Brotherhood Way Preschool

Ages 2 – 5

Brotherhood Way Preschool, located in the Lake Merced neighborhood, offers both half and full-day programs. Our play-based curriculum gives children the freedom to discover their world through play.

Preschoolers at Brotherhood Way Preschool

Brotherhood Way Preschool, led by Director Edna Vaknin, is located on a woodland campus shared with the Brandeis School. Our play-based preschool and transitional kindergarten (TK) programs, with Jewish values and lens, features bright, spacious classrooms, 4,300 square feet of dedicated outdoor play areas, a garden space and an art studio.

Our preschools are built upon shared goals, values and knowledge that deliver the highest quality experience possible. We’re committed to creating an inclusive community that’s infused with meaningful Jewish values. We celebrate holidays with our children and families throughout the year as well as a weekly Shabbat. Our program is built on the fundamental premise that children learn and understand their world through play. Inspired by the Reggio Emilia philosophy, we provide a variety of opportunities for learning, exploration, creativity and self-expression.

Admissions

We can’t wait to welcome you and your little one to our preschool located at 655 Brotherhood Way. Applications are now open and tour season for the 2026 – 27 school year will take place from October 2025 – January 2026. We’ll support you every step of the way – from applying and touring, throughout your days with us, and into the big transition to kindergarten. Let’s get started!

We are still accepting applications for the 2025 – 2026 school year. Please contact [email protected] with any questions.

Open Houses: Wed, Oct 22, 2025 and Jan 21, 2026 at 5:30 – 6:30pm
Come meet our teachers, explore classrooms, and experience the JCCSF preschools in person! Open to families and kids are welcome. No application is needed, just register to receive your confirmation email.

You will need to complete all three steps below for your application to be considered complete.

Step 1: Submit an Application

Any applications received after January 31, 2026 will automatically be placed on a wait list and be contacted for rolling admissions.

When you select the “Apply” button, you will be prompted to either log into your existing JCCSF account or create a new one. Once you’re logged into your account, select “Personal Information” from the settings, and under “My Household” create a new contact for your child. Then when you continue onto the application, select your child’s profile to complete the process.

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Step 2: Take a Tour

Tours are scheduled from October 2025 through January 2026. Once you submit your application, you will be invited to register for a tour.

Step 3: Fill Out a Questionnaire

After completing a preschool tour, you will receive a Post-Tour Questionnaire that needs to be returned to complete the application process.

Decision Time

Admission letters will be sent on Wednesday, March 11, 2026 at noon for fall enrollment.

Enroll

After accepting your spot, you’ll receive an enrollment agreement and a non-refundable deposit is due. We maintain an active wait pool and fill additional spaces as they become available throughout the year. Families who have applied, but not toured, will still be considered for mid-year vacancies.

Financial Assistance

If you wish to apply for financial assistance, please complete your application with FACTS and submit the required documents.

We encourage all families who may need assistance to apply. At the JCCSF, we believe that quality early childhood education should be accessible to everyone, regardless of financial circumstances. Economic diversity enriches our classrooms, giving children a chance to learn from a wide range of experiences and perspectives.

Our Financial Assistance Program awards between 5% and 70% in aid to 95% of families who apply. We make every effort to support as many families as possible so that children can participate in our programs and thrive as part of our community. If you think financial aid could make a difference for your family, we warmly invite you to apply.

Visit our financial assistance page to learn more.

HELPFUL REMINDERS

To be considered for enrollment in the 2026 – 2027 school year, your child must be 2 years old by September 1, 2026.
You must complete all three steps of the application process.
Only one application is required for admission to all three preschools.

Questions about applying or touring? Contact us at [email protected].

We embrace diversity and believe that every child deserves a welcoming, supportive environment to learn and grow. We are committed to fostering an inclusive community where all families, regardless of culture, family structure, language, racial identity, gender, religious beliefs or economic class are welcome.

Dates & Rates

Brotherhood Way 9-Month Program

August 2025 – May 2026 (half days)

9:00 am – 1:30 pm

$22,720

Laughing preschool teacher helps child with blocks

Brotherhood Way 11-Month Program

August 2025 – July 2026 (full days)

8:00 am – 6:00 pm

$38,460

Girls painting at Brotherhood Way Preschool.

* Morning and afternoon extended care is available for an extra fee. Summer camp and financial assistance are also available.

FAQs

What is Reggio-Emilia philosophy and how is it applied?

Over forty years of dedicated work from Reggio Emilia inspires us to further think about the rights of children, their autonomy, and to listen for what they know and want to know. This will challenge our inherited impulses to contain, correct, and guard children. Observing, documenting, reflecting, designing, and experimenting on the teachers’ part will make this ongoing shift possible. The listening and observation teachers do will enhance their ability to create sensitive contexts for children’s play and learning and then teachers can truly recognize the insights the children and small group work can bring.

What does a typical day Brotherhood Way look like?

After welcoming the children to school, we begin the day with a time of open exploration that can include art, blocks, dramatic play, manipulation, writing or quiet time. A mid-morning snack and meeting then take place before we move into a small group facilitated experiences like music or gardening. We then head outside for some playtime before lunch. Half-day students then have a closing meeting and prepare to go home while full-day students transition to a rest period with either a nap or meditation. The afternoon continues for full-day students with another small-group experience and more time playing outside or going on a walk before we wind down for the day with a final meeting before preparing to be picked up.

What makes Brotherhood Way different from Helen Diller and Rosenberg?

Brotherhood Way offers full-day and half-day programs, year-round or 9 months. Serving children 2 – 5.5 in a beautiful woodland set in Lake Merced neighborhood.

Does my child need to be Jewish to enroll?

We welcome children of all faiths and backgrounds to apply. Neither your child nor your family need to be Jewish to apply or enroll.

What is transitional kindergarten?

Transitional Kindergarten is programming built into our JCCSF preschools and bridges preschool and kindergarten, giving children the confidence, skills, and academic readiness they need for a smooth transition to elementary school. For more information, visit the TK California website here: https://tkcalifornia.org/parents/

Navigating the Kindergarten Process

Graduating from preschool to kindergarten is a big step! Did you know that 90% of our preschool families get into one of their top two choices of kindergartens? Our enrollment support process can help you get a spot in local programs like Brandeis, San Francisco Day School, Burkes, Town School for Boys, San Francisco Friends School, Hamlin, Convent, Stuart Hall, Marin Country Day School, Live Oak and more. Listen below as Diller site director Karla Cianci shares how the JCCSF family of preschools can help your family navigate the tricky and stress-inducing SF kindergarten process.

Meet the Team

Edna Vaknin

Site Director – Brotherhood Way Preschool

Youth & Family

Carly Freeman

ECE Business Manager

Youth & Family

Thank You To Our Sponsors

We are back in our third year at preschool, and quite frankly are amazed at how well things are going amidst the pandemic. The school's health and safety protocols are top-notch, but the JOY is still there. I'm so grateful that my child is learning, having fun, and building relationships every day.

Melanie D.

Parent

This is our first year at the school and our 3-year-old son is loving it. He has flourished and developed so much since starting in August. The teachers are caring, loving and provide an engaging environment for kids . . . This school has my highest recommendation!

Debbie F.

Brotherhood Way Preschool Parent

Get in Touch

Contact Us

Have a question about Brotherhood Way Preschool? Reach out to our team — we’d love to hear from you!

Brotherhood Way Contact Form

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