Italian Language, Heritage & Cultural Enrichment

Italian Language, Heritage & Cultural Enrichment Classes for Children

Pre-K, TK, Kindergarten & After-School Programs Enrolling Now-Adult classes Too!

ITALIAN SUMMER SCHOOL REGISTRATION IS NOW OPEN!

ROOTED IN HERITAGE. GROWING THROUGH PLAY

Get to know us.

1257 Cleveland Ave. Santa Rosa, CA. 95401

408-343-9001/707-308-4367

YEAR ‘ROUND ENROLLMENT FOR ALL AGES!

SCROLL DOWN FOR CHILDREN’S CLASS INFORMATION!

Why Italian, heritage and culture?

Our Italian Heritage, language and cultural center is something so important to me.

I started a center in San Jose, CA.-my hometown-in 2008. I moved in 2021 to Sonoma. CA. We have now opened in Santa Rosa, CA.-and have wonderful community support.

What motivates me to do this project- and to bring our community together through learning our heritage- is deeply personal.

During World War II, many Italians living in the United States—ordinary families and hardworking citizens—were placed in internment camps on U.S. soil. Others were labeled “enemy aliens,” faced restrictions, and were even told not to speak their own language-“the language of the enemy”. That history left silence where there should have been pride. It caused many families to set aside their language and traditions out of fear or necessity.

A lot of people feel a responsibility to help restore what was lost, I am one of many—not only restore the language, but dignity, connection, and understanding. Teaching or learning Italian is not just about vocabulary or culture; it is about honoring resilience and giving the next generation permission to embrace who they are.

At the heart of this work is something even broader: the desire to teach kindness, empathy, and tolerance for all cultures. When children learn about heritage—whether their own or someone else’s—they learn respect. They learn that every community has stories of hardship and strength. And through that understanding, we build a more compassionate future together.

Everyone is welcome here. Join us.

Theresa

ABOUT REGGIO EMILIA……..FOR THE CHILDREN.

A World-Renowned Approach.

A Foundation for Life.

The Reggio Emilia philosophy—born in Italy and celebrated around the world—is more than a philosophy; it is a way of seeing children as strong, capable, and full of potential. It has been studied by top universities, respected by global educators, and implemented in some of the most innovative early learning programs across continents.

Daily, we offer worksheets so that the children can write Italian words. This helps them learn to read. Physically writing on our worksheets, helps to activate the brain centers that aid in recognizing letters. A helpful “learning to read” tool. We send a few worksheets home daily.

The children hear several Italian stories each day, have group Italian time, and are asked to use the Italian language throughout the day. Asking them to respond in Italian is a big part of their experience. And it lets us know they are learning.

Children in Reggio-inspired environments are not just sitting at a desk—they are given the world: real materials, deep questions, and space to think, build, express, and collaborate. It is an approach that values intellect and imagination equally, honoring each child’s unique rhythm and voice. And we take the time to listen to that voice.

At our Italian heritage enrichment program, your child is nurtured by this philosophy. With roots in Italy and eyes on the future, we provide the kind of learning that builds confident thinkers, empathetic communicators, and creative problem-solvers—the very qualities needed for tomorrow’s world.

In our Reggio-inspired environment, your child is not only immersed in the philosophy — they are learning the language of Reggio and the language of Italian culture as well. Through art, movement, nature, and so much more, children explore their world using the Reggio Emilia “hundred languages” of childhood expression. As they become fluent in these creative forms of communication, they also engage with the richness of the Italian language and heritage that gave rise to the Reggio Emilia approach.

Join us.

ENROLL TODAY!

We do not offer custodial care or full day for children under school age. Our center heritage experiences in many forms. for various ages. Each program prepares your child for primary school. Our heritage kindergarten is Monday through Friday. Our after-school heritage classes are a wonderful addition to your child’s education.

Enroll now!

Schedule a tour today! Call 707-308-4367 or 408-343-9001/[email protected]

Enroll Your Child Now for a Wonderful Italian Enrichment Experience!

In the Reggio Emilia spirit of wonder, collaboration and connection, learning another language helps children deepen their cultural identity, and expand their worldview. It also creates understanding and empathy and helps children express themselves in meaningful, creative ways. It’s not just a skill — it’s a lifelong bridge to people, heritage, traditions, and discovery.

HEALTH AND SAFETY FIRST

At La Piccola Scuola, your child’s well-being is our top priority. We maintain a warm, nurturing environment while following thoughtful safety measures, including:

Vaccination Awareness: We follow all public health guidelines and require that your child’s vaccinations are current. We keep vaccination records on file to help maintain a healthy and safe community for everyone.
Clean Indoor Air: Our classrooms are equipped with high-efficiency air purifiers to support clean air and reduce airborne irritants.
Prepared Staff: All team members are certified in CPR and First Aid and trained to respond calmly and confidently in case of emergencies.
Daily Hygiene Routines: Regular handwashing, clean materials, and a tidy, organized space help prevent the spread of germs.
Drills: Monthly safety and fire drills.
Liability Insurance: We are fully insured.

We are committed to providing a safe, joyful place for children to grow, explore, and thrive.

FEES

See Our Schedule Below and Give Us a Call/email!
Our program fees are paid in easy monthly installments — and we’re happy to talk through options with you. Don’t hesitate to reach out!

We’re committed to accessibility and hope to offer partial scholarships to two families by the start of our 2026–2027 enrichment year.

Let’s connect — we’d love to share more about what makes our program special. Because every family and child is unique, we prefer to connect with you personally to share program details and tuition. This gives us the opportunity to learn more about your needs, answer your questions, and walk you through our offerings—including part-day, multi-day, and seasonal enrichment options.

Tuition varies depending on the program schedule and availability. Please reach out to us to schedule a brief call or tour—we’d love to welcome you!

Schedule a tour today! Call 707-308-4367 or 408-343-9001/[email protected]

PROGRAM DAYS AND TIMES:

2 Days (Ages 3 through 6)
Monday/Wednesday or Tuesday/Thursday
9:00 AM – 12:00 PM

AGES 3-14!!! A PROGRAM FOR ALL AGES!

LICENSE EXEMPT, HERITAGE PROGRAM ENRICHMENT SCHEDULE BELOW…..

3 Days (Ages 3 through 5)
Monday/Wednesday/Friday
9:00 AM – 12:00 PM

4 Days (Ages 3 through 5)

Monday/Tuesday/Wednesday/Thursday

9:00 AM-12:00 PM

5 Days (Ages 4.9 through Age 5)

Monday-Friday

9:00 AM-12:00 PM

SCHOOL-AGE: 1st grade through Age 12

2 or 4 Days After School (M-Th)

3:30 PM – 5:00 PM

SATURDAY CAMP: AGES 3 through 12

9:00 AM-NOON or 1:00 PM-4:00 PM

or ALL DAY SATURDAY from 9:00 AM-4:00 PM

DROP IN AVAILABLE ON A LIMITED BASIS

PLEASE CALL US 48 hrs. in advance TO RESERVE.

MOMMY & ME ITALIAN CLASSES!

Ages 8 months-3 yrs!

10:30-11:30 AM, Tuesday/Thursday/Saturday. Pick one day or all three!

OUR OTHER SERVICES

Our Executive Director/Founder, Theresa M. Sabatino Psy.D, holds a doctorate in Clinical Psychology and will also offer the following programs:

Parent Support Workshops

Happy, successful families take intention and effort — and we’re here to help make it easier. Whether one-on-one or in a group, we offer guidance and support that fits your family’s needs.

One on One Coaching for Happier Kids!

Mindful Breathing & Self-Regulation, Self-Awareness & Emotional Labeling, Gifted Kid “Burnout”, Mentoring, Problem-Solving & Choice-Making, Positive Self-Talk, and more!

Individual Coaching for Women

Overcoming barriers, Imposter Syndrome, Anxiety, Leadership, Gifted & Creative Problem Solving, and more.

OUR ENRICHMENT APPROACH

As a Reggio Emilia inspired center, we believe that children are “strong, capable and full of potential”.

Learn more here-just click the link to a whole new world… at….. Reggio Children – Reggio EmiliaApproachhttps://www.reggiochildren.it/en/reggio-emilia-appr

This truly is a wonderful way to work….and play with children.

DISCOUNT!!!

Call us now to enroll. Families who enroll before March 15th, 2026, will receive 100 percent off their annual enrollment fee. That is a $150.00 value, per child! Enroll in any program and receive the discount-even if you don’t begin right away!

408-343-9001/707-308-4367 (leave a VM -we will get back to you!) [email protected]

Our space is limited, so please call today.

SOCIAL MEDIA

A work in progress

ADULT CLASSES!

ADULT BEGINNER/INTERMEDIATE/ADVANCED ITALIAN! CALL NOW! JOIN US FOR A FUN CLASS -AS WE ALL LEARN TOGETHER IN A RELAXED, NO PRESSURE ENVIRONMENT. REFRESHMENTS INCLUDED. CALL US NOW FOR MORE INFO AND TO ENROLL! 408-343-9001/707-308-4367 please leave a voicemail if we don’t pick-up. Zoom classes available!

GREAT NEWS!

Our Commitment to Quality Programming

We are proud to share that our center will be registered as a Heritage School with the California Department of Education by summer 2026. In addition, we’ve started the accreditation process with the Western Association of Schools and Colleges (WASC) for our supplemental enrichment programming.

While these formal steps are in progress, we remain fully committed to providing best practices in everything we do—ensuring a warm, thoughtful, and high-quality learning experience for every child and family.

Required Notic(PeADULT CLASSES!

MEET OUR STAFF

Dr. Theresa M. Sabatino, Psy.D, MA, BA, AOS

Holds a doctorate in Clinical Psychology and was the founder and executive director of two previous Italian enrichment programs, as well as the non-profit, La Piccola Scuola nel Parco—a Reggio Emilia–inspired Pre-K, Kindergarten, and school-age program in San Jose, which she led from 2008 until 2022.

She has also taught at the college level, sharing her expertise in early childhood education, child development, and culturally responsive teaching.

She attended The Juilliard School and the American Academy of Dramatic Arts in NYC, so she will bring some fun and creative experiences to the program. Don’t tell Theresa that little ones can’t learn to sing Mambo Italiano at an Italian Festa in front of hundreds of smiling (and laughing!) audience members—because it’s been done… and it will be again!

Theresa brings over thirty years of experience in Early Childhood Education, working with children from birth through age eight, elementary age and with adults. Her background includes both classroom teaching and counseling, along with extensive experience teaching youth & adults in a variety of roles and settings.

Theresa is available for private coaching sessions in behavioral health and social skills, for both children and adults.

Wendy C. Mustain, Ph.D. (ABD), M.Ed., BA

Our co-founder, Wendy holds degrees in education and has studied pedagogy and assessment -completing all coursework at the doctoral level. This means she brings a deep understanding of how children learn and how to thoughtfully assess their growth—skills that enhance the design, delivery, and impact of our enrichment experiences.

Wendy has taught all ages-from tiny tots to college students, and now she’s bringing her energy and creativity to our program as our Enrichment Movement Coach! Get ready to dance, wiggle, and maybe even giggle your way through the Tarantella—we’re sure it’ll be a fun (and funny!) adventure for all of us. Wendy will also be teaching juggling as part of our Italian circus exploration… so don’t be surprised if scarves and smiles are flying through the air!

Melanie D’Anna

is our volunteer Enrichment Reading Specialist (yes, volunteer! –Grazie!). Melanie moved to Santa Rosa four years ago from Arizona. She recently retired from teaching where she taught grades first through fourth. Prior to that, she was a newspaper photographer. She is married with two adult children. Currently, she is learning Italian and will be visiting relatives there next summer.

DUAL LANGUAGE EDUCATION

There are many reasons to learn a second language. “Click” here to see just a few; The Benefits of Bilingualism in Early Childhood – Hello Pediatrics

Start early! Your child will benefit greatly by learning another language at such a young age. Young brains are especially receptive to new sounds—making age 3 a far better time to start language learning than age 30! And we make it fun! Register now and start the process. This gift for your child will last a lifetime.

Children will learn to sing, speak, and write in both languages and we have a lot of “dedicated” language time with our Italian “native speaker” to allow for specific language discussions and lots of Italian story time as well. This approach enhances cognitive development and cultural awareness, preparing students for an interconnected world.

HOW WE GUIDE CHILDREN

Our Italian enrichment center is inspired by the Reggio Emilia approach, focusing on child-led experiences and fostering creativity. We believe in nurturing each child’s potential through exploration and collaboration in a supportive environment.

We listen, we encourage, we ask questions…..Through intentional provocations, we encourage children to ask questions, make discoveries, and explore their ideas in meaningful ways.

Learn more here:

https://www.reggiochildren.it/en/reggio-emilia-approach/

WHAT CHILDREN WILL LEARN

The Italian Language!

Children will experience the sounds every single day!

AND of course, there is so much more to learn-all in Italian and English! Italian puppetry, the circus, letters, numbers, colors, shapes, scientists, artists, musicians, the garden, weather, calendar, the environment, holidays, family life in Italy, geography, math, social skills, and on and on! All about Italy-and in Italian….every single day!

And we hope to bring a Juilliard program to our center in music and drama for kids ages 4-14!

So much more to come!

PROFESSIONAL MEMBERSHIPS

North American Reggio Emilia Alliance

North Bay Italian Cultural Foundation

The National Italian American Foundation

AGE GROUPS

We serve children from age three through age six in our morning programming and school-age children in after school language & cultural activities, providing a rich learning experience tailored to their developmental needs. Our program is small, caring and FUN!

Our enrichment staff have decades of experience and care deeply about working with children in a safe and happy environment.

Children thrive when they have a beautiful space to be in, kindness, friends, fun and lots of play, not to mention all the attention they deserve-in a small, happy environment.

They can be who they are.

You can enroll any time throughout the year-and begin when you are ready. We will open a waitlist once we reach capacity.

We are open year-round until 5:00 pm. Summer camp is also a big help for parents, (& fun for the kids!) and during the summer we will be open from 9:00 am-5:00 pm-offering wonderful Italian enrichment “camps”!

Call us today at 408-343-9001/707-308-4367/[email protected]

THE ENROLLMENT PROCESS

We meet the parents or guardians during an initial phone call, then we can schedule a tour. Your child is welcome to come to the tour or during an Open House. We tend to offer tours after our “work” day ends, on Saturdays, or at an Open House-as we prefer that the children are not interrupted during their program.

However, once you enroll-parents/guardians may visit at any time. Just give us a call.

Should you decide to enroll after your tour….. an enrollment packet will be emailed to you. Our goal is to ensure that our program is a good fit for both the child and the family, fostering a strong community connection.

FAMILY INVOLVEMENT

We ask that families become involved in our heritage enrichment center, by bringing in books or related Italian language materials to share. Or donate an hour every now and then when we need you! There is always something to be done. 🙂 And we’d be grateful!

FAMILY GATHERINGS

We host family events throughout the year to celebrate Italian culture, share joyful moments, and strengthen our community. From seasonal gatherings to art shows and music days, these events bring families together in fun, meaningful ways.

In the Reggio Emilia approach, family and community involvement are essential to creating valuable learning environments.

Throughout the year, we invite families to join us in celebrations, projects, and shared experiences that enrich our children’s growth and sense of belonging.

PROGRAM T SHIRT

At La Piccola Scuola, each child will wear a program t-shirt during time spent with us. This simple and playful uniform helps us:

Foster a sense of belonging — children feel connected as part of a joyful, united community of learners
Encourage focus and identity — our shirts remind children they are part of something special and inspiring
Make mornings easier for families — no more outfit decisions or debates before breakfast
Promote equity and inclusion — wearing the same shirt helps prevent clothing competition and supports a positive, accepting environment for all.

Wearing the program shirt is a fun, practical way to build routine, reduce stress, and celebrate our shared learning journey. School-Age and Saturday Camp children (and enrichment guides!) will wear the shirt as well-this way we all belong!

The “uniform” information will be given to you during your tour with us. Affordable and cute, the shirts (long or short sleeved) allow for messy days and easy cleanup!

OUR CORE VALUES DEI STATEMENT AND COMMITMENT TO OUR COMMUNITY

At La Piccola Scuola, we celebrate the uniqueness of every child, family and educator. Our community is committed to creating a welcoming, respectful, and inclusive environment where everyone belongs. We honor and uplift all identities—including race, ethnicity, gender, sexual orientation, family structure, language, ability, and religion—as vital parts of who we are. Together, we nurture empathy, equity, and the joy of learning in all its forms.

We welcome those who agree🧡

408-343-9001/707-308-4367 (leave a VM -we will get back to you!) [email protected]

OUR ENVIRONMENT

Tours by appointment only.

1257 Cleveland Ave, Suite C

Santa Rosa, CA. 95401

At the heart of our Reggio-inspired approach is the environment itself—a clean, bright space filled with natural light, thoughtfully arranged materials within a child’s reach, and plenty of open space for creativity to unfold. There are also “quiet” spaces to be found when needed. Here, the setting becomes the “third teacher,” gently guiding children toward exploration, independence, and joyful discovery every day.

THANK YOU FOR VISITING.