Italian Language, Heritage & Cultural Enrichment

ENROLLING NOW FOR ALL PROGRAMS!

Italian Language, Heritage & Cultural Enrichment Classes for Children and Adults

SEE BELOW FOR INFORMATION REGARDING CHILDREN’S ITALIAN ENRICHMENT CLASSES

OUR NEXT ADULT CLASSES BEGIN SOON!

BEGINNER: WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 21-DECEMBER 16 (CLOSED NOVEMBER 25)

INTERMEDIATE: FRIDAY, OCTOBER 23-DECEMBER 18 (CLOSED NOVEMBER 27)

EIGHT WEEKS, ONE 90 MINUTE CLASS EACH WEEK, $325.00 PER SESSION/FAMILY & FRIEND DISCOUNT

All Adult Classes are from 5:30-7:00 pm-Materials and refreshments included!

PAYMENT PLANS TOO- IF NEEDED!

CALL TO LEARN ABOUT OUR LOW TUITION RATES-408-343-9001/707-308-4367

or EMAIL [email protected] FOR MORE INFORMATION!

ALL CLASSES ARE HELD AT OUR SANTA ROSA CENTER

1257 CLEVELAND AVE, 95401

KIDS ITALIAN WINTER BREAK CLASSES!!!

Get to know us.

1257 Cleveland Ave. Santa Rosa, CA. 95401

408-343-9001/707-308-4367

YEAR ‘ROUND ENROLLMENT FOR ALL AGES!

Why Italian, heritage and culture?

Our Italian Heritage, language and cultural center is something so important to me. And to many in our community. Below is a photo of our recent adult class….

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.

And another reason kids should join us? It’s fun. It really is!

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, as a dual language enrichment center, we do offer worksheets so that the children can write Italian words. They become familiar with seeing the words, and writing them down, then saying the word-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 worksheets home daily.

The children hear Italian stories during each class, have group Italian time, and are asked to use their new Italian vocabulary words. Asking them to say them 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.

ENROLL TODAY!

Join us.

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

Call 408-343-9001.

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

Even though your child isn’t with us for custodial care all day, every day…at La Piccola Scuola, North Bay your child’s well-being is our top priority. We maintain a warm, nurturing environment while following thoughtful safety measures, including:

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

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!

A year-round program offering classes inspired by the Reggio Emilia approach, we nurture creativity, language, and early learning through Italian culture, art, music, and hands-on exploration.

Serving children in their PreK and Kindergarten readiness year, (and older school-age) with a focus on building the skills and confidence needed for a successful transition to full day pre-k, or kindergarten or first grade, depending on each child’s readiness.

Small groups

SATURDAY CLASS!

DROP IN CLASS AVAILABLE ON A LIMITED BASIS

PLEASE CALL US 48 hrs. in advance TO RESERVE.

MOMMY & ME ITALIAN CLASSES!

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

Ages 8 months-3 yrs!

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

DISCOUNT!!!

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

Call us now to enroll. Families who enroll before OCTOBER 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!

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

SOCIAL MEDIA

Facebook: La Piccola Scuola, North Bay and… Instagram: LaPiccola Scuola/bambini_allegri

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 we’ve started the accreditation process with the Western Association of Schools and Colleges (WASC) for our supplemental enrichment programming.

Schedule a tour today! Call 707-308-4367 or 408-343-9001/[email protected]:00 AM-NOON

Required Notic(PeADULT CLASSES!

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.

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, Ed.D (candidate-ABD), M.Ed. BA Education

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!

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

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 IN Italy and will be back with us in a few months! We are so happy for her!!!

DUAL LANGUAGE EDUCATION

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

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 class.

However, once you enroll-parents/guardians may visit at any time during Italian class. 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!

Please visit our supporters!

The North Bay Italian Cultural Foundation, https://nbicf.org

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 dance class, you have a recital, in Italian class, you have a language showcase done in many different 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 in heritage, culture and language and sense of belonging.

PROGRAM T SHIRT

At La Piccola Scuola, each child will wear a program t-shirt during class time spent with us. This simple and playful T shirt 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.
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 Class children (and enrichment guides!) will wear the shirt as well-this way we all belong!

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

At La Piccola Scuola, North Bay we celebrate the uniqueness of every child, family and enrichment 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.

OUR CORE VALUES DEI STATEMENT AND COMMITMENT TO OUR COMMUNITY

THANK YOU FOR VISITING.