Seaside Ranchos Preschool
the little school with a big heart
a blended play-based and academic early education experience
What our families say
Check out our video tour!
LIC# 197494904
Seaside Ranchos Preschool (SRP) is a nonprofit early learning center located in sunny South Torrance, California. Our company is anchored by 3 main values, that naturally spill over into our day-to-day school-wide vibe: Do what's right, Show you care, and Do the best you can. And although our name may be new to you, the location of our school has been a bustling preschool since the 70's. Groovy!
This cute, little place is nestled just east of Seaside Elementary School and behind EFC Southbay at 4565 Sharynne Lane. SRP can accommodate up to 46 happy students--resulting in the perfect not-too-big/not-too-small pre-k experience for your young one.
Our facility has so much to offer: a great-room that features substantial areas for both floor play and pint-sized tables/chairs for crafts and activities; a cozy book nook; a large, plush rug space for circle-time songs and activities; and four separate classroom spaces. Outdoor time also goes swimmingly as there is so much to do! We've got tricycles, ball games, wooden balancing logs, chalk, gardening, slides and swings, sand, and play sets/houses--it's a sensory paradise! This large, natural space has shady trees and cool sea breeze.
What's our educational philosophy? Yay! Thanks for asking! Our unique program's philosophy ensures simply smooth sailing--students should play to learn and learn to play! We've blended the importance of academics for TK and Kinder readiness and hands-on, play-based learning styles that are age-appropriate and an absolute NECESSITY so our students can be successful, comfortable, and inherently interested in what comes next in their school-aged voyage. Numerous studies support the effectiveness of this hybrid approach! Play supports the formation of the foundation for all intellectual activities, including the development of symbolic thought and language--both tidal waves of importance for establishing early reading skills. Integrating both academic and play-based learning creates a balance that nurtures children's cognitive and social-emotional capacities, mapping out a lifelong love of learning starting at just two years old. So, come ride the wave of holistic growth with us, where every ripple is sure to wash ashore a sunny today and tomorrow for your Tadpole, Goldfish, Sea Star, or Dolphin!
Ready to dive in? Another unique aspect of SRP, which is optional of course, is the ability to become a family volunteer and really get your feet wet! Once cleared, parents and other special family members can surf in to lend a hand in the classroom alongside our awesome teachers. It's really such a fun way to get to know other families and make your kiddo's first memories of preschool a big splash!
Add your family to our priority list or contact us for a tour today as our wave of enrollment is approaching a big swell!
About Seaside Ranchos
What We Offer
hours, tuition, & classes
Program runs 11 months (September-July)
9:15am-12:15pm, Weekdays
Morning Program
$825/month
Afternoon Program
$925/Month
9:15AM-1:45pm, Weekdays
School-day Program
$975/Month
9:15AM-3:00pm, Weekdays (limited)
Full-day Program
$1295/Month
8:00AM-4:30pm, Weekdays (limited)
Morning"Stay & Play" Add-on
+$150/Month
Weekdays, 8:00am-9:15am (limited)
Don't Forget...
Ask about our 20% sibling discount!
Ask about our 10% Full-Day Program Teacher/School Staff Discount!
And, enjoy no additional potty-achieving fees!
Tadpoles
So tiny and so new! The Tadpole program introduces our youngest learners to our school dynamic. These students ease into fun, seasonal, and thematic curriculum, yet the true focus of this group is on self-awareness, self-regulation, social-emotional understanding, and fine and gross motor work. (1:8 Ratio)
Areas of introduction include
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hand/eye coordination: glide cars along a track, stack blocks, hold writing instruments, scribble drawing
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independence: clean up, put on a coat
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self-awareness: find their voice, ask for wants/needs
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self-regulation: lengthen attention/ focus, follow simple instructions
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social skills: take turns, respond to questions/speech with 2 words, ask questions, play next to others
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begin concepts of matching and sorting letters, shapes, colors, numbers, patterns
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sensory knowledge through tactile exploration
Ages 2-2.5
Goldfish
Dive in! The Goldfish carry-over program features continued practice in our year two benchmarks of learning and development. School/daily routines are still an important foundation of this class as we deepen our capacity regarding self-awareness, self-regulation, social-emotional understanding, and fine and gross motor work. (1:8 Ratio)
Areas of practice include
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hand/eye coordination: zip/snap buttons, complete puzzles, stack blocks, hold writing instruments
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independence: clean up, put on a coat
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self-awareness: find their voice, ask for wants/needs, identify body parts
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self-regulation: lengthen attention/ focus, follow simple instructions
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social skills: take turns, join in conversational speech using 2-4 words, ask questions, include others in play
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recognition of letters, shapes, colors, numbers, patterns in addition to sorting and matching
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sensory knowledge through tactile exploration
Ages 2.5-3
2024-2025: Priority List
2025-2026:4 Spots
2024-2025:Priority List
2025-2026: 5 Spots
Sea Stars
Let’s shine! The Sea Star program is designed to engage kiddos using rotating, monthly themes that foster growth in foundational abilities like social-emotional needs, fine and gross motor skills, language development, literacy, and math. This is accomplished through a tailored blend of creative play, hands-on centers, as well as targeted academic instruction within a planned and structured daily schedule.
(1:12 Ratio)
Areas of focus include
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letter sounds, recognition
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patterns: same vs. different
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counting, number recognition
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identifying shapes, colors
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weather patterns, seasons, calendar components
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good reader skills: retelling, predicting what might happen next
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tracing letters/numbers while properly holding a writing instrument
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creative drawing, painting
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Spatial concepts: on, over, under, above, behind, etc.
Ages 3-4
2024-2025: Priority List
2025-2026:Priority List
2024-2025:Priority List
2025-2026: Priority List
Dolphins
Ages 4-5
Make a splash! The Dolphin program focuses on the same well-rounded foundational skills as the Sea Star program...and beyond! Kindergarten readiness is the name of the game here as familiarization to pre-kindergarten skills are needed for a successful, confident transition to what comes next. (1:12 Ratio)
Areas of mastery include
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numbers, counting (1-20)
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early addition: intro to 10-frames, number bonds
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alphabet letter case, sound recognition
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sorting shapes, sizes
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identifying, predicting patterns
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writing and reading own name
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creating art with many mediums
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comfortability with scissors, glue, lacing
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emergent readers display left-to-right eye movement
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determine, create rhyming words/phrases
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following instructions/ assignment directions
Enrolling is a breeze!
1. Join the List!
Add your student(s) to our priority list. The Director will contact you when your little(s) can join us.
4. Pay the Fee
Pay the $200 registration Fee (non-refundable)by check or Zelle.
2. Take a Tour
When notified, come meet our staff and explore our space! Feel free to bring your kiddo(s).
5. Complete Student Forms
complete & Upload all student health forms and childcare Licensing Forms prior to your student's First day of school.
3. Sign Enrollment Agreement
Request the Enrollment Link. Read through our important policies, Sign and upload.
6. Have the Best Year Ever!
Play. Create. Explore. Learn.
It's time to make awesome Pre-K memories with us!
Meet Our Teachers
Ms. Z is our fantastic DIRECTOR and TEAM LEAD TEACHER. She has over 12 years of expertise in early education and obtained her B.A. in Psychology. Throughout her many years in education, she's acquired a vast repertoire of learning philosophies including traditional, Montessori, and Reggio Emilia. Using this insight, she oversees class to class, sets the tone and pace of our school's focus and academics, and coordinates fun family field trips/events/activities for our school that enrich our preschool community--creating lasting family friendships.
All who meet Ms. Z truly benefit from her calm, supportive, welcoming personality. She's highly attuned to and observant of our students' needs and growth--doing all possible to ensure SRP is the most comforting and nurturing choice for your kiddo's pre-k experience.
Director Christine Zamora
Mrs. Musick
Mrs. Musick is our treasured SEA STAR TEACHER. She uses her wealth of 20 years of experience to cultivate an upbeat, fun-loving learning environment for her 3-year-olds. It's clear to see that Mrs. Musick loves her work and each child as a whole. Honestly, your student will be talking about her for years to come--she leaves such an impression!
Her students are empowered by her teaching style and are happily challenged to awaken their true potential and find their voice. She focuses on listening and speaking foundations, with weekly Friday share days, which ignite critical thinking and interesting conversation in her classroom. Whether it's exploring engaging STEAM activities together or through her imaginative themed sensory bins, your kiddo will thrive, in more ways than one, while in Mrs. Musick's hands.
Miss Jill
Miss Jill is our talented DOLPHIN TEACHER and FULL-DAY CO- TEACHER. She's got over 9 years of experience in both traditional preschool and Reggio-inspired settings--so she has the perfect blend of philosophies to meet our school needs as a hybrid play-based/academic environment. She's dedicated, enthusiastic, and creative. It's guaranteed Ms. Jill will make your student's preschool journey an imaginative one, encouraging our eldest students to dive deeper in their exploration and further their investigations of natural curiosities!
When in the Dolphin class, get ready to learn through process and play. Students take their time to reach further into learning through reading stories, making art of many mediums, and utilizing both group/independent settings to lay a sturdy foundation so learning can scaffold and stick with them in an effortless way--making important connections from school, to home, and the world! Ms. Jill makes learning pre-k content accessible, fun, and purposeful so that the transition to TK or Kinder is a breezy one that her 4/5-year-olds feel confident about.
Ms. Marilyn
Ms. Marilyn is our wonderful TADPOLE TEACHER. With more than 9 years of preschool teaching experience, she's ready for anything! Ms. Marilyn will introduce your 2-year-old to our school environment through exploration, stories, and sensory experiences. She prepares her students with focused, 1-on-1 attention and care.
School routines, social/emotional growth, and including others in learning and play are goals here. Each month has a thematic focus that influence the cutest art projects made by your favorite little hands! So, be sure to set aside extra magnets and clear that fridge space to proudly display your student's personal gallery!
Ms. Marilyn's genuine love of this age group is positively clear to see as she holds such gentle, thoughtful relationships with our littlest pupils.
Ms. Bris
Ms. Bris is our amazing GOLDFISH TEACHER and FULL-DAY CO-TEACHER. Her love of teaching began over 11 years ago and that adoration continues still! Ms. Bris is warm, kind, patient, and extremely attentive to her students. Her creative nature inspires educational play, storytelling, and artistic expression in her almost-3-year-olds.
Always one to get "down-on-their-level" and connect, Ms. Bris shines brightly in the classroom and radiates positivity and compassion--it's wonderfully contagious!
Ms. Bris wants her kiddos to feel unity in their shared experiences, find joy, and bond through laughter on their learning journey while here at school and beyond. Count your kiddo lucky if enrolled in her class!
Looking for a career change? Join our team!
Our preschool has a community feel, promotes family get-togethers, memory-making experiences, and has a stellar team of warm, caring teachers ready to dive all-in to our mission for ECE excellence.
We are on the search for a devoted, collaborative team member who genuinely loves all aspects of teaching and caring for young children--someone gentle, knowledgable, patient, and passionate. Ideally, this person will turn a position at our school into a career he/she loves and will feel happy about for many years to come!
Our staff and team are dedicated to providing a nurturing, safe, and fun atmosphere for little ones, and we firmly believe in our non-profit's company core values: Do your best, Show you care, and Do the right thing.
What to expect, you ask? Let's get into it!
Get ready to move! Our teaching staff is on-the-go, easing students' daily transitions-- readying kiddos for what comes next, and making the rounds from learning activity to learning activity.
Get ready to build! We keep our families updated and showcase our academic and play-based learning multiple times throughout the week. Building bonds and helpful relationships with our participating families, our wonderful students, and your fellow teachers is a must. We're absolutely better together!
Get ready to create! Creating meaningful, intentional curriculum in both a traditional, academic way and exploring lessons further through engaging invitations to play and movement activities help our students' minds most.
Ready to make a splash with us? Email your resume to the Director, Christine@seasideranchospreschool.com, to jump on in to our hiring pool!
Now
Hiring!
Ms. Araceli
Ms. Araceli is our outstanding FULL-DAY CO-TEACHER. With five years of experience in early childhood education, Ms. Araceli brings heaps of knowledge and a warm, nurturing spirit to her classroom. Grounded in Montessori and Reggio Emilia philosophies, she believes in the power of play as a natural way for children to learn and explore their world.
Ms. Araceli is dedicated to providing each child with the care and instruction they need to thrive. She creates an inviting and engaging environment where curiosity is encouraged, and each child's unique interests guide their learning experiences.
Her extensive education in Child Development and Early Childhood Education, combined with her passion for fostering creativity and independence, makes her an invaluable part of our preschool community. Ms. Araceli is currently working toward her Bachelor’s degree in Child Development, which she will complete in 2025.
