Piedmont Play School (PPS) has officially reopened at its new home at 5000 Clarewood Drive in Oakland, with a year-round, full-time preschool schedule combined with a co-operative model that allows parents to spend time in their child’s classroom.
“We are thrilled about the new location, and we love the co-op model,” said Juliana Weber, a continuing PPS parent. “My husband or I spend two hours a month in the classroom, playing with the kids, reading stories and helping the teachers. You get to see the PPS magic in action. The way the kids interact with each other, problem-solve and light up when they figure something out on their own is truly incredible. It’s also given me a real appreciation for what our teachers do every day.”
Along with the move, PPS is introducing a new schedule designed to better support working families: school hours now run 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m., year-round from early August through mid-July.
Longtime PPS teachers Michelle and Raven are familiar, trusted faces for PPS families across generations. They will continue to lead the classroom in its new home, bringing continuity and stability to the transition.
The new location offers a light-filled, calm and inviting setting for PPS’s play-based approach to early childhood learning. PPS remains the only licensed preschool of its kind in the area built around social-emotional learning as a core part of its curriculum.
A Day at PPS
Each day at PPS blends structured and child-led play, giving children space to explore, build friendships, and develop independence alongside caring, familiar teachers.
PPS’s play-based, mixed-age curriculum is intentionally designed to strengthen the social and emotional skills that matter most as children grow. Mixed-age classes encourage younger children to learn from older peers and give older children opportunities to lead and mentor — building confidence, empathy, and communication skills.
Educators increasingly point to strong social-emotional foundations as a key predictor of success when children enter TK and Kindergarten, where academic and behavioral expectations have never been higher. PPS’s approach is designed to help prepare children for that transition both academically and emotionally.
A Co-Op Model Built for Busy Families
PPS operates as a light co-op by design. Families are asked to contribute in small, manageable ways rather than large time commitments, making it possible for working parents to still be present and engaged in their child’s classroom experience. Many parents describe their volunteer hours as some of the most rewarding time they spend with their kids.
For PPS President & CEO June Groboske, the co-op model is about more than the preschool. It’s the starting point for a much longer relationship between families and their community.
“Our co-op model is where a lifelong connection to our school community begins,” said Groboske. “PPS parents discover early on what meaningful school involvement looks like. Working side by side with teachers and other parents gives families a firsthand appreciation for the school, classroom, and community dynamics, helping parents learn how to best support teachers and students alike. That strong foundation naturally carries forward — so many of our PPS parents go on to serve as parent board officers, school committee chairs, and active community leaders throughout PUSD.”
With this move to Clarewood Drive, PPS parents, alumni, and teachers preserved a philosophy of early childhood education, a group of beloved teachers, and a place where families can be genuinely involved in their children’s earliest school experiences. The comfort in knowing the school will carry on, paired with genuine enthusiasm for what’s ahead, has echoed throughout the PPS community as the school settles into its new space.
To learn more about PPS, please visit piedmontplayschool.org. Follow along: @piedmontplayschoolca on Instagram.