Where learning is a walk of discovery

Est. 1967

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St. Francis Preschool is currently hosting tours for the 2025-2026 school year! In-person small group and individual tours are available. Please inquire here to schedule a tour today!

St. Francis Preschool Parent Portal

Access important forms, parent handbook, school calendar, and more in our parent portal.

(Password protected site)

*Currently enrolled families only

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Expert Staff

At St. Francis, all our teachers meet or exceed state requirements for Early Childhood Education. Several hold Master's degrees in Early Childhood Education and/or teaching credentials. With diverse educational backgrounds and experiences, each staff member brings a unique and engaging approach to learning, making every day exciting and enriching for our students.

Teach to the Individual

Each classroom at St. Francis offers a nurturing, holistic early education experience designed to support the whole child. Our dedicated and compassionate staff tailor their approach to meet each child’s unique developmental needs, socially, emotionally, physically, and cognitively, ensuring that every child feels seen, supported, and empowered to thrive.

Play-based Learning

We offer some of the lowest student-to-teacher ratios in the area, ensuring each child receives the individual attention they need to thrive. Our play-based programs inspire a love of learning through curiosity, exploration, experimentation, and play. In a safe, secure, and supportive environment, children build friendships, gain confidence, and have fun every day.

One of Marin’s leading preschools

St. Francis Preschool provides a nurturing early childhood education experience for young children. Our caring and committed staff members teach to the individual child, supporting their unique developmental needs - socially, emotionally, physically and cognitively. St. Francis teachers all meet or exceed Early Childhood Education requirements and many have Master’s degrees with many years of experience teaching. Our teacher to student ratios are some of the lowest in the area.

A legacy of excellence

Nestled among tall pine and oak trees, St. Francis Preschool has been serving families in the Northern Bay Area since 1967, providing a nurturing and stable environment for young children. For over half a century, we have been a top choice for Novato and Marin parents looking for a preschool community. Today, we are proud that each year we welcome a 2nd generation of St. Francis families: the children of alumni.

Our philosophy

At St. Francis, our program is dedicated to nurturing children’s social-emotional growth and developing their social competence. Our goal is to foster confident, curious learners by providing opportunities for children to express themselves appropriately, practice kindness and respect, and build meaningful friendships.

We support this growth through a play-based curriculum that encourages creativity and problem-solving. Our thoughtfully designed environments promote cooperative play, and our child-centered activities are tailored to engage young minds. Through consistent modeling of positive interactions, we help children learn to navigate social situations with empathy and confidence.

Programs for

2 to TK

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Hear from our families

  • “St. Francis has an enchanting campus where children can learn through play. Their grounds are filled with opportunities for exploration, imagination and cooperation.”

    Classroom A parent

  • “My daughter is attending the same preschool that I went to, which is such a special experience. It speaks to the stewardship and dedication of the St. Francis team.”

    Classroom A-D parent

  • “My son loves the TK program at St. Francis. Mrs. Vorhies is truly a gem and deeply cares for and understands each individual student. The curriculum and commitment to personal attention has exceeded my expectations.”

    Classroom E/TK parent

Meet the Team

Fall is the perfect time to learn about Farms! Room B created their own classroom farm by painting a barn and filling it with farm animals. In the process we learned how to use glue and glue sticks and tried painting with marbles. The children had f
Join us tomorrow night, 11/5 at 5:30pm and learn more about our TK program! Meet TK teacher Shoshannah Vorhies and hear about how our TK program is different from any other. There is absolutely no commitment in coming and asking any and all questions
Meet our amazing TK teacher, Shoshannah Vorhies! Shoshannah has been an educator for over 30 years and is going on her 15th year here with St. Francis Preschool. With experience in both early childhood and elementary education, she blends structure w
On November 1, SNAP benefits for over 42 million Americans were not distributed due to the government shutdown. As a result, there is an increased strain on many food banks and food pantries due to the increased demand. We are asking the St. Francis
See what's happening in our community for the month of November! Swipe and stay tuned for more info on upcoming events! @downtownnovato @finnegansmarin @nmcs_1972 @minted
Why It's Important to Let Kids face Setbacks. As parents, it’s natural to want to protect our children from anything painful or difficult. But sometimes, the best thing we can do is step back and let them work through challenges on their own. W
Time for Twos has been off to such a fun start! We’ve made so many new friends, they have earch learned everyone’s names, and started exploring paint and color mixing. We’ve also been busy building those fine motor skills through a
Helping Children Through Halloween Fear Halloween is meant to be fun for children of all ages. What child doesn't want a bag full of free treats after all? But famed child development expert, Jean Piaget, found that most children under the age of s

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