Paradise Preschool

Paradise Preschool photos

Just a reminder, we're meeting tomorrow at the preschool at 11:30 to start scanning the photos. The apps I'm using are called PhotoScan and Photos, both by Google. If you can help, please download the app before you come to the school because there is no wifi router there anymore.

We're aware of a video ad mentioning an evacuation at Paradise Preschool during the camp fire. We believe the ad, and the e-commerce sites associated with it, are fraudulent. The school was closed at the time of the fire.
Just a reminder, one of the benefits of preschool education is the social experience during learning, which is a good way for even very young children to build the critical thinking skills that set them up for success later in life.

Edit: almost none of the photos are labeled and the records were lost in the fire. I need help scanning and labeling the photos so I can get copies to the families.
Were you a student or parent at Paradise Preschool? I might have a photo of you or your kid. I know some people lost all the photos of themselves or their children and I'd really like to get copies to you. These are the albums I found at the school. There are hundreds of photos and some are not going to be easy to take in and out of albums to scan, so if you want to volunteer at the preschool one last time, I would really love the help. Thank you!

We realized the fire may leave parents with a lack of childcare options, especially right now while schools are closed and everything is uncertain. We've elected to suspend the shut down process while we try to figure out if we can be a resource to parents in need while they are displaced from their homes. If you are interested in helping create a safe and caring place for young children, or if you need childcare, even just temporarily, please let us know by messaging the school or sending an email to [email protected]

Also for sale:

Since announcing our sale and closure, we've been getting a lot of questions about why the school is shutting down. There's no one reason. In the past, the school was part of Paradise Unified School District and they provided some financial support, specifically for the attendance of kinder ready preschoolers. During the recession, the district was forced to withdraw financial support and the school became independent. At the same time, the state passed legislation mandating districts provide transitional kindergarten classes. TK programs have been gradually implemented and are now in place in our district. The preschool has not only been losing students to TK, but the students who were most likely to be enrolled full-time and pay the most tuition.
The district had a recent change in administration and has tried to bring the preschool back to the district by offering a classroom space on the Pine Ridge campus which greatly reduces the preschool's expenses. However, as a nonprofit corporation, we are required to be run by a board of members. In the past the board was made up of nearly a dozen parent volunteers. Over the years, as the school got smaller, the board roles were consolidated and taken on by fewer members, meaning the jobs once held by many people were now being done by a few, all of whom also had full-time jobs elsewhere. Despite the district's generous offer of a classroom space, there have not been enough parent volunteers willing or able to take on board positions. Being a board member of a nonprofit corporation also includes personal financial risk and we cannot fault any parent for not wanting to take that on especially for a school that faced an uncertain future.
While we felt confident we could raise the money needed to start another school year, move the school, and elect a new board, we also found we would have to hire a new director / teacher. With all of these factors in mind the parents voted unanimously that it would be better to close the school and give whatever money we have left to other educational causes in our community. We are bound by our bylaws and the laws governing non-profit corporations with regard to how our assets are redistributed and donated. We are forever grateful for the support from our families and our community. If any group is interested in learning how to run a nonprofit co-op preschool and picking up where we have left off, please message us here and we will gladly pass on what resources we have.

It is with heavy hearts that we announce that Paradise Pre-School will be closing permanently at the end of this school year. We are so grateful for all the people and organizations who contributed to the early childhood education Paradise Pre-School provided to thousands of children on the ridge, and the for community it provided to their families. Thank you.

Last night, the Paradise Unified School District voted to allow Paradise Pre-School to move onto the Pine Ridge school campus in Magalia. The move greatly reduces the preschool's expenses and allows us to continue our 65-year tradition of educating children on the Ridge. By being on this beautiful campus, our students will be even more prepared for their eventual transition to TK or kindergarten. We have an immediate need for enrollment commitments for the 2018/2019 school year so we can staff accordingly. Please message our page or email us at [email protected] if you are interested in enrolling. We accept all children between 2 and 5 years old, and they do not have to be potty trained. Our co-op model offers volunteer opportunities, and keeps tuition costs affordable.

Our official statement:
Paradise Pre-School Votes to Close

After 65 years of serving young children and families on the Ridge, Paradise Pre-School Parent Co-op voted in January to begin the dissolution process and close the school permanently at the end of the 2018 school year due to projected budget deficits. Since massive budget cuts forced Paradise Unified School District to withdraw financial support in 2010, the preschool has been operating at a loss, but has remained open because of savings, fundraising efforts, and generous donations from members of the community. Realizing the school was critically reliant on charitable donations, the school board presented parents with a restructured budget that lasted only until June of this year.

“We talked for a long time, but there was no debate. We talked about our options and about the school’s history. The motion had been made to close the school, but no one wanted to put the motion to a vote,” said Sarah Richter, parent and board member. “But the last thing we wanted to do was have families come to school to find locked doors. It would be so unfair to our kids and our teacher to close like that. And I think we all feel a sense of responsibility for the school and the role it’s played in this community. Whenever I meet a past student or parent, the thing they talk about most is the relationships they made at the school- the friends they met here are still their friends, the parents are still helping each other.”

Paradise Pre-School was incorporated in 1953 by a small group of moms who wanted a preschool for their children. When the school started, the wooden building blocks were hand made by the dads. The parents painted old work boots so the kids could practice lacing. The first school building had no indoor plumbing; water was carried in by bucket and heated on a donated hot plate.

Family involvement has remained an integral part of the school. Parents work in the classroom one day a week, saving the school from having to hire additional staff and keeping tuition costs affordable. Many of the families at the preschool fall into a funding gap, making too much money to qualify for low-income preschools, and not enough to afford private preschool. Aside from saving money, the co-op model helps build a community as the parents work along side other parents, taking turns being responsible for the children.

However, with the economy recovering, more parents and grandparents are working and aren’t able to help out in the classroom and need full-time childcare. The state also mandated all school districts provide transitional kindergarten, a publicly funded option for children who turn 5 after September 1st and before December 2nd. Transitional kindergarten is free.

Learning that the intermediate schools were consolidating, the preschool has asked the Paradise Unified School District board trustees to consider allowing the preschool to move onto the Pine Ridge School campus, a move that would dramatically reduce the school’s costs without financially obligating the district. The move to Magalia from their home of over 40 years at the Paradise United Methodist Church would be a big one, but the parents hope the trustees see it as a win-win. With most other area preschools at capacity, there’s a need for early childhood education options. At Tuesday’s meeting, the trustees directed superintendent Michelle John and business services director David McCready to continue looking into the feasibility of moving the preschool to Pine Ridge.

In the meantime, the school is still enrolling new students while letting new parents know about the school’s pending closure.

Come join us next Tuesday, March 6 from 5-9pm at Round Table Clubhouse in Paradise! We are having a fundraiser for our school and you can help simply by ordering pizza, pasta or burgers! It is Burger Night! So come check out the awesome burgers Round Table now has! Just make sure you mention Paradise Preschool when you order! (There's a copy of the flyer in the comments if you need it!)

We're hosting another pizza fundraiser next Tuesday at Round Table Clubhouse! Pizza, burgers, and fun for the kids! Come join us from 5-9pm! And make sure you mention that Paradise Preschool sent you!

Tomorrow Night! Pizza Fundraiser at Round Table on Clark Rd!
5-9pm! Please be sure you mention "Paradise Preschool" when you order tomorrow night. Good for Dine in or Carry out. Here is your coupon to print if you need a reminder!

Support Paradise Pre-School Inc by shopping at AmazonSmile.

Shopping today on Amazon? Here's an easy way to earn money for our school. Make sure you are using Amazon Smile. Just identify Paradise Preschool as the charity you support and a percentage of every dollar you spend will be donated to the school!

smile.amazon.com When you shop at AmazonSmile, Amazon will donate to Paradise Pre-School Inc. Support us every time you shop.

Just in time for Thanksgiving left-overs to run out! Hope to see you there, our last pizza night fundraiser was a blast!

Support Paradise Pre-School Inc by shopping at AmazonSmile.

The holidays are coming up. An easy way to earn money for our school is to shop at Amazon Smile. Just identify Paradise Preschool as the charity you support and a percentage of every dollar you spend will be donated to the school from Amazon.
https://smile.amazon.com/ch/94-6019173

smile.amazon.com When you shop at AmazonSmile, Amazon will donate to Paradise Pre-School Inc. Support us every time you shop.

Monday, November 13 from 6-9PM, we are having a fundraiser at Mountain Mike's Pizza in the SaveMart Shopping Center on Clark Rd! Make sure you mention Paradise Preschool when you order and we will get a portion of the proceeds! (Dine in or Carry Out only.) Printable reminder flyer will be in the comments.

Thank you to Rancho Engineering for your generous donation of TONS OF CANDY for our Harvest Festival! It really made a difference and we're really appreciative! 😁🙌🧡🧡🧡

Thank you A Bouncers Paradise for donating the bounce house for our Harvest Festival! It's happening NOW until 4pm!!!! 6722 Clark rd.

THIS SATURDAY! 12-4PM!
Paradise Preschool's Annual Harvest Festival! Games, food, bounce house, face painting, crafts! Fun for the whole family!!!!! We also have a Raffle for TWO different Gift Card Baskets! As well as a costume contest for kids!

Love Paradise

We're on the list! www.loveparadise.net

If you'd like to volunteer as a part of Make A Difference Day, please call or text Sarah Richter (530)518-4444. We need volunteers to help with our Harvest Festival Fundraiser. Jobs include passing out candy at the Trunk-or-treat, helping kids with simple crafts, and facilitating carnival games for preschool aged children. 100% of proceeds go to direct operating costs of our non-profit preschool, celebrating 63 years of educating the Ridge's Littlest Learners.

loveparadise.net Love Paradise exists so that our city will be forever changed by leading community wide volunteerism, neighborhoods, schools and kids initiatives.

Lylah in the house!!

🌲Paradise Pre-school will be at the Family Resource Fair on Saturday at the Paradise Alliance Church. Stop by and say Hi! 🤗 🌲🧡

AmazonSmile: You shop. Amazon gives.

If you shop on Amazon please visit this link https://smile.amazon.com & sign up to support Paradise Pre-School Inc as your charity. Amazon donates 0.5% to Paradise Pre-School. Remember every time you shop log in through "www.smile.amazon.com" not "www.amazon.com". Thank you for your support!

smile.amazon.com

eScrip - Sign up and make a difference when you shop.

If you shop at SaveMart or FoodMaxx please visit this link https://secure.escrip.com/signup/index.jsp & sign up to give 3% of your spendings to Paradise Pre-School. Also if you shop at Holiday you can donate your points to Paradise Pre-School at checkout. For every 1000 points they give Paradise Pre-School a $20 gift card to spend on our snack items. Thank you for your support!

secure.escrip.com Help raise money for your favorite school or nonprofit. Create your account by entering the payment cards, store cards and/or phone numbers you'll use to shop and earn automatically!

Pumpkin patch field trip today! See you at the farm! 🐴🐷🐄🐑

Are you looking for a way to get involved in the Halloween festivities around town? Paradise Preschool has an opportunity for you! We are hosting a trunk or treat and need families, businesses and other members of the community to come help us out by having a family-friendly decorated trunk of their car and pass out candy to kids. You do have to provide your own candy, but we'll provide the space and the kids! If you are interested, please message us and we'll reserve a spot just for you!

Paradise Preschool is a licensed non-profit preschool. (Lic. # 041309492)

Rummage Sale and Pancake Breakfast! THIS SATURDAY! September 9! 8-12!
Pancake Breakfast is $5 a person, all you can eat!
KIDS come dressed as your favorite superhero or princess!
We will be raffling off a $100 gift certificate to Enchantment Children Parties!
Any Police, Firefighters, Doctors, Nurses or EMTs who come in uniform get in FREE to the pancake breakfast!
Paradise Preschool is a non-profit co-operative preschool.

Huge thank you to Tracy Fry at Summit Funding and all the Paradise Realtors who donated supplies to our school this year. We are so grateful for the support of our community!

CALLING ALL LOCAL SUPERHEROES!
POLICE, FIREMEN, DOCTORS, NURSES, EMTS!
Come out in your uniform and enjoy pancakes for free!
Saturday, September 9, from 8 to 12!
Paradise Preschool
6722 Clark Rd. Paradise
(Across the street from the movie theatre)
This is a benefit for Paradise Pre-School, a non-profit preschool.

RUMMAGE SALE AND PANCAKE BREAKFAST!
SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 9! 8 to 12!
6722 Clark Road, Paradise!
Kids come dressed as your favorite superhero or princess!
Come check out the deals!
All you can eat Pancakes $5 a person!

Life in Paradise, CA.

Adventist Health Feather River is having a fun FREE health fair Sunday, August 27th from Noon til 4pm ! There will be Face Painting~Games~Prizes and free health, dental, vision screenings.