Hickory Tree School is a private, non-sectarian school. The preschool and elementary school divisions offer an academically-based program geared specifically for each stage of growth. Our qualified and experienced teaching staff provides the personal care and support needed to enhance emotional development.
Hickory Tree School has a group of teachers, selected for their education, experience and ability. In addition to being academically, California-state qualified, our staff has sensitivity and understanding, to provide a comfortable atmosphere for a child's first learning experience.
School Objectives
Our school program provides:
...a nurturing environment which stimulates a child's natural interest and curiosity.
...positive successful experiences which foster a healthy self-image.
...an atmosphere of freedom and flexibility where each child can choose, experiment, explore and initiate discoveries.
Our Program is based upon beliefs that:
1. The development of each child's healthy self-image is essential, and is fostered by positive successful experiences.
2. The child is to explore within a structured curriculum.
3. The child is (so far as possible) immediately informed of the consequences of his/her actions.
4. The child is encouraged to make interrelated discoveries about his/her physical, cultural, and social world.
5. Activities are self-rewarding (not dependent upon external reward or punishment).
6. The child participates in learning activities within a nurturing environment which stimulates a child's natural interest and curiosity.
7. Teacher planning will accommodate learning by discovery.
8. The areas of skill development observed and planned for are:
1. Social Skills
2. Emotional Skills
3. Self Care Skills
4. Fine Motor Skills
5. Gross Motor Skills
6. Visual Perception Skills
7. Auditory Skills
8. Communicative Skills
9. Cognitive Skills
10. Conservation Skills
Our Hickory Tree Family
We are very proud of our Hickory Tree Family. We are fortunate to have a diverse staff, many of whom have been with us for upwards of 15 years! We hope that you will join our family!
Director - Ms. Jennifer Walla-Ruiz
Administrator - Ms. Sandy Hallworth
Receptionist - Ms. Monica Cantero
Moonjumpers - Ms. Rosie Muratalla
Tiggers - Ms. Brenda Martinez
Sunshine - Ms. Marcela Vigil
Pre-K A - Ms. Nicole Hands
Pre-K B - Ms. Jennifer Walla-Ruiz
Kindergarten - Ms. Maribel Ibarra
1st Grade - Ms. Cindy M.
2nd/3rd Grade - Ms. Perla Leon
4th/5th Grade - Ms. Julie Ryland
Are masks required by students & staff?
Due to COVID-19, all students and staff are required to wear masks at all time except while eating and napping.
Are all staff members vaccinated?
YES, WE ARE ALL VACCINATED!!!
Can parents visit Hickory Tree?
Parents are welcome to visit our campus any time before or after our morning drop-off period (8-9:30am). Due to COVID safety protocols, only students and staff are allow inside the school. In order to provide our students the continuous optimal learning environment and minimize distractions, we ask parents kindly be mindful of classroom schedules.
Are snacks and meals provided?
Lunch is no longer provided, parents must pack a lunch. Please keep in mind items cannot be warmed nor kept in the fridge. We encourage healthy options to instill good nutritional choices and habits, and restrict foods with little or no nutritional values such as candy, soda, etc. Snacks are included in our program. For safety reasons, water fountains have been temporarily shut down. All children must bring a water bottle.
Are field trips mandatory?
Off campus excursions are highly encouraged as they are an educational and enjoyable experience for students. These trips are scheduled several times throughout the year, and are not mandatory for students to participate. Our school provides continued day care for parents who prefer that their children remain on campus.
When is the school closed?
We are a year around school but are closed for major holidays. Each school year we are closed for Labor Day, Veteran's Day, Thanksgiving (Thursday & Friday), Christmas Day, New Year's Day, Martin Luther King, Jr. Day, President's Day, Memorial Day, and Independence Day. The school also closes at 1:00pm on the school day prior to Christmas and New Year's Day.
Does the school have winter or spring break?
We do have winter and spring breaks where there is no academic curriculum. For your convenience, we are still open for day care during those weeks.
What is the school's enrollment process?
Please call the school at (310) 533-4830 and setup a time to come by for a tour. We try to tour Monday - Friday 9:30am - 2:30am. Once you tour the school, we will answer your questions and give you a registration form to fill out along with our non refundable registration fee. We will then give you the student packet & schedule a zoom policy meeting. Please feel free to email us at hts.main12@gmail.com for any other questions.