Blue Sky Day School
Berkeley, CA
To see Department of Social Services records on this facility, click on its DSS Facility License # below.
August 2021: Michele Jabbari notified BPN that she has closed her daycare
Parent Q&A
Parent Reviews
Parents, please Sign in to post a review on this page.Our 3 year old has really enjoyed attending at Blue Sky. He attended a different school before and never seemed happy there, but since his first day with Blue Sky he has been enthusiastic about going to school. Michele and her staff have been great to make him feel welcomed. It is always a treat to hear him sing a new song he learned at school. We've also enjoyed seeing the different art projects he has brought home, and hearing about the friends he has made there. We would definitely recommend checking out Michele's school if you are looking for an inviting and fun school for your little one.
We feel very lucky to have found Blue Sky. The set up is perfect for little ones. A very large yard– full of garden projects and play space, toys made of natural materials, an additional indoor tumbling space for rainy days, dress up clothes, and tons of art supplies.
Our son comes home with amazing art projects, new songs to sing (in English and Spanish), and has made great friends. Michele and the rest of the staff have created a loving, nurturing environment that have helped him come out of his shell, learn social skills, be independent, and have a blast while doing it all.
On days when he doesn’t go to school, he’s disappointed and always wants to know how many days until he goes again. If you’re looking for a sweet, special preschool for your child, look no further!
We consider ourselves incredibly lucky to have found a truly hidden gem in North West Berkeley near the Gilman district and 4th St. - Blue Sky Day School, or as our son calls it, Michele's school. Michele and her very caring and able staff provide the most lovely and nurturing environment. From the moment we walked into the garden of this home-based pre-school, I knew it was a special place. The play yard is full of carefully planted vegetable beds, a raspberry patch, a bird bath and a world of play. There's a sandbox, a play structure and the most amazing wooden airplane built by a very talented past parent. The outdoor dining tables were custom made for little people and are covered with brightly colored sun umbrellas. On rainy days (we wish!), there is even a room in the yard (a small redone garage) with gymnastics mats for active play when it's too wet outside.
Inside the school is even more enchanting. Michele has turned her home into an environment where the children can explore, play, learn, read, take a nap, cook (safely), and create music and art. Everything is kept incredibly orderly and at the level of the children. There is more than enough for them to choose from to play without being overwhelming for their little brains to process. It reminds me of a Waldorf preschool environment with wooden toys, fairies, dress up clothes, simple cloth dolls and a deep connection to the natural world. There are also miles of train tracks, trucks, wooden animals, and right now, there's even a baseball-themed ''store.''
Each season, Michele, Jackie, Maira and Marta arrange different themes for the children to explore. This Spring they observed eggs incubating and hatching and tadpoles growing to frogs. Michele is so good about giving these lessons context and incorporating the themes into the art, music and reading they do daily.
Oh, and did I mention they learn Spanish too! Michele, Marta and Maira speak and sing in Spanish all day and the kids have really learned it too. It's not full immersion but it is certainly hard-wiring something into those sponge-like brains.
My son has learned to play with a multi-aged group respectfully and joyfully, and learned independence while being loved and cared for by the staff whom he absolutely adores. This is a truly special place. Run, don't walk so you can get in on this secret spot. Michele may have a couple spots open soon. You can email her directly at [email protected] or call 510-525-2048
Archived Q&A and Reviews
June 2014
Re: Moving to N. Berkeley - looking for a preschool
You might really like Blue Sky Day School in NW Berkeley...sweet, playful & creative. It's been great for our children and family. Check their facebook page to get a flavor. -happy mom
Sept 2013
I wanted to recommend Blue Sky Day School to any parents who are looking for a preschool in Berkeley. I always think of Blue Sky as the ''hidden gem'' of preschools. It's located on a quiet residential street in west Berkeley. Once you walk through the gates, you are surrounded by an amazing environment for little kids to thrive. There's a beautiful garden and wonderful play areas for the kids outside and inside. The teachers are wonderful, loving and warm. They take great care of the kids, have fun activities all day every day, and help foster the kids social development so the they become respectful and kind friends to each other.
Back when my first child started going, it was a ''by word of mouth only'' school. My youngest is still there and I still to this day feel so lucky that we found Blue Sky. A whole group of the ''big kids'' just graduated to start kindergarten, and there are spots open for new kids to start now.
Every morning my little one asks ''Is it a school day today?'' and when I say yes, he says ''Yay! Blue Sky!''. It's such a gift to have my kids love school. Thanks Blue Sky! More info at http://www.blueskydayschool.com/ Jennifer
Aug 2013
Blue Sky Day School is a magical little preschool. The school provides a warm and nurturing environment where the kids are well loved and where their interests are nurtured. It is a play-based school with so much for the kids to do and explore. It has an amazing and huge yard, full of beautiful toys and equipment (wooden house, wooden airplane, sandbox, water play, painting area, gardening, swings, climbing structure, a rabbit and more). Inside is full of wooden toys and every day new station activities are set-up (homemade play doh, cooking, TONS of special art projects- your child will come home with so much cool art, building, and so many other amazingly creative things). The kids can also play dress-up, store, sit in the reading corner, be in the kitchen, build blocks, play with babies and so much other stuff. The teachers are educated in early childhood development and have been there a long time (there are 3 teachers for 12 kids) and are loved and adored by my kids. Two of the three teachers speak fluent Spanish and will speak to your child in Spanish if requested. They have also always been a great resource for me for parenting advice and challenges.
Activities follow the seasons and I love that the kids do so much science-based learning. They watch caterpillars turn into butterflies, eggs hatch into chicks (which they incubate!) and tadpoles turn into frogs.
After almost three years at Blue Sky, both my children will now move on to K in the fall. I am so sad to leave this school as it has been the best possible place I could have sent my kids. (And I know that for sure as I researched and visited nearly every preschool in Berkeley and my kids attended 3 different daycares and preschools before we found this one!) They haven't just been happy at Blue Sky, they have been at home. Have a look for yourself:https://www.facebook.com/BlueSkyDaySchool Stephanie
July 2013
Blue Sky Day School is a wonderful preschool. The beautiful space and the sweet, cooperative, creative play there will intrigue you.
The children are very proud of what they do. Just recently they created sculpture and paintings after field trips to the museum and an art gallery. They made jam from their hand-picked raspberries; they created a mural for a backdrop for their garden that they cleared and planted with their own efforts. Of course they also perform plays for each other and organize an exciting round of baseball among themselves.
As parents, we enjoy the community of sweet families and teachers. After a relaxing potluck, the yearly overnight camp is the next thing we are all looking forward to.
The school is in Berkeley, near San Pablo and Cedar St. Check out the Blue Sky Day School Facebook page, or contact mj [at] BlueSkyDaySchool.com to inquire. - happy parent
March 2013
Blue Sky Day School is a hidden gem. This play-based preschool in Northwest Berkeley has been wonderful village school for our two children, at their every stage.
Not only does the school have a bountiful garden, a tumble space for rainy days, and a seemingly endless and organized rotation of play materials, the children also go on small field trips and to an annual class at the Lawrence Hall of Science.
But the teachers make Blue Sky Day School extra special. They share their love of nature, cooking, gardening, art, story-telling, music, Spanish, etc. to the children; all to stimulate their curiosity, imagination, and to develop their sense of identity. Plus, if you are looking for a male teacher, inquire here. The kids love theirs. Thank you Blue Sky Day School! - Pleased Parent -
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