North Bay Children's Center

Quality early childhood education doesn’t happen by accident.

As potential changes to federal Head Start standards are being considered, our President & CEO Susan Gilmore is raising an important question: How do we pursue efficiency without compromising the standards that protect young children and help them thrive?

In a new opinion piece for the Marin Independent Journal, Susan reflects on more than four decades of progress in early childhood education and why strong standards around safety, staffing, health, nutrition, family engagement, and early intervention matter.

“Young children cannot advocate for themselves. It is our responsibility to ensure that efficiency, flexibility, and cost savings never come at the expense of their safety, development, or future.”

We’re proud of Susan for lending her voice and experience to this important conversation and advocating for the children and families at the heart of it.

Read the full opinion piece here: https://www.marinij.com/2026/08/06/marin-voice-deregulating-head-start-could-turn-back-decades-of-progress-for-children/?utm_source=you.com

Every bird builds a nest a little differently, and our little learners loved discovering why! 🪺🐦

After learning how different birds create different kinds of nests, children put their creativity to work by building their own using shredded paper and natural materials they found outdoors. Through hands-on exploration, they practiced problem-solving, sparked their imaginations, and gained a new appreciation for the amazing ways animals adapt to their environments.

¡Cada ave construye su nido de una manera diferente, y a nuestros pequeños estudiantes les encantó descubrir por qué! 🪺🐦

Después de aprender cómo las diferentes aves construyen distintos tipos de nidos, los niños pusieron en práctica su creatividad al crear los suyos usando papel triturado y materiales naturales que encontraron al aire libre. A través de esta experiencia práctica, desarrollaron habilidades para resolver problemas, estimularon su imaginación y descubrieron las increíbles formas en que los animales se adaptan a su entorno.

Join us for an unforgettable evening featuring local food and wine, exciting silent and live auctions, and a beautifully curated dinner by Park Avenue Catering!

Together, we’ll raise critical funds to support the North Bay’s most vulnerable children, ensuring they receive the early learning experiences they need to thrive and build a strong foundation for lifelong success.

All proceeds benefit the North Bay Children’s Center. Don’t wait, get your tickets today! nbcc.ejoinme.org/nit2026

North Bay Children's Center: Early Care & Education Since 1988 Ensuring access to high-quality affordable child care, preschool, and award-winning Garden of Eatin’® program in Marin and Sonoma Co. Enroll today!

A day full of hands-on learning at Monroe! 🫐🌱

Children made a tasty blackberry crisp before heading into the garden to discover bugs, worms, and all the little wonders nature has to offer. Whether they're cooking, exploring, or asking questions, every adventure is an opportunity to learn through play.

¡Un día lleno de aprendizaje práctico en Monroe! 🫐🌱

Los niños prepararon un delicioso crisp de moras antes de salir al jardín para descubrir insectos, lombrices y todas las pequeñas maravillas que la naturaleza tiene para ofrecer. Ya sea cocinando, explorando o haciendo preguntas, cada aventura es una oportunidad para aprender a través del juego.

Congratulations to Brian St. Peter, our 2026 I Am NBCC winner!

As Facilities Manager, Brian works behind the scenes to keep NBCC campuses safe, welcoming, and ready for children to learn and grow. From daily maintenance to major improvement projects, he brings dedication, innovation, and an unwavering commitment to excellence.

Whether he's responding after hours, leading renovations, or creating engaging outdoor spaces, Brian’s work makes a lasting impact on children, families, and staff across every campus.

Thank you, Brian, for all you do to make NBCC stronger every day!



¡Felicitaciones a Brian St. Peter, nuestro ganador de I Am NBCC 2026!

Como Gerente de Instalaciones, Brian trabaja tras bambalinas para mantener los campus de NBCC seguros, acogedores y listos para que los niños aprendan y crezcan. Desde el mantenimiento diario hasta importantes proyectos de mejora, aporta dedicación, innovación y un compromiso inquebrantable con la excelencia.

Ya sea respondiendo después del horario laboral, liderando proyectos de renovación o creando atractivos espacios al aire libre, el trabajo de Brian deja una huella duradera en los niños, las familias y el personal de todos nuestros campus.

¡Gracias, Brian, por todo lo que haces para fortalecer a NBCC cada día!

Growing together so we can help children thrive. 💛

Our Regional Summit brought together educators, leaders, and staff from across NBCC for two days of learning, collaboration, and reflection. By investing in our team, we're investing in every child and family we serve.

Thank you to everyone who shared their knowledge, ideas, and passion. Here's to another year of learning, growing, and making a difference—together. 🌟

Creciendo juntos para ayudar a que los niños prosperen. 💛

Nuestra Cumbre Regional reunió a Supervisores de Sitio, Maestros Principales, Maestros Flotantes y a nuestros equipos administrativos para vivir dos días de aprendizaje, colaboración y reflexión. Al invertir en nuestro equipo, estamos invirtiendo en cada niño y cada familia a quienes tenemos el privilegio de servir.

Gracias a todos los que compartieron sus conocimientos, ideas y pasión. ¡Por otro año de aprendizaje, crecimiento y de seguir marcando la diferencia, juntos! 🌟

Who left those tracks? 🐾🌿

Our Sassorini children had so much fun learning about the animals that live in our local habitats and the unique tracks they leave behind. After exploring different animal footprints, they got creative making their own through hands-on art and sensory play.

Activities like these spark curiosity, encourage observation, and help children build a deeper connection with the natural world, all while having fun together.

¿Quién dejó esas huellas? 🐾🌿

¡Los niños del salón Sassorini se divirtieron mucho aprendiendo sobre los animales que viven en los hábitats de nuestra comunidad y las huellas únicas que dejan a su paso! Después de explorar diferentes huellas de animales, dieron rienda suelta a su creatividad creando las suyas mediante actividades prácticas de arte y juego sensorial.

Actividades como esta despiertan la curiosidad, fomentan la observación y ayudan a los niños a desarrollar una conexión más profunda con la naturaleza, ¡todo mientras se divierten aprendiendo juntos!

We're thrilled to share our new partnership with Little Saint Healdsburg Farm, bringing fresh, organic produce to NBCC children each week!

Grown with intention by a dedicated team, everything harvested at Little Saint Farm is rooted in their commitment to soil health, biodiversity, and community. Thank you to LJ Maingard, Little Saint Farm’s Programs Manager, for showing us around the farm and visiting our Fitch Mountain campus!

From colorful fruits and vegetables to conversations about where food comes from, this partnership gives our little learners the chance to explore healthy eating in a fun, hands-on way. Together with Little Saint Farm, we're helping children build healthy habits, discover new flavors, and grow a lifelong love of fresh food, one delicious bite at a time.

¡Nos emociona compartir nuestra nueva colaboración con Little Saint Farm, que traerá productos orgánicos y frescos a los niños y niñas de NBCC cada semana!

Cultivado con dedicación por un equipo apasionado, todo lo que se cosecha en Little Saint Farm nace de su compromiso con la salud del suelo, la biodiversidad y la comunidad. ¡Gracias a LJ Maingard, Gerente de Programas de Little Saint Farm, por mostrarnos la granja y visitar nuestro campus de Fitch Mountain!

Desde frutas y verduras llenas de color hasta conversaciones sobre el origen de los alimentos, esta colaboración brinda a nuestros pequeños estudiantes la oportunidad de explorar la alimentación saludable de una manera divertida y práctica. Junto con Little Saint Farm, estamos ayudando a que los niños desarrollen hábitos saludables, descubran nuevos sabores y cultiven un amor por los alimentos frescos que los acompañará toda la vida, ¡un delicioso bocado a la vez!

A beloved Santa Rosa preschool legacy continues! North Bay Children’s Center is honored to welcome families to our new Pacific Campus, carrying forward decades of care, connection, and early learning in the community.

Read more about this special transition and the legacy we’re proud to continue at pressdemocrat.com/2026/07/16/beloved-santa-rosa-preschool-closes-its-doors-for-good-after-more-than-six-decades