Now enrolling · Ages 3 & 4 · City of Seattle Preschool Program 2026/27

Where little days begin brightly.

A warm preschool in Seattle's Seward Park neighborhood, where curiosity is celebrated, home languages are honored, and every child is welcomed by name. Rise & Shine. It's how we begin.

Schedule a Tour → Meet our team
20
Children Per Class
12 hrs
Of Care, 6am to 6pm
Ages 3 & 4
DCYF Licensed
Child shaping play-dough at Rise and Shine
Joyful child laughing in the classroom
Child playing in the kitchen center
Home languages welcomedSeward Park playCreative CurriculumFamily-style lunchCozy rest time on individual cotsDCYF licensed Home languages welcomedSeward Park playCreative CurriculumFamily-style lunchCozy rest time on individual cotsDCYF licensed
✓DCYF Licensed ✓Seattle Preschool Program Partner ✓Small Class Size of 20 ✓CPR & First Aid Certified Staff ✓Background Checked Staff ✓Creative Curriculum ✓Teaching Strategies GOLD ✓Daily Parent Updates
Our Philosophy

Childhood, treated tenderly.

Four quiet promises that shape every morning, every story, every snack, every small moment of care.

i

Calm mornings

No rushed transitions. Children arrive into calm, soft light and a teacher who already knows their name, their interests, and what makes them feel at home.

ii

Wild curiosity

Children's questions are welcomed and encouraged. We follow the trail of "but why" wherever it leads, into a good book, a science experiment, a long conversation at the snack table.

iii

Natural, hands-on materials

Wood, wool, clay, paint, and child-safe tools, with fresh fruit at snack. Children learn the world best by touching and making real things.

iv

Belonging, first

Before letters or numbers, every child needs to feel safe, seen, and welcome. A strong sense of community is the foundation everything else is built on.

Circle time with our teacher
Two friends smiling together
Our Story

A little school built around big love.

Rise & Shine is a DCYF-licensed preschool tucked into Seward Park, serving twenty children ages three and four. We teach in English, and we honor the many languages and cultures our families bring with them. Every child's home and heritage is welcome here. Our families speak Somali, Oromo, Spanish, Arabic, and English, and that mix is part of who we are.

Our days are guided by the research-backed Creative Curriculum, with TSG Gold for thoughtful assessment. But our mornings are guided by something simpler: the belief that every child should feel safe, deeply known, and gently challenged, from the moment they arrive until the moment they head home.

Rise & Shine began with one simple belief: that every child deserves to feel known, safe, and excited to learn. We set out to build the kind of preschool we'd want for our own families: small, welcoming, and built around relationships.

Our Day, Three Ways

One classroom, a full day of care.

From early-morning drop-off to evening pickup, we care for your child across twelve hours, with one consistent community of teachers, friends, and rhythms.

6:00 to 9:00 am
Before Care · Mon to Fri

Calm Morning Care

For families with early starts. Warm breakfast, quiet books, building corners, and a comforting teacher close by when needed.

9:00 am to 3:00 pm
Preschool Day · Ages 3 & 4

The Core Day

Our research-backed Creative Curriculum, taught through English. Morning meetings, project work, outdoor play, and family-style lunch.

3:00 to 6:00 pm
After Care · Mon to Fri

Gentle Afternoons

Slower pace, mixed-age play, art tables, outdoor play, and a real snack. Many families stay the full afternoon.

A Day With Us

Sunrise to evening, with care.

6:00 am

Warm Welcome

Doors open early for working families. Soft lighting, quiet music, a warm breakfast, and a teacher ready with a hug at the door.

9:00 am

Morning Meeting

The whole class gathers on the carpet. We greet each other in English and in our home languages, share the calendar, and set the day's intention together.

10:00 am

Learning & Exploration

The heart of our Creative Curriculum. Children move between literacy, math, art, and science stations, choosing their own path while teachers notice what each child is interested in and help them learn more.

12:00 pm

Outdoor Time

Outdoor play in our own play yard, with supervised nature walks when planned. Running, climbing, digging, and looking very closely at one small bug for a very long time.

12:30 pm

Lunch Together

Family-style at low wooden tables. Children pour their own water and pass the bowls. We talk about our morning and the plans for the afternoon ahead.

1:00 pm

Rest & Recharge

Cots, blankets, soft instrumental music, and the curtains gently drawn. A real nap for those who need one; quiet books for those who don't.

1:40 pm

Afternoon Discovery

Project time: long, focused stretches of building, painting, or storytelling. Teachers gently document growth during natural play, without interrupting the children's rhythm.

3:00 pm

After Care Begins

The school day ends, but for many families the day keeps going. Snack, free play, art tables, and a slower rhythm with mixed-age friends.

6:00 pm

Until Tomorrow

Last pickups, gentle goodbyes, cubbies emptied, the day's artwork tucked into bags. We sweep the floors and leave the porch light on for morning.

Meet Our Team

The hearts behind our classroom.

A small, loving team. Every child's personality known and celebrated, every family a familiar face, every child cared for with warmth, patience, and respect.

Muna, lead teacher at Rise and Shine

Muna

Lead Teacher

Holds a BA in Early Learning, with two years of classroom teaching experience. Meets each child every morning with a warm smile and a patient, steady presence.

Director at Rise and Shine

Our Director

Director · Lead Teacher

Our Director leads the daily rhythm of the school, supports teachers, communicates with families, and helps ensure every child is safe, known, and cared for.

Layla, certified chef and cook at Rise and Shine

Layla

Certified Chef · Cook

A certified chef who prepares meals with care and warmth, helping make lunchtime feel calm, nourishing, and family-centered.

Curriculum & Care

Research-backed. Heart-led.

The Creative Curriculum

Our daily learning is shaped by the Creative Curriculum, a nationally trusted framework that builds literacy, math, science, and social skills through play, exploration, and project work. We follow the children's curiosity, not a worksheet.

TSG Gold Assessment

We use Teaching Strategies GOLD to gently observe and document each child's growth across language, motor, social, and cognitive milestones. You'll always know where your child is, and how we're walking with them.

Community & Family Resources

We're more than a classroom. We're a community. Alongside caring for your child, we help connect families with free resources and a little extra support when it's needed, from essentials for new parents to a hand during the harder weeks.

Family Partnership

You are the first and most important teacher in your child's life. We share daily observations, weekly photo updates, and seasonal portfolios, because real partnership requires real openness.

Through Our Windows

Glimpses from a happy week.

Friends at the table
Outdoor hugs with teacher
Resting on the grass
Peace signs outside
Reading a counting book
Building with magnatiles
Parent Love

What our families say.

"
I was nervous about my son starting preschool, but the team made our whole family feel at ease from day one. He now runs to the door every morning. That says everything.
Sarah M.
Parent of a 3-year-old
"
What makes this place different is how much the teachers truly know my daughter. They notice things I don't even catch. She has grown so much this year, academically and emotionally.
Faadumo A.
Parent of a 4-year-old
"
As a family that speaks two languages at home, it meant everything to find a school that didn't just accept that, but embraced it. Our children's culture is celebrated here, not just tolerated.
The Ortega Family
Parents of a 3-year-old
For Parents

The quick details.

Ages served
3 and 4 years old
Preschool day
9:00 AM to 3:00 PM
Before care
6:00 to 9:00 AM
After care
3:00 to 6:00 PM
Class size
Licensed for 20 children
Meals
Breakfast, lunch, and snack provided
Curriculum
The Creative Curriculum
Assessment
Teaching Strategies GOLD
Program partner
City of Seattle Preschool Program, 2026/27
Languages
Taught in English, with every home language honored
Tours
By appointment
Location
9061 Seward Park Ave S, Bldg 16, Seattle, WA 98118
Phone
(206) 637-8409
Good Questions

Everything you'd like to know.

Do you provide meals?
+
Yes. Breakfast, lunch, and an afternoon snack are provided each day.
What ages do you serve?
+
We welcome children ages 3 and 4. Our intentionally small class of 20 children means every child receives focused attention, real relationships, and the time to fully bloom.
What are your hours?
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Our doors open at 6:00 AM for Before Care. The preschool day runs 9:00 AM to 3:00 PM. After Care is available until 6:00 PM, twelve full hours of warm, consistent care.
Do you support multilingual families?
+
Our classes are taught in English. We're a diverse community in a diverse neighborhood, and we welcome every family's language, culture, and background. We aren't a bilingual or dual-language program, but children's home languages and heritage are always honored and celebrated here.
How do I enroll my child?
+
Start by scheduling a tour. We'd love to meet your family in person, show you our space, and answer all of your questions. Call us at (206) 637-8409 or submit a request below.
What curriculum do you use?
+
We use the research-backed Creative Curriculum, with TSG Gold for thoughtful ongoing assessment. Our days are shaped by intentional play, curiosity, and the developmental needs of each child.
How do you communicate with families?
+
We share daily observations, photo updates, and seasonal milestone portfolios, because you are your child's first teacher, and partnership requires real, honest openness.
Visit Us

Come see for yourself.

We're a proud City of Seattle Preschool Program (SPP) partner for 2026/27, and we'd love to meet your family. Tours run by appointment. Bring your child if you'd like. They're welcome to explore, play, and stay for snack.

Call (206) 637-8409 →Email Us →

Program Details

Address
9061 Seward Park Ave S
Bldg 16
Seattle, WA 98118
Hours
Mon to Fri
6:00 am to 6:00 pm
Ages
3 & 4 years
20 children per class
Phone
(206) 637-8409
Email
info@riseandshinepreschool.org