Riverside elementary schools break for summer in mid-June and don't take attendance again until mid-August — roughly nine weeks with no bell schedule and no built-in supervision. Sierra Preschool & After School runs full-day Summer programming on our La Sierra campus from 6:00 AM to 6:30 PM, so the summer gap is covered by the same building, the same teachers, and the same phone number your family already uses in February.
Key takeaways
- •Summer here is a full day, not a half day: 6:00 AM to 6:30 PM, Monday through Friday, the whole break.
- •One campus covers both ages — preschoolers and toddlers stay in their own program while school-age siblings join the summer schedule and for before and afterschool care.
- •Weekly themes, outdoor learning centers, water play, and enrichment classes replace the school-year routine rather than pausing it.
- •Home-cooked meals and snacks continue through summer, so you're not packing a cooler every morning.
- •Summer weeks fill from Spring onward — availability depends on your child's age group and preferred start week.
What does a summer day actually look like here?
Mornings start early and quietly — breakfast, then table work and outdoor time before the Inland Empire heat arrives. Midday moves indoors for themed projects, reading, and STEAM activities. Afternoons return outside for water play and the outdoor learning centers once the shade comes back around. Children go home tired in the good way, which is the Summer promise most parents are actually buying.
Can a preschooler and a school-age child both come?
Yes, and that's the part that changes a family's summer. Our campus is licensed for preschool, toddlers and school-age care, so an 18-month-old, a four-year-old, and a nine-year-old can all be dropped at one address in one trip. Each stays with their own age group and teachers during the day; you make one stop in the morning and one at pickup.
When should a Riverside family lock in summer?
Earlier than feels necessary. Families who wait until the last week of school are choosing from what's left, and the youngest age groups — where licensing ratios are tightest — go first. Spring is the comfortable window. If you're reading this in the middle of Summer, call anyway: mid-summer starts happen, and availability depends on the age group and the week you need.
Frequently asked questions
What ages does the summer program serve?
Our campus serves children from 18 months through age 12, so toddlers, preschoolers, and elementary-age children all have a place in summer. Children are grouped by age with their own teachers and their own daily routine.
Do we have to sign up for the whole summer?
No. Families use Summer differently — some need all nine weeks, some need the weeks between a family trip and the first day of school. Tell us the weeks you need and we'll tell you what's open for that age group.
Are meals included in summer?
Yes. Meals and snacks are prepared on-site during summer just as they are during the school year, so you're not packing lunch every morning.
Are you open on summer holidays?
We are open Monday through Friday all summer and close only for major federal holidays. School-district calendars don't change our schedule.
Tell us which weeks you need covered — call (951) 689-9492 and we'll walk you through what's open for your child's age group, or come see the campus on a weekday morning.