Starmaker School | Trusted Play-Based Preschool in California, MD
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Pre-Primary Program Enrollment at Starmaker
Ages Served:
Starmaker Learning Center welcomes infants as young as 6 weeks through elementary students aged 9. Our Summer Camp serves young learners from ages 5 through 13 years.
Full-Time and Part-Time Options:
Scheduling options vary by Program and current availability. Our team will help you explore the schedule that works best for your child and your family.
Potty Training Requirements:
Potty training expectations vary based on your child’s age and Program. Our teachers work closely with families to make transitions feel positive, patient, and manageable.
Curriculum Focus:
Our play-based curriculum gives your child the freedom to explore, create, move, ask questions, and learn through meaningful experiences. Daily activities support language, early literacy, math, science, creativity, physical development, independence, problem-solving, and social and emotional growth.
When Should I Enroll:
Families are encouraged to contact us as early as possible because availability can vary throughout the year. Reaching out early gives you time to tour the school, ask questions, and help your little one become familiar with their new environment before their first day.
How Do I Start:
Schedule a personal tour of our California, Maryland Campus to meet our teachers, explore our classrooms, walk through our outdoor spaces, and learn which Program best supports your child.
What Makes Starmaker a Trusted Learning Center in California, MD
Choosing an early learning center in California, MD, means deciding who will care for your child, encourage their growing personality, and guide some of their earliest experiences away from home. We understand the weight of that decision, and we never take your family’s trust for granted. Since 1994, Starmaker Learning Center has welcomed families into a warm, relationship-centered community where your child can learn through purposeful play. Rather than rushing your little one into formal academics before they are ready, our teachers create opportunities to investigate, imagine, build, talk, move, and solve problems. These experiences help new skills grow naturally while keeping curiosity and joy at the center of the day. Our School Leader, Haley Mitchell, brings more than 10 years of early childhood education experience to Starmaker School. Her approach centers on the simple belief that your child learns best when they feel safe enough to explore, comfortable enough to ask questions, and supported enough to try something new.
What Sets the Starmaker Experience Apart
Every part of the Starmaker experience has been shaped around what your child and your family need during these important years.
Learning happens through purposeful play
Your child develops language, early academic skills, creativity, coordination, and confidence through experiences that feel engaging and meaningful.
Relationships come first
Teachers take time to understand your little one’s personality, interests, routines, strengths, and changing needs.
Your infant receives personalized attention
A 1:3 staff-to-student ratio in our Infant/Toddler Program allows teachers to offer responsive care and closely support your baby’s development.
Our school & teachers meet Maryland licensing requirements
Our Primary and Kindergarten/Elementary Programs are approved by the Maryland State Department of Education, while our Infant/Toddler, Pre-Primary, and Homework Center Programs are licensed through the Maryland State Department of Education Office of Child Care. Our teachers meet Maryland training and licensing requirements and receive preparation in health, safety, classroom practices, and your child’s development.
The campus brings learning into nature
A peaceful woodland setting, nature trails, and a large outdoor play area give your child regular opportunities to move, investigate, and enjoy fresh air.
Families remain part of the experience
Daily conversations, the Procare app, monthly newsletters, and regular check-ins help you understand how your child spends their day.
Each Program supports the whole child
Classroom experiences strengthen academic, physical, creative, social, emotional, and practical skills without losing the joy of childhood.
Our Early Learning Programs in California, MD
Parent Reviews
Matthew L.
February 14, 2025
They have these two girls Michaela brown and mykaya weisnforth that are just amazing they engage with kids and the girl that runs the place Taylor I think her name is she is wonderful and also very engaging to ppl and kids and staff
Olivia K.
February 5, 2025
The teachers are amazing!
Jennifer G.
February 5, 2025
My daughter has been at Starmaker for almost three years. Communication with her teachers is always quick and easy. I get pictures of her throughout the day and updates through the app. I feel like she is in a safe and enriching environment. I love that she is exposed to music and learning some Spanish. Highly recommend.
Brandon C.
February 5, 2025
We love the small classroom size, the focus on independent play and the attentiveness of the teachers. Starmaker provides everything we were looking for in a daycare.
Jenna A.
February 4, 2025
Ms. Kayla and Ms. Faith both do so much to help our daughter to learn and grow in such a fun and caring environment. We never have to worry about her while she is at school because we know she is in great hands. She is always excited to get there and see her teachers and friends and she is learning SO much. Colors, numbers, Spanish, sign language, different instruments, she learns something new each day. She loves her school!
Sarah K.
February 3, 2025
The curriculum and the partnership between parents and teachers are great. Mrs. Kay communicates really well, and I feel safe and comfortable having my daughter at Starmaker.
Adam C.
January 24, 2025
This was our second daycare in the area and the move was the right choice. My child gets to learn more than just the basics and explore his interests in science and Spanish. The teaching staff is incredible and have fostered an environment that encourages learning and have worked with him on his emotional development.
Verioska T.
January 24, 2025
Our growing family was very excited about Starmaker as soon as we had our first tour with Ms. Haley. Our toddler is in pre-primary 1 with Ms. Michaela and she just loves going to school. It is very easy to communicate with teachers and staff if changes occur or if receiving updates from our little one throughout the day on Procare app. Ms. Michaela is an amazing teacher who helps her little students stay stimulated with activities and outdoor time. She and Ms. Chanice are great providers who helped our little one with potty training, and that is such a HUGE help especially with an infant at home. We are excited to bring our second baby to start at Starmaker at the end of January with Ms. K! Thank you to all the wonderful staff for all your support in our parenthood journey!
Kendra J.
October 30, 2024
We love Ms. K. She takes great care of my 3 month old! I was super nervous about leaving him for daycare, but he LOVES her and we are sent updates all throughout the day to remind us he’s doing great and keep us informed with his activities.
Michael W.
July 2, 2024
The teachers are great and really care. The app is great for communication. Lots of events for parents and kids. It’s really a great environment
Visit Our Learning Center in California, MD
Starmaker Learning Center is located at 23443 Cottonwood Parkway in California, Maryland, within the peaceful surroundings of Wildewood Technology Park. Families from St. Mary’s County in Southern Maryland choose our school for its welcoming atmosphere, experienced team, and commitment to play-based education. Our woodland setting gives your child the chance to notice the world beyond the classroom. Inside, classrooms offer clear spaces for small-group learning, imaginative play, books, art, building, music, movement, and quiet exploration. Come walk through our school, meet the people who will know your child by name, and see how an ordinary day at Starmaker can become a meaningful part of your little one’s story.
Frequently Asked Questions About Our Pre-Primary Program in California, MD
How does play-based learning support kindergarten readiness?
Play gives your child meaningful reasons to communicate, count, create, negotiate, remember, and solve problems. A building activity can introduce balance and measurement, while imaginative play supports language and cooperation. Art strengthens fine motor control, and group games help your preschooler listen, wait, and follow directions. The American Academy of Pediatrics reports that developmentally appropriate play can support social and emotional development, language, cognition, self-regulation, and executive function. At Starmaker, our teachers thoughtfully guide these experiences so your child enjoys learning while building the skills needed for kindergarten.
What does a typical day at Starmaker look like?
The exact routine changes by age, but each day follows a familiar rhythm that helps your child feel secure. A typical day may include arrival and choice time, a group gathering, small-group experiences, outdoor play, meals and snacks, rest, music, movement, creative activities, and time to explore classroom interest areas. Our teachers balance planned learning experiences with opportunities for your child to follow an interest, make a choice, or spend more time working through an idea. This approach keeps the day organized without making it feel rigid.
How do you support health and safety?
All of our teachers meet Maryland licensing requirements and complete required background checks. Team members also receive CPR and First Aid training so they are prepared to respond when your child needs support. Safety also grows through consistent routines, active supervision, careful classroom organization, and open communication with your family. Before enrollment, our team will answer your questions, discuss your child’s needs, and explain how daily procedures work.
Does my child spend time outdoors?
Outdoor play is an important part of the Starmaker experience. Our large outdoor area and woodland nature trails give your child space to run, climb, observe, imagine, and investigate the natural world. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention explains that regular movement supports attention, memory, muscular fitness, bone strength, and overall health.
How will I know what my child does during the day?
You should never feel disconnected from such an important part of your child’s life. Our teachers communicate with families through daily conversations and the Procare app, while monthly newsletters and regular check-ins keep you informed about classroom experiences, development, and upcoming events. Our partnership begins before your child’s first day. Our team takes time to learn about your family, answer your concerns, and discuss anything that could make the transition easier for your little one. Responsive partnerships between families and teachers create the consistency that helps your child feel secure, understood, and ready to learn.
Schedule a Tour
We would love to welcome your family to Starmaker Learning Center and show you what makes our school feel so peaceful, personal, and full of possibility. During your visit, you can explore our classrooms, meet our caring teachers, walk through our outdoor spaces, and learn how each Program supports your child through play, relationships, and hands-on discovery.
Call (301) 863-7740 or email [email protected] to schedule your personal tour. Our team will answer your questions, discuss current availability, and help you take the next step toward joining the Starmaker community.
Location: 23443 Cottonwood Parkway, California , MD 20619 Phone: 301-863-7740