Enroll Your Child

Childcare tuition for infants aged 3-24 months ranges up to $1395 per month. For children over 24 months the tuition ranges up to $985 per month.

Depending on your family income, you may qualify for some form of scholarship. Income verification and copies of pay stubs for all adults in the household will be required if financial assistance is requested.

If you would like schedule an interview and/or a tour of the Day Home please call 415-861-5361

Frequently Asked Questions

Application / Enrollment Questions

What is your application process?

To apply, please pick up an application at the HFDH Dolores site or download the form “Application for Infant or Child Care” from our website. We accept applications year-round.  Although most children enroll in the Fall, we have open enrollment and accept children throughout the year. 

The sooner you fill out our application and return it to us, the sooner we can process it. If you are interested in applying for financial assistance, please submit documents to verify your gross monthly income. Appropriate documents are listed below. You don’t need to submit a birth certificate or medical documents during this initial stage.

Two to three weeks after you have submitted your initial application, we will call you. We will let you know specific details about when we might have an opening.

If a space opens and you choose to enroll your child, you must then submit an Intake Packet. This 30 page document allows us to gather more detailed information about your child and his/her social development. We charge a $30 application fee to process this document.

At this point, our Admissions Coordinator will schedule your family’s orientation, classroom visit for you and your child, and set your child’s official start date.

Is there a waitlist?

There is often a waitlist for spots at our school. During the summer months, many spots open as children transition out of our school. During the rest of the year we are generally fully enrolled. Because there is some turnover during the year, spots do open. Openings depend upon current levels of enrollment, teacher-student ratio in our various classrooms, and the age and development of your child. We will inform you as soon as an opening is available.

How does the wait list work?

We give preference based on the order in which families apply to the program, although we do offer priority to siblings of currently enrolled children. As soon as we receive your application, we stamp it with the date and time of receipt. Therefore, once you submit your application, your waitlist rank is reserved.  By late Spring or early Summer, we notify those families on the waitlist who will receive spots for the coming Fall.   

Your school’s wait list is too long. Can you recommend other child care centers in the area?

To learn about other high-quality educational child care facilities in the area, we recommend you contact Children’s Council. They can refer you to schools that best fit your child’s individual needs. http://www.childrenscouncil.org/

Can I bring my child to your school three days a week? Do you offer part-time child care?

We are a full time facility and require that children attend our program all week for a minimum of 6.5 hours a day. Our program is an integrated developmental program for young children, not a drop-in center. Consistency is important for your child’s success at the Day Home.

How old are the children HFDH serves?

The children at our school range from two through six years of age. Our oldest children attend our transitional kindergarten class.

My child is not yet two years old.  Can I still apply and get on your waitlist?

Yes.  As long as a child has a birthdate, you may apply to our program. 

My child is not yet potty trained. Can I still enroll him or her?

Our program has one transitional toddler class for children who are not potty trained. However, spaces are extremely limited.

I submitted an application a week ago and haven’t heard from anyone. What should I do?

We are processing applications as fast as we can. Processing takes generally two to three weeks. We will inform you as soon as an opening is available. We appreciate your patience.

How do I schedule a tour?

You may schedule a tour by calling the front desk (415-861-5361). Group tours are typically scheduled twice per month at 10 am.   

Do you have a kindergarten?

Yes, we have a transitional kindergarten class. Graduates of this class may go on to first grade or repeat kindergarten at a K-6 elementary school.

How much is the tuition?

Childcare tuition varies according to a sliding scale based on household income and family size.

• For kids who are not potty trained, tuition starts at $1395 per month.
• For kids who are potty trained and over 24 months, tuition starts at $985 per month.

I can’t afford the tuition. How can I pay for it?

• A family that earns less than $6,700 in gross monthly income (total income before taxes) may qualify for a tuition reduction through the Day Home. To determine your eligibility for a tuition reduction, please bring the documentation necessary to verify your gross monthly income. These documents are listed below.
• Families may also qualify for state scholarships. State scholarships allow eligible families to get childcare for significantly lower fees
• A family of four that earns less than $4,000 in gross monthly income (total income before taxes) may qualify for a state scholarship.
• A family of two that earns less $3,400 in gross monthly income (total income before taxes) may qualify for a state scholarship.
• If you seek a tuition reduction or a state scholarship, please verify your income. You should submit copies of checks from the following sources:
• Pay stubs for two consecutive months.
• Declaration of self-employment
• Child support
• Social security

How do I qualify for a scholarship?

Scholarships are allotted on the basis of financial need and family size.  

If I qualify, will I automatically get a scholarship for tuition?

State scholarships are given out through a lottery. Periodically we draw names from this lottery. Families that qualify will receive a letter asking them to re-verify their income at our school. Unfortunately, we cannot direct state scholarships to specific families.

Do you have discounts for multiple children from the same family?

Yes, we offer a 10% discount for siblings. 

Program Questions

Are you a full year program?

Yes. We are closed periodically for select holidays and staff development days. See the calendar for details.

What are the schools’ hours?

7:00AM-5:30PM, Monday-Friday.

Is HFDH an accredited program?

HFDH is proud to be one of the very few San Francisco early education providers to be fully accredited by the National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC).

What is your program curriculum?

HFDH has a play-based curriculum with some structure.  The HFDH cultivates social skills, namely strategies for conflict resolution, problem solving, and independent thinking. HFDH fosters values such as sharing, cooperation, self-esteem, and respect for others.

What is the Day Home’s student-to-teacher ratio?

Student-to-teacher ratios vary with the age of the children at the Day Home. All of the student-to-teacher ratios at our school are well below the licensing requirements.

Preschool (2 years through pre-Kindergarten)

Licensing Requirements                                           Holy Family Day Home
1:24 teacher/child ratio                                           1:8 teacher/child ratio
1:12 adult/child ratio                                              1:6 adult/child ratio

School Age (Kindergarten through 6 years)

Licensing Requirements                                           Holy Family Day Home
1:28 teacher/child ratio                                           1:8 teacher/child ratio
1:14 adult/child ratio                                              1:6 adult/child ratio

What will my child’s schedule be? What is a typical school day like?

7:00      School opens. All children gather in the Spaghettios classroom for quiet activities.
8:00      Teachers from each classroom arrive and pick up their children from the Spaghettios
classroom.  Together they open their individual classrooms.
8:20      Breakfast is served in each classroom.
8:50      Outdoor play in good weather; table toys, reading and drawing indoors in wet/cold weather.
9:00      Kindergarten class begins with group time.  This includes: taking roll creatively; discussing the calendar, weather, and any other pertinent information. 
9:30      All other classes begin their group time, which is somewhat similar to the kindergarten's program, although it is age appropriate. 
10:00    Recess breaks are staggered so that each class has the playground area by themselves for a period of 20 ‑ 30 minutes. 
11:30 - 12:50 p.m.
Staggered schedule of lunchtime.
12:30    Nap/quiet time.
3:00      Children have snack followed by outdoor play or indoor activities in cold/wet weather.
4:30      Free choice activities are available as children are picked up to go home.
5:30      School Closes

Do you serve meals?

We serve breakfast, lunch, and an afternoon snack to all our children.

How does the orientation work? Can I spend time with my kid in the class?

We require new students and parents to visit their class twice before enrolling full-time.  Parents will also have a chance to meet our program staff prior to enrollment. 

Other:

Are you a religious organization?

Although our school is sponsored by the Sisters of the Holy Family, Holy Family Day Home is a non-sectarian program.  There is no religious instruction at the school, nor are there any religious requirements for enrollment.