Our School
About Sunnybeam School
Sunnybeam School is a play-based preschool on Mercer Island where young children are encouraged to explore, imagine, and grow within a close-knit, caring community. We believe early childhood should be a time of curiosity, connection, and joy — and that children learn best when they feel safe, known, and deeply engaged in their world.
Our classrooms are calm, welcoming spaces designed to support children’s natural development. Through play, meaningful relationships, and thoughtful guidance, we help children build confidence, resilience, and a strong foundation for future learning.
Click here to learn more about our program.
Our Approach to Learning
At Sunnybeam, play is not a break from learning — it is the learning. Children engage with open-ended materials, hands-on experiences, and rich social interactions that support growth across all areas of development.
Our teachers observe carefully, listen closely, and gently guide learning based on each child’s interests and readiness. This approach allows children to develop language, problem-solving skills, and social-emotional understanding in ways that feel natural and joyful, while also building the independence and focus they’ll need for kindergarten and beyond.
Click here to learn more about our curriculum.
A Strong Sense of Community
Community is at the heart of Sunnybeam. Families, teachers, and children form meaningful relationships that extend beyond the classroom, creating a warm and supportive environment where everyone feels they belong.
Children build lasting friendships as they learn and play together throughout the day, often continuing their time together through afternoon and after-school programs. Families value the connections they form with one another, and many describe Sunnybeam as a place where they feel genuinely known and supported during these important early years.
Our Teachers
The Sunnybeam teaching team is thoughtful, attentive, and deeply committed to early childhood education. Our educators approach their work with patience, curiosity, and an understanding that young children thrive when learning feels meaningful and supported.
Teachers take time to observe, listen, and respond to each child’s interests and developmental needs, guiding learning through play while fostering independence, confidence, and emotional growth. Strong partnerships with families allow teachers to support children consistently and intentionally throughout the year.
Families often remark on the steadiness and care our teachers bring to the classroom, and the way children feel truly known at Sunnybeam.
Click here to learn more about our amazing staff and parent volunteers.
Supporting Growing Independence
As children grow, we thoughtfully support their increasing independence, confidence, and readiness for the next stage of learning. Through consistent routines, collaborative problem-solving, and opportunities for choice and leadership, children gain skills that prepare them socially, emotionally, and academically for kindergarten.
Our goal is not to rush childhood, but to ensure that children leave Sunnybeam feeling capable, curious, and excited about learning.
Our Campus
Sunnybeam is housed in our historic red schoolhouse on Mercer Island, a familiar and cherished part of the community. Located near Pioneer Park, our campus offers children daily opportunities for outdoor play, exploration, and connection to the natural world.
The schoolhouse itself reflects the values we hold as a program — warmth, continuity, and a respect for childhood. For generations of families, Sunnybeam has been part of the rhythm of life on Mercer Island, and many see it as one of the community’s enduring traditions.
Our setting provides a sense of place and belonging that helps children feel grounded and at home, while giving families a meaningful connection to the island’s past and present.
Click here to learn more about our history.
Still looking to learn more? Our FAQ page answers many of the questions families often ask as they explore whether Sunnybeam is the right fit.