Frequently Asked Questions

Safety is our top priority at Parkcrest Preschool.

Our facility is tucked at the back of the campus, away from street view, which naturally limits traffic and deters unexpected visitors. For added security, our gates remain locked throughout the day, with the exception of designated drop-off and pick-up times.

At dismissal, teachers use an up-to-date Authorized Pick-Up list for each child to ensure students are only released to approved individuals.

As of January 1, 2016, California state law mandates that in order to attend a licensed childcare facility, the child must be up-to-date on specified immunizations. To maintain compliance with state law, all students must be up-to-date on all required immunizations and a copy of the vaccine record must be kept on file.  

For more information regarding state law SB277 or for a list of required vaccines, please visit shotsforschool.org.

We’re equipped to store and administer life-saving medications or medical devices—such as Benadryl, EpiPens, AUVI-Q, or inhalers—but only when the following conditions are met (no exceptions):

• Medication must be brought directly by a parent, not in a backpack or lunchbox
• A fully completed Medication Authorization Form must be on file in the school office
• If applicable, a Nebulizer Care Consent/Verification Form must also be submitted
• Medication must be in its original packaging with clear instructions in English and a proper measuring device included

It is the parent’s responsibility to ensure that all forms remain current and that medications are not expired. 

Please note: we cannot administer expired medication under any circumstances.

We are happy to accommodate food allergies and dietary restrictions to help keep our students safe and included. This might look like preparing a gluten-free Halloween treat bag or designating a classroom as a “Nut Free Zone” when necessary.

In some cases, we may not be able to safely provide snacks that meet a child’s specific needs. When that’s the case, we’ll kindly ask parents to supply allergy-safe snacks that can be stored on campus just for their child.

We accept all major credit cards, debit cards, ACH, cash or check. 

Tuition is due on the 1st of each month. You’ll receive an invoice ahead of time—typically five days before payment is due—detailing any fees from the previous month along with your upcoming charges.

The non-refundable registration deposit is paid at the time of enrollment to secure your child’s spot. This deposit is separate from tuition and does not apply toward your first monthly payment.

Submitting your payment to Parkcrest Preschool is quick and easy! We accept credit card and debit cards online, and eve offer a convenient auto-billing feature for the parents who love a "set it and forget it" payment model. (Optional, of course!)

You are also welcome to drop a cash or check payment in the locked Deposit Box located in the preschool office. 

Yes! Parkcrest Preschool is proud to offer the following discounts:

1) Sibling Discount

Families with more than one child enrolled at the same time will receive:

– 5% off tuition for the second child

– 10% off for each additional child beyond that

2) Foster, Kinship, or Safe Family Discount

We waive the annual registration deposit for families currently providing foster care, kinship care, or Safe Family placement for a preschool-aged child.

A limited scholarship fund is available each school year, and we may be able to help. If your family is in need of tuition assistance, please reach out to our Director, Chelsey Schlatter, to request a Scholarship Application.

Once submitted, your application will be reviewed and—based on available funds and the number of requests received—a partial or full scholarship may be offered.

To officially reserve your child’s place at Parkcrest Preschool, the following steps must be completed:

For brand new students:

• Submit a completed Registration Packet
• Sign and return the Parent Handbook Acknowledgement
• Pay the non-refundable $150 registration deposit

For returning students:

• Complete the Returning Student Form
• Pay the non-refundable $100 registration deposit

Because registration stays open from January through August, class rosters are always evolving during those months. 

Final class lists are confirmed in late August and will be shared with families just before the school year begins.

We’re proud to say that every teacher at Parkcrest Preschool brings warmth, experience, and a deep love for children to the classroom. We truly believe your child will have a joyful, enriching year—no matter which room they’re placed in.

While we understand that families may feel a special connection to a particular teacher, we do not take teacher requests. Instead, we thoughtfully build class rosters based on several factors, including age range, peer dynamics, staff-to-student ratios, and the unique needs of our student body.

Final room placements and teacher assignments are shared the last week of August. Thank you for trusting us—we work hard to create balanced, thriving classrooms where every child can grow!

Tears are completely typical—especially in those early days! First-day jitters (and even second- or third-day jitters) are a normal part of starting preschool. 

Our staff is well-equipped to handle big feelings with warmth, patience, and reassurance. Most children adjust quickly once they realize they’re safe, cared for, and having fun. 

We’ll keep you updated through Procare and reach out if your child needs extra support. You’re not alone in this transition—we’re here to help every step of the way.

Every child develops at their own pace, but there are a few key signs that your child is ready to begin their preschool journey. Most importantly, a child is considered emotionally ready when they can:

• Separate from a parent and begin to adapt—progress may take a few weeks, and that’s okay!
• Participate safely and appropriately in a group setting, even when routines feel new.
• Manage big feelings in a way that keeps themselves and others safe.

We’re here to support your child’s transition every step of the way.

At Parkcrest Preschool, we consider a child fully potty trained when they consistently demonstrate all three of the following:

Communication – Your child can recognize the need to go and tell an adult—before it’s urgent—even during busy play or activities.

Independence – Your child can manage the entire bathroom process on their own: pulling down pants, getting on the potty, wiping, redressing, and washing hands.

Consistency – Your child can make it through the full school day without accidents in their pants or on the floor.

We know every child is different, and we’re here to support continued growth—but these skills are essential for success in our classroom environment.

We’re here to help! If your child consistently demonstrates two out of the three potty-training skills, but isn’t quite there yet, they may be eligible for our Potty Program—a short-term support plan designed to bridge the gap.

Over the course of three weeks, we provide:

• Gentle assistance in the bathroom stall with clothing or toileting
• One-on-one encouragement for fears, anxiety, or moments when extra guidance is needed
• Positive reinforcement and fun incentives to celebrate progress

A small additional fee will be added to your monthly tuition during the Potty Program period. Please speak with the Admin Team to learn more and see if your child qualifies!

We’d love to stay in touch! If your child isn’t quite old enough yet, you’re welcome to join our age-eligible waitlist. 

Just ask the Admin Team to add your child’s name, and we’ll reach out as soon as they meet the age requirement—pending availability.

If I could leave 10 stars I would!  Our 4 year old smiles and dances all the way from our car to the classroom he's that excited to see Mrs. Labarba and Mrs. Martin!  When you check in you are greeted by a warm and friendly smile from Mrs. Schlatter.  It's a very inviting and friendly vibe that is just so incredible.  

Our son went to a previous school and cried the whole day, would get so sad waking up just knowing he had to go to school.  It just wasn't a good fit. And we had searched for months until Parkcrest called that a spot on the waitlist opened up!  We went to have a tour and see how our son would like it.  He left and couldn't stop talking about how excited he was to have this new school.  For us that was such a relief.  I am so glad we got that opportunity to send our son to Parkcrest, it changed a lot for us.  

Months passed and our son is still always excited to go to school and talks about his preschool being so cool and fun.  We have attended all the events, and parent teacher conferences.  Everything was so great and well organized.  We always left feeling better than we came.  They have hosted free parent workshop that was very effective and helped us find some cool new things.  We have really enjoyed how much our son has learned and grown from his experience at Parkcrest.  

Now we're in a pandemic and staying safe at home and missing our Parkcrest teachers and staff SO MUCH!  When everyone had to shut down, Parkcrest created a cool way to pass out goodies and fun packets to keep the kids learning and having a schedule at home.  I thought it was amazing.  Every week his teachers are doing something pretty incredible for the class, readings stories on zoom, directed drawing, stopping by and dropping off a little plant your own flower kit, stopping by and drawing with chalk on our sidewalk saying how they miss him, uploading sing along songs to the classroom dojo, doing a parade drive by for teachers, sending love in snail mail, I mean there's just so much that they do because they care.  They give an experience of joy and love even in a pandemic.  It's been a blessing and I can't thank them enough.  We love being apart of the Parkcrest Family.

This school is amazing.  we have been at the school for three years. They truly love the families and children there and do whatever they can to care for them. We have had wonderful experiences with all the teachers especially Mrs. Martin and Mrs. Redfern. Chelsea, the head of the school, is amazing. She is kind, helpful and thoughtful. I am already looking forward to my son going there in two years. I love how much my girls' faiths have grown from attending here and how confident and safe they feel at school. I highly recommend it.Safety is our TOP priorty at Parkcrest Preschool. 

You'll find that facility is tucked away at the end of the property, not visible from the main street, which results in very little traffic or unknown visitors.

We also keep our campus locked at all times, with the exception of drop-off and pick-up. 

To maintain safety during pick-up time, teachers have immediate access to an Authorized Pick-Up Person list for every student. 

We LOVE our preschool! Every staff member loves HARD on our daughter and she has learned so much in her first year there. The office staff are amazing at communicating and the teachers are all great at making sure us parents stay in the loop with the classroom schedules. Last but not least.... the presence of Jesus is felt as soon as you walk on campus! Our daughter comes home telling me all about her Bible stories and how much Jesus loves her. Such sweet memories being made at Parkcrest Preschool!

Parkcrest has been our home for the last 4 years, two years for each of my kids. Parkcrest has always made them feel like home with their fun, loving nature that fosters independence and learning! I have been so happy with how my children were prepared for kindergarten. As a teacher myself, I really believe that they do a great job of creating a balance of learning and fun on a daily basis, with tons of differentiation for each child. We will miss the fun times we have had at Parkcrest.

On a side note, I went to 9 preschools for tours and knew just after Parkcrest that this was the best place for my kids to grow and develop educationally! We love the entire staff!We are prepared to store and/or administer life-saving medications or medical devices, such as Benadryl, Epi-Pens, AUVI-Q, or inhalers. Please be aware we will only accept medication directly from a parent.

In order to administer medication, the following conditions must be met, no exceptions:

• An Authorization form must be fully complete and on file on the school office

• A Nebulizer Care Consent/Verification form must be on file 

• Medication is in original labeled packaging with instructions in English and an appropriate measuring device is included

It is the sole responsibility of the parent to ensure all conditions are met, forms remain up-to-date, and medications do not pass their expiration dates. 

When we moved to Long Beach (2014)we posted on Nextdoor asking for recommendations of preschools in the area and we got over 50 responses. Over half of them were about Parkcrest. We've sent both of our kids there. The safety of the campus,  small classes, the extra curricular activities, summer camps, holiday parties and the love from every teacher there is immeasurable. This year is our daughters last year and due to covid we had to stop short. Parkcrest has gone above and beyond during this time. The staff is so loving and caring that it's almost unreal.  Parkcrest is the perfect place to send your babies to get them ready for grade school.

I absolutely LOVE this Pre-K! They have great teachers that has been there for many years, the director Mrs Chelsea is outstanding!

They do lots of events to involve family to participate into the school.

My daughter loves Parkcreast n I couldn't be more happier as a mom!

Safe and Clean environment. It feels like FAMILY to us!

We started going to this preschool only a couple weeks after moving to Long Beach. My daughter absolutely loved it! The teachers are loving, supportive, professional and creative! I would recommend it to anyone.

My family just adores Parkcrest preschool. Ive had two daughters go through their program recently and I'm counting down the days until I can send my son.  The teachers are loving, welcoming, and so engaging. My seven year old routinely still mentions her teacher from pre-k with great affection. My 4 year old comes home all the time singing songs about the Bible and it just warms my heart. The school is very reasonably priced, clean, safe, and such a fun environment. Both of my daughters have benefited from their after school programs as well which have included cooking, art, and their favorite science. My 4 year old is what you might call strong willed but her teachers have found and bring out her strengths and really help her to shine. The director Chelsey and her office staff have always been so kind and informative. I really just can't say anything negative about Parkcrest we've had a great experience and I would and do recommend this preschool program to friends.

I can't say enough good things about this school!  We have spent 3 years here total as a family and have had nothing but the best experiences.  The staff are the most friendly and loving human beings you will ever meet.  The school and classrooms are organized, safe, and well run.  The education is exceptional - both academically and biblically.  My boys have all come out of Parkcrest incredibly well prepared for Kindergarten.  I am very impressed with the level of learning and care that my kids have received from this school.  I tell anyone who will listen that they should send their preschooler to Parkcrest!  You absolutely will not find a better school for your little one.

We love Parkcrest preschool! I went here when I was a kid and my kids have loved it too! The director and the entire staff are beyond amazing! They really do love their students and families! They go above an beyond the expectations of a preschool!

We've been going here for just a couple months and are really happy. Every week or so they are doing fun extra activities like making a gingerbread cookie, pretending to be bears in a cave the teachers made, having adorable dance parties, etc.

You can tell the staff and teachers really care and love kids. Today they celebrated my daughters birthday and made her feel so special. It's really sweet to see my shy kid come out of her shell.

They use an app to keep you updated with pictures and videos and are good about getting back to you quickly if you have questions.

The enrollment process was easy and Camille was super kind and helpful with the tour and answering our questions.

They have a nice playground with new equipment and the classrooms are filled with toys and books. The check in/out process seems safe and the school is across from a park and back from the road.

My husband and I keep saying how glad we are to have chosen this place.

This is the second year my daughter has been coming here.  We LOVE everything about the school.  The teachers, director and the rest of the staff.  It really feels like a family environment and we all have made so many friends.  My daughter loves all of the teachers she's had.  I just wish they had an elementary school and I know many other families feel the same!  We chose to stay here another year rather than put her in the free TK the school district offers.

My favorite preschool they are truly amazing in so many ways.  They care about there students and there families. It's a save place to leave your kids. They have the best teachers.