Our Mission

Founded in 1975 by the San Diego Psychoanalytic Society and Institute, our school is named after famed psychoanalyst and educator, Dr. Hanna Fenichel. Our mission is to create a nurturing community that supports each child’s growing sense of self and innate passion for learning through purposeful experiences that foster strong social skills, inquiry, and discovery.

Our Vision for Children:

At Hanna, our hope for children is that they are:

• Filled with wonder, curiosity, and joy.

• Viewed as reflective thinkers, capable of big ideas and able to solve complex problems.

• Equal members of society who contribute opinions, feelings, and motivations.

• Provided environments where play and discovery are a priority and valued as a vehicle of great learning.

• Seen, heard, and respected as unique individuals with their own family values, cultural contexts, and traditions.

• Intentional learners who stumble, take risks, and push boundaries; all in the name of understanding the world around them.

• Collaborators, communicators, and creative thinkers.

• Generous friends filled with intense emotions navigating relationships and at their own pace.

Our Vision for Families

At Hanna, our hope for families is that they feel:

• Curious about and connected to children’s experiences, learning environments, and opportunities for growth.

• Empowered to act, engage and collaborate with parents, teachers, and children.

• Invited to share their perspectives and wonderings.

• Supported by educators who value parents as experts on their own child and are open to the knowledge that early childhood professionals can provide.

• Seen as more than just a child’s parent, but unique individuals with passions, opinions, cultural contexts, and careers.

• A trusted partnership and mutual respect for educators and other parents, allowing for their hopes and dreams to be expressed, heard, and considered.

• Young children are vital members of our larger community and are the vision makers of our present and future.