Orkidz Preschool

Orkidz Preschool is a daycare in Albany, California, offering a play-based early childhood program for children ages 3 months to 5 years. The school maintains low teacher-to-student ratios: 1:4 for infants, 1:6 for toddlers, and 1:7 for preschoolers. It holds a rating of 5.00.

Orkidz grew out of the experiences of two parents, Mahta and Mehdi, who wanted to create the kind of school they wished had been available when their own children were young. Their vision was shaped by their journey as parents and their years of educational and professional work. The school is led by CEO Mahta Marashi, who has over 20 years in childcare; CFO Mehdi Shafiei, who brings a decade of childcare and business experience; and Faculty Director Sheila Khorasani, whose background is in early childhood development. Teachers include Nila Sattarijavad in the Starfish Classroom and Soussan Tajalli, a former teacher and director abroad, in the Dolphin Classroom.

The curriculum combines play-based learning with enrichment in music, dance, gardening, and regular outings to the park and library. Children work with watercolor paint, develop artistic skills, and take part in creating collages and mosaics. Nutritious meals and snacks are prepared each day with a focus on whole foods and healthy habits, including homemade lunches, and all of this is included in tuition. Families stay connected through ProCare, a childcare communication app that shares updates on meals, activities, and daily routines; parents can contact teachers through the app, and teachers send photos each day.

The preschool sits on Marin Avenue, about a tenth of a mile from Marin Elementary School. Solano Avenue is roughly two-tenths of a mile away, as are Ohlone Greenway and Terrace Park, and Codornices Creek is about three-tenths of a mile from the school.

Families who have sent their children to Orkidz describe the teachers as nurturing, attentive, and genuinely passionate about early childhood development, and note that daily updates, shared photos, and quick chats at pickup keep them informed. For a daycare in Albany, that combination of low ratios, a play-based curriculum, and a community shaped by parents and carried forward by its teachers is what the school is known for.