WE ARE A 5-STAR QUALITY RATED PROGRAM BY THE ALAMEDA COUNTY QUALITY COUNTS!

Mission

Our mission is to offer dynamic and innovative learning experiences for children that encourage collaboration, creativity, confidence, and compassion.  We support families with young children and provide high quality child care and education in a safe, supportive, and inspiring environment.

Values

We respect each child’s differences and unique abilities.   We believe that providing a caring, nurturing, and creative atmosphere for children enhances learning and ultimately builds the path to a life long love of learning.  We believe that children are capable contributors to their own learning, and that they thrive in a child centered program that supportive of their abilities, talents, and incessant curiosity.

Vision

We are a preschool that promotes joy and creativity in learning, in building community, and developing respect for self and others. Our program strives to provide enriching opportunities for children so that when they leave our program, they can become valuable contributors in the community.

Our Team

Ms. Dain, Innovative Program Director and Lead Teacher

Ms. Dain is our Director and Lead Teacher.  She works with our teachers to provide the best care and education for our young students. A wife and mom, Dain is an accomplished musician and educator who ingeniously blends her knowledge and experience in music and early childhood education. She earned a Bachelor of Music degree with honors from the University of the Philippines, and a Master of Music degree from San Francisco State University. Among her merits include a Philippine national arts scholarship, St. Scholastica’s Academy award for most outstanding in music, and Pone scholarship in graduate school. She has taken Master’s degree coursework in early childhood development. She is an experienced classroom teacher from Pre-K to 7th grade, and has also taught piano to young children and adults, beginning and advanced students, for over 20 years. She's a member of Music Teachers Association of California and the Mu Phi Epsilon International Music Honor Society. She has served as music director at St. Elizabeth in San Francisco. She was a faculty member at the University of the Philippines College of Music Extension Program and at the Community Music Center in San Francisco. She was part of an international delegation to Reggio Emilia, Italy. Dain used to work at the National Center for Youth Law, a non-profit organization that uses the law to improve the lives of disadvantaged children and youth.

Mr. Duddley, Art Program Consultant

Mr. Duddley is our Arts Specialist and Curriculum Consultant.  Considered an art prodigy when he was a child, Duddley has a large body of work featured in solo and group art exhibits in Asia, Europe, and the US. After finishing his Bachelor of Fine Arts degree, he received a scholarship from the Italian government to study at the famed Accademia di Belle Arti in Florence, Italy. He lived in Italy for over 20 years. Among the honors he received are the Presidential Merit Award for excellence in the arts from the President of the Philippines and a Freeman Full Fellowship Grant in Vermont. He has lectured in universities and conducted art workshops for young school children.

WHY CHOOSE PICCOLO NIDO?

Creative Arts is a strong component of our program — which makes us special and unique. We are proud to offer a research-based and high quality music program. We believe that creative arts has the strength to awaken natural connections with young children, therefore an indispensable tool for teaching. Children become more expressive and engaged in learning when arts and music are consistently incorporated in their daily learning experiences.

Piccolo Nido strongly believe in the Reggio philosophy that children are innately intelligent, equipped with “a hundred” ways of reasoning, learning, exploring, playing, communicating and doing. Piccolo teachers are co-researchers and co-collaborators along with children. Both work together on a curriculum created around the children’s interest.

 

WHAT ARE YOUR ACCREDITATIONS or AFFILIATIONS?

The Alameda County Quality Counts awarded Piccolo Nido a rating of 5 stars out of a possible 5 — based on elements that are important for quality care and education. 

Memberships/Affiliations:  National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC). Reggio Alliance.  American Orff-Shulwerk Association. National Association for Family Child Care.  Organization of American Kodály.

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