dining in small groups during all of our snacks and lunches. Not only are the children regularly exposed to a diverse variety of foods from many cultures; they are more likely to try new foods because they see t