Stretch Preschool Program
Stretch Preschool, 2509 Bush Street, San Francisco, CA 94115
About
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, a nature program in the Presidio. All classes are named after indigenous trees found in California, including Willow, Magnolia, Maple, Cypress, Redwood, and Sequoia.
• Ages: 2 years to 5 years 9 months old
• Schedule: Half-day program with classes ranging between 3.5–4 hours per day; morning and afternoon options vary by class
Director and Founder Michelle Lawton and Assistant Director, Toddler Program Director Scarlett Hernandez lead the Stretch Preschool Program. The program holds Licensing #384002029. One parent described Stretch as “a sweet and warm place” and stated that they could not imagine their daughter going to any other preschool.
Children must be 2 years old by August 31 in order to be eligible to start in the fall, and no exceptions are made to this cut off. Children can stay at Stretch until they move on to Kindergarten, and a TK year is offered for older students. 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. Extended hours are offered for families depending on the age of the child.
Willow children are the youngest students in the Preschool Program at Stretch, and Willow classes meet 2 mornings per week on Tuesday and Thursday for 3.5 hours each class, with weekly participation in the Natural Classroom starting in the fall after they are settled into preschool. Magnolia children typically turn 3 between fall and spring after they start school, attend 3 mornings per week on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday for 3.5 hours each class, and participate in the Natural Classroom every week starting in the fall after they are settled into preschool. Maple children typically turn 3 between spring and fall, Willow students move into Maple their second year at Stretch, they attend 5 mornings per week for 4 hours each day, and they participate in the Natural Classroom 2 days per week. Cypress children typically turn 4 between fall and spring, Magnolia students move into Cypress their second year at Stretch, they attend 5 mornings per week for 4 hours each day, and they participate in the Natural Classroom 2 days per week. Redwood children typically turn 5 between spring and fall, Maple students move into Redwood their third year at Stretch, they attend 5 afternoons per week for 4 hours each day, and they participate in the Natural Classroom 2 days per week. Sequoia is the oldest class at Stretch; children typically turn 5 between the summer and December of their final year in preschool, Cypress students along with any students needing an additional TK year become the Sequoia class, they attend 5 afternoons per week for 4 hours each day, and they participate in the Natural Classroom 2 days per week.
Last updated June 6, 2026.
• Ages: 2 years to 5 years 9 months old
• Schedule: Half-day program with classes ranging between 3.5–4 hours per day; morning and afternoon options vary by class
Director and Founder Michelle Lawton and Assistant Director, Toddler Program Director Scarlett Hernandez lead the Stretch Preschool Program. The program holds Licensing #384002029. One parent described Stretch as “a sweet and warm place” and stated that they could not imagine their daughter going to any other preschool.
Children must be 2 years old by August 31 in order to be eligible to start in the fall, and no exceptions are made to this cut off. Children can stay at Stretch until they move on to Kindergarten, and a TK year is offered for older students. 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. Extended hours are offered for families depending on the age of the child.
Willow children are the youngest students in the Preschool Program at Stretch, and Willow classes meet 2 mornings per week on Tuesday and Thursday for 3.5 hours each class, with weekly participation in the Natural Classroom starting in the fall after they are settled into preschool. Magnolia children typically turn 3 between fall and spring after they start school, attend 3 mornings per week on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday for 3.5 hours each class, and participate in the Natural Classroom every week starting in the fall after they are settled into preschool. Maple children typically turn 3 between spring and fall, Willow students move into Maple their second year at Stretch, they attend 5 mornings per week for 4 hours each day, and they participate in the Natural Classroom 2 days per week. Cypress children typically turn 4 between fall and spring, Magnolia students move into Cypress their second year at Stretch, they attend 5 mornings per week for 4 hours each day, and they participate in the Natural Classroom 2 days per week. Redwood children typically turn 5 between spring and fall, Maple students move into Redwood their third year at Stretch, they attend 5 afternoons per week for 4 hours each day, and they participate in the Natural Classroom 2 days per week. Sequoia is the oldest class at Stretch; children typically turn 5 between the summer and December of their final year in preschool, Cypress students along with any students needing an additional TK year become the Sequoia class, they attend 5 afternoons per week for 4 hours each day, and they participate in the Natural Classroom 2 days per week.
Last updated June 6, 2026.
Is this your business? There is no cost, but you will be asked to sign up or log in.