Helen Diller Family Preschool

Ages 2 – 5

Helen Diller Family Preschool, located in Laurel Heights, is a play-based curriculum designed to spark exploration, creativity and exploration. We work with children through the Jewish lens, focusing on values such as inclusiveness, friendship and justice.

Preschool

Led by Director Karla Cianci, Helen Diller Family Preschool is located inside the JCCSF at 3200 California Street in Laurel Heights. The school features spacious classrooms, two outdoor play areas (total of 5,700 square feet), garden space and art studio. Children also make regular trips to the Presidio for additional outdoor time.

Take a Peek Inside

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

Tour season has ended for the 2025 – 26 school year. Any applications received after January 31 will be added to our waitlist pool for rolling admissions. Please contact [email protected] with any questions.

We can’t wait to welcome you and your little one to our family of preschools. 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. All three steps below must be done in order for your application to be complete. Let’s get started!

Step 1: Submit an Application

Any applications received after January 31, 2025 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 have ended for the 2025–26 school year.

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 12, 2025 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

Once you’ve accepted your spot at one of our preschools, you can submit your application to receive adjusted tuition for the upcoming school year.

HELPFUL REMINDERS

To be considered for enrollment in the 2025 – 2026 school year, your child must be 2 years old by September 1, 2025.
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 [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

Diller Program

August 2025 – May 2026

M – F | 9:00 am – 3:00 pm

$27,685

Morning and afternoon extended care is available for an extra fee. Summer camp is also available for 9 weeks. Financial assistance is 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 Helen Diller 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. Children then transition to a rest period with either a nap or meditation before the afternoon continues with another small-group experience and more time playing outside or going on a walk. The afternoon starts to wind down with a final meeting before preparing to be picked up.

What makes Helen Diller different from Rosenberg and Brotherhood Way?

Helen Diller Family Preschool is open 9 – 3 pm for early care for those in need. The school year runs from August – May, with the option to join us for any portion of our fabulous 9-week summer camp. Here at Helen Diller we are lucky to call the Presidio our backyard and make outdoor education a part of our curriculum.

Rosenberg is a full-day, 11-month program (8 – 6 pm) located in the Inner Richmond. Brotherhood Way has half and full-day options and your choice of a 9- or 11-month program. They are located in Lake Merced near Brandeis School.

Does Helen Diller have morning or after school care?

Yes. For an additional fee, we have AM care from 8:10 – 9:00 am on Monday – Friday and PM care from 3:00 – 5:30 pm on Monday – Friday.

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.

Is financial assistance available?

Yes. Visit our financial assistance page to learn more.

Navigating the Kindergarten Process

Graduating from preschool to kindergarten is a big step! Did you know that 80% 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

Thank You To Our Sponsors

"From the moment we joined Diller, we knew we found something special. The teachers are extraordinary — nurturing, experienced, and truly devoted to each child's journey. In small, loving classrooms, our children’s confidence and love of learning blossomed. When it came time for Kindergarten, we felt the full weight of the community behind us. From one-on-one guidance with Karla to knowledgeable panels, fairs, and heartfelt conversations with alumni families, the Diller community made every step feel personal, supported, and full of joy.”

Corinna R.

Parent

“Having Karla as our guide throughout the kindergarten process was an absolute jackpot. From the first presentation to the final “Congratulations” letter from our first-choice school, Karla was everything – a consultant, a guide, a guru, and even a bit of a second mom. I can still hear her voice reassuring me, “I get kids into their first or second choice.” And she does. I trusted her completely. Our 1:1 meetings were informative and personal. Karla truly knew us – not just our child, but our whole family – and helped us narrow down the best options. She guided us on what to focus on so that our son could be confident and successful during assessments and playdates, and she prepared us as parents for our interviews. Luca’s teachers are warm, caring, and deeply committed educators. Thanks to the small class sizes and long-standing teacher tenure, each child receives the individual attention they need to thrive. We’ve seen firsthand how this has helped our son grow emotionally, socially, and academically.”

Maja R.

Parent

"Thanks to the Diller program, we could not have been better prepared for the kinder discovery and admissions process. Diller teachers have a long tenure and know exactly the preparation children need to succeed in kinder. Furthermore, small student teacher ratio allows them to work with the children both individually and in groups to craft play based experiences that foster the practice of kinder skills. Karla has an impressive depth of experience with both public and private schools and was able to distill the process and potential options to us that were tailored both to our son and to our family’s needs. Equally important in the kinder process was the broader Diller community. Parents of Diller alumni were eager to connect to discuss their experience in a given school setting and to advocate for our family. We got into both of our top choice schools despite stiff competition that year."

Luba R.

Parent

Get in Touch

Contact Us

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

Helen Diller Contact Form

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