About
History
Holy Shepherd Community Preschool was established in 2023 when two preschools in Orinda joined together: the former St. Mark's Nursery School and the former Holy Shepherd Christian Preschool. It was a natural transition given our shared values, and we have proudly created a physical environment that will serve our school program well into the future. Since its inception, Holy Shepherd Community Preschool has expanded to meet the enrollment needs of the Lamorinda community and now includes a Toddler Program (starting at 18 months) in addition to our Preschool Program. We are open year-round and offer full-day and part-time options for families.
Curriculum
Holy Shepherd Community Preschool is a truly play-based preschool. We practice an emergent curriculum where topics of study in each classroom are based on teachers' observations of the children's presenting passions. "Lessons" are fluid and fun at Holy Shepherd! Our program is designed to strengthen critical thinking skills and engage children's natural curiosity. Teacher-led, child-driven projects foster a life-long love of learning, and our curriculum provides children with daily opportunities to develop across all areas (social-emotional, cognitive, and physical).
Class size
At Holy Shepherd Community Preschool, we maintain small class sizes that promote an important sense of community. These small class sizes allow our teachers to model verbal conflict-resolution skills and help children enter into play with their peers -- another standout feature of our philosophy.
Facility
Holy Shepherd Community Preschool offers a structured, nurturing environment with ample (and natural) outdoor spaces for play. Toddler students have their own dedicated play yard. In 2026, we completed a remodel of the original preschool building and now enjoy new, expanded classrooms with more natural light. We invite you to come visit us by registering for a tour!
Staff
Holy Shepherd Community Preschool is staffed by a team of dedicated Early Childhood Education professionals. Our teachers work closely together to create the safe, warm, and caring classroom environment that children need in order to practice what they already know -- and to be ready for their next discovery! We invite you to "meet" our teachers by visiting the staff pages for our Toddler and Preschool Programs. Holy Shepherd Community Preschool greatly values every member of our team, invests in employee growth, and enjoys a high staff retention rate.
We are a secular preschool
Although Holy Shepherd Community Preschool is located on a shared campus with Holy Shepherd Lutheran Church, we are not a faith-based program. Our play-based curriculum is focused on kindness without religious content. During certain times of the year, church staff do provide an opportunity for our oldest students to participate in "Songs & Stories" in the sanctuary -- a safe space for children to explore age-appropriate spiritual and moral dimensions of life. This is an elective part of our overall enrichment program, and families are free to opt out.
About the church
Holy Shepherd Lutheran Church, a congregation of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, was established in 1993 as a result of a merger between Lutheran churches in Orinda and Moraga. Holy Shepherd Lutheran Church The core value of the church is gratitude. Their mission is "Building Households of Faith," and all types of households are welcome at Holy Shepherd. Worship services are offered on Sundays at 9:30 a.m. and always include a "Kid Talk" for children. The church strives to serve all ages in Lamorinda through their two key ministry programs: Holy Shepherd Community Preschool (HSCP) and Lamorinda Adult Respite Center (LARC).