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Bearkitten Preschool

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Children and adults sit on a colorful floor, building with wooden blocks.
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Children and adults gather around a table, engaged in a hands-on activity.
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Welcome to Bearkitten Preschool at Paso Robles High School!

A Place to Wonder, Explore and Grow

Bearkitten Preschool provides a high-quality early learning experience for children ages 3–5 in a nurturing, play-based environment designed to spark curiosity, build confidence, and foster a lifelong love of learning. Children engage in hands-on exploration, creative play, small-group learning, and meaningful relationships that support their social, emotional, physical, and cognitive development.

Located on the Paso Robles High School campus, Bearkitten is more than a preschool. It is a laboratory preschool where young children learn alongside dedicated high school students enrolled in PRHS's Education and Child Development Career Technical Education pathway. Under the direction of veteran educator Brenda Matthysse, student teachers gain real-world experience while helping create a rich, engaging learning environment for preschoolers.

Three smiling young women pose for a photo in front of a blue backdrop with a repeating logo.

A Paso Robles High School Bearkitten Preschool teacher interacts with young children gathered around a table in a classroom.
Paso Robles High School Bearkitten Preschool Children and adults gather around a table, engaged in a hands-on activity.
A Paso Robles High School Bearkitten Preschool teacher and a child in a graduation cap and gown pose for a photo with a football.
A Paso Robles High School Bearkitten Preschool teacher and children sit on a colorful mat, engaged in a building activity with wooden blocks.
Paso Robles High School Bearkitten Preschoolers sit on a colorful floor, building with wooden blocks.
Paso Robles High School Bearkitten Preschoolers are engaged in building with colorful magnetic tiles on a wooden table.
Paso Robles High School Bearkitten Preschoolers and teacher collaborate on building a colorful marble run toy.
Two young girls hold hands and smile at the camera in a brightly lit room.
A Paso Robles High School Bearkitten Preschooler plays doctor with a stuffed dog on a wooden table, with toy medical tools nearby.
Children and adults engage with colorful marble run toys on a table.
A woman reads a book to a group of young children in a cozy reading nook.

What Makes Bearkitten Different?

Whether you’re a current student, a prospective family, or a curious community member, we’re so glad you’re here.

At Bearkitten, we believe children learn best through active participation, meaningful relationships, and opportunities to discover the world for themselves. Our program is intentionally designed to be:

Child-Centered

Learning begins with children's interests, questions, and natural curiosity. Activities are developmentally appropriate, hands-on, and focused on the learning process rather than simply producing a finished product.

Play-Based

Research tells us that play is the foundation of learning. Through art, sensory exploration, dramatic play, music, science, movement, and outdoor experiences, children develop critical thinking, problem-solving skills, creativity, and confidence.

Relationship-Driven

We know that significant learning happens through significant relationships. We value strong partnerships with families and work to create a welcoming community built on trust, communication, and mutual respect.

Focused on the Whole Child

Our goal is to help children develop not only early academic skills, but also independence, resilience, kindness, self-confidence, and a sense of wonder about the world around them.

 

Preschool Information

Program Schedule

Bearkitten Preschool follows the Paso Robles Joint Unified School District calendar and operates approximately two weeks after the start of the school year through the end of May.

Preschool Days

Monday: 8:30 a.m. – 12:10 p.m.
Tuesday: 8:30 a.m. – 12:45 p.m.
Friday: 8:30 a.m. – 12:45 p.m.

Location

Bearkitten Preschool is located on the Paso Robles High School campus in Rooms 331 and 332, on the east side of campus near the bus lane.

Phone: (805) 769-1500 ext. 50331
Director: Brenda Matthysse (Click to send Ms Matthysse an email)

 

Enrollment Information & Tuition Schedule

Two young girls hold hands, smiling at the camera, standing on colorful paw print floor decals.

Enrollment is open to children ages 3–5.

Priority placement is provided to:

  • PRJUSD employee families
  • Bearkitten alumni families
  • Students enrolled in the Marie Bauer Early Learning Speech Program

Families interested in enrolling are encouraged to submit a Bearkitten Preschool application and schedule a visit to ensure the program is a good fit for their child and family.

Tuition Schedule

Tuition payments are made throughout the school year:

  • August
  • November
  • February
  • April (half payment)

Please see the enrollment packet for current tuition rates and payment details.

Five Paso Robles High School CTE Early Childhood Education Pathway Completers smile while holding certificates in front of a Cuesta College banner.

Preparing Future Educators

Bearkitten Preschool serves as the laboratory component of Paso Robles High School's Education and Child Development Career Technical Education pathway.

Students in grades 9–12 can explore careers in education through a sequence of dual-enrollment courses offered in partnership with Cuesta College, offering a student up to 21 units if they choose to enroll in all courses. Coursework combines classroom instruction with hands-on teaching experience at Bearkitten Preschool and in local school settings (requires own transportation).

In these courses, students will teach in the lab preschool environment three days a week and have block days devoted to academic work related to the lab. Students enrolled in these courses may also compete in the SkillsUSA competition for Early Childhood Education, Job Interviews, and other leadership courses.

Pathway Courses

  • Developmental Psychology with Children
  • Child Development
  • Careers in Education
  • Practicum in Education
  • Infant and Toddler Care


If students complete required Cuesta College coursework and earn passing grades, they will receive credit high school and college credit.

This year students will enroll in PEDS 110 (freshman course), CDFS 201 and 202, CDFS 203 and CDFS 205 or EDUC 200 depending on the course in the pathway they enroll in. We also offer CDFS 242 for our Infant and Toddler Care class for all grade levels. The focus is to prepare students for a career working with children in the workplace or moving on to post-secondary education.