Basic Facts
- A parent participating Preschool, Jr Kindergarten and Elementary school
- Founded in 1963 as a one-room parent-cooperative nursery school
- Moved to current Belgatos Road site in Los Gatos after 40 years in Campbell
- Nonsectarian
- Coeducational
- Nonprofit
- Preschool serves ages 18 months to 5 years
- Elementary serves Junior Kindergarten through 5th grade
- Adult/child ratio in preschool 1:3
- Adult/child ratio in elementary school 1:8
- Capacity enrollment for preschool program: 96
- Capacity enrollment for elementary program: 140
- Avg. class size – preschool: 24
- Avg. class size – elementary: 15
- Avg. years teachers have taught at Mulberry: 10 years
- Teacher specialists employed: drama, music and movement, music, pe and health
Hours and Classes
Office Hours: 8:30 am – 4:00 pm
Extended Care (JK-5th): 7:30-9:00 am and 12 noon to 6:00 pm
Preschool:
| Toddler | 18 mos- 2.5years | Tues | 12:30-2:30 |
| 2-day | 2.5-3.5 years | T/Th | 9:00-11:30 am |
| 3-day | 3.5-5 years | MWF | 9:00-11:30 am |
| 4-day | 3.9-5 years | MWThF | 12:30-3:00 pm |
Elementary
| Junior Kindergarten | 9:00 am - 12:00 pm |
| Kindergarten | 9:00 am - 1:00 pm |
| 1st-5th grades | 9:00 am – 3:00 pm |
Accreditation and Affiliations
- Accredited by National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC)
- Accredited by Western Association of Schools & Colleges (WASC)
- Positive Discipline Demonstration School (34 kb pdf)
- Member of California Council of Parent Participation Nursery Schools (CCPPNS)
- Member of Santa Clara County Valley Council (SCVC)
- Member of Common Ground
Why Parents Choose Mulberry
- Learning atmosphere of love, acceptance, patience and mutual respect
- Mulberry teachers are creative, passionate, resourceful, flexible and inspiring
- Parents are partners in the learning environment, sharing their enthusiasm, talents and cultural perspective.
- Parents get to know teachers, classmates, other parents in close-knit community
- Developmentally appropriate learning
- Focus on the whole child (social, emotional, physical, intellectual)
- Multi-sensory, hands-on, engaged learning
- Children learn who they are as a learner and what they need to learn most effectively
- Small class size and low adult/child ratio
- Children emerge confident self-learners
- Positive Discipline Demonstration School
- Emphasis on creative, critical thinking, problem solving and conflict resolution
- Mistakes are seen as opportunities to learn; children are encouraged not punished.
- Importance placed on nurturing a love of learning.
Student Enrichment
- Teacher Specialists: PE and Health, Music and Vocals, Music and Movement, Drama
- Reading Buddies
- Field Trips, Overnights
- Student Council (rotated service)
- Community Service
- Cooking
- Gardening
- Art
- Drama
Parent Education
- 6-week TEAM (Techniques for Effective Aide Management) class offered each fall on site
- Parents may attend Common Ground speaker series for free
- Regular class meetings with teacher around curriculum and parent aiding topics
Campus Resources
- Extended Care before and after school on site
- Large, well-equipped kitchen for cooking
- Wet science area
- Clay and glass kilns
- Separate music room stocked with instruments
- Separate, large, beautiful play yards for preschool and elementary
- Extensive playground equipment including trikes, scooters, wagons
- Large, open field for PE and games
- Access to hiking trails at Belgatos Park
- Large stage for drama program
- Separate class gardens and JK/K fairy garden
- Large multi-purpose room for break-out space
Communications
- Parent/ teacher conferences: preschool-winter; elementary-fall and spring
- Progress Reports: preschool – 1 per year; elementary- 3 per year
- Friday Folders with student work and weekly letters from teachers
- Hanging files for all students used for parent communication
- Weekly Friday Flash email
- Egroups for all school discussion and communications
- The Messenger - School Newsletter- 4 times per year
Special Community Events and Activities
- Friday Morning All-School Sing – Parents Welcome
- Friday Morning Coffee in the courtyard
- Sock Hop
- Fun Run
- Harvest Festival
- Thanksgiving Feast
- Science Fair
- Spring Sing and Young Author's Fair
- Steppin' Out Fundraising Event
- Graduation Ceremonies for JK, K and 5th grades
Summer Camp Program
Mulberry Graduates
Our graduates are commended by their middle and high school teachers for
their:
- academic success
- ability to communicate effectively
- skill in working collaboratively with others
- willingness to take responsibility for their own learning
Where Mulberry Graduates Go Next
- Almaden Country School
- Bret Harte Middle School
- Ida Price Middle School
- Old Orchard Middle School
- Rolling Hills Middle School
- The Girls Middle School
- St. Andrews Episcopal School
- Union Middle School
- Discovery Charter School
- Valley Christian Middle School
- Holy Spirit School
- Castillero Middle School
- Archbishop Mitty High School
- Bellarmine College Preparatory
- Castillero
- Leland High School
- Notre Dame High School
- Presentation High School
- Westmont High School