Stretch Preschool Program

The Stretch Preschool Program includes activities such as Dramatic Play, Mixing Colors, Exploring Clay with all our Senses, Water Play, and Signing in Each Day to Practice our Letters. Each program includes time in the classroom at Stretch and time in the Natural Classroom, the nature program in the Presidio. All classes in the Stretch Preschool Program are named after indigenous trees found in California.

• Ages: 2 years to 5 years 9 months old
• Schedule: Half-day program with classes ranging between 3.5–4 hours per day

The Stretch Preschool Program is for children 2 years to 5 years 9 months old, and children can stay at Stretch until they move on to Kindergarten. Children must be 2 years old by August 31 in order to be eligible to start in the fall, with no exceptions to this cut off. A TK year is offered for older students. Extended hours are offered for families depending on the age of the child. Children between the ages of 16–24 months are eligible for the Toddler Exploration Program. When families apply, their child is placed in the appropriate program based on the child’s age; parents do not choose the specific program.

Willow children are the youngest students in the Preschool Program at Stretch and attend school 2 mornings per week on Tuesday and Thursday for 3.5 hours each class, and they participate in Natural Classroom every week starting in the fall after they are settled into preschool. Magnolia children attend school 3 mornings per week on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday for 3.5 hours each class, and they participate in Natural Classroom every week starting in the fall after they are settled into preschool. Maple class attends school 5 mornings per week for 4 hours each day and participates in Natural Classroom 2 days per week. Cypress class attends school 5 mornings per week for 4 hours each day and participates in Natural Classroom 2 days per week. Redwood class attends school 5 afternoons per week for 4 hours each day and participates in Natural Classroom 2 days per week. Sequoia is the oldest class at Stretch and attends school 5 afternoons per week for 4 hours each day and participates in Natural Classroom 2 days per week.

The Director and Founder of Stretch is Michelle Lawton, and the Assistant Director and Toddler Program Director is Melissa O'Mahony. The program operates under Licensing #384002029. One parent described Stretch by saying, “Stretch is a sweet and warm place. We cannot imagine our daughter going to any other preschool. -Stretch Parent.”

Last updated March 7, 2026.