Montessori Children's House of the West Coast en San Francisco

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  Heidi Fung

  :: 20 May 2016 00:42:08

  Our 3 year old daughter attends Montessori Children’s House and we love it. From the minute we set foot in the classroom on the tour, we were very impressed. The classroom was so peaceful with all the children working independently or in groups. 3-5 year olds were gently taking work from the shelves, concentrating on projects, putting them away, observing others and cleaning up in such a gentle way. The teachers were engaged either demonstrating work, kindly guiding children or actively observing interactions between the children. MCH is an authentic Montessori school and a majority of the teachers have been there for over 18 years. The teachers are so passionate about what they do and are always beaming with warmth and joy when talking about their students. Within weeks of our daughter starting school, they knew her as well as we did. They were very kind in highlighting her strengths/uniqueness and things that she could work on, all while reassuring us that this is totally normal. When we asked, they gave us suggestions on how we could encourage her at home. One teacher has unlocked her inner artist and inspired her to make a 3D model from origami paper. Another teacher knows exactly how to motivate our daughter to try new things out of her comfort zone. Whenever our daughter overcomes a challenge or learns something new she always says she wants to proudly share it with the teacher. They have channelled her independence into helpful skills like pouring her own water, cleaning up before bedtime, putting on a coat when she’s cold, and designing her own activities. She also enjoys going to a different park each day on the yellow school bus. The faculty and staff are extremely communicative and compassionate. I was on bedrest for multiple months and our daughter went through some ups and downs. The director, teachers, parent community and staff made our family feel so loved and nurtured during that time. The community is truly diverse with families from all ethnic and social backgrounds. Parents are excited to be a part of school life and drop off / pick up is often the best part of my day. We love the 30 minutes every morning when parents can interact with their children in the classroom. My daughter loves sharing things she has been working on and exploring new things with us. It’s a great time to see the children and teachers in their element and a nice chance to catch up with other parents. They also have curbside drop-off (with the director of the school bringing children in from the cars) for days when you don’t have the time. Families come from all over the world (Finland, Russia, Spain, Korea, etc.) and my daughter often comes home talking about parent presentations on how to put on a kimono, opera, passover or the day of the dead. The children happily interact easily with adults and their peers and do so with grace, kindness, and curiosity about the world around them. We are lucky to be a part of this wonderful community.

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  Celeste Chung

  :: 26 April 2016 23:36:30

  We love MCH. All three of our children (2 boys and a girl) are very different but all three were excited to go to school every day. The head teachers are still enthusiastic after ~18 years each at MCH and very patient. Every month, they share their thoughtful curriculum based on the Montessori method and materials but also rich in culture, botany, zoology, geography, practical life, language, math, etc. The down to earth, diverse parent community share their traditions with the children to celebrate holidays (eg - Santa Lucia, Diwali, etc) or to tie-in with curriculum. This year, as the children learned about Asia, parents presented the traditional Korean dress or presented Holi, the Hindi spring celebration with music, dance, and colored string flying all over the classroom. Last week, my son proudly told me about the sushi he made and ate in school. Music is ever present at the school from weekly music classes, but also the constant singing about the continents, days of the week as well as fun and holiday songs. Our kids love getting on the big yellow school bus to park play. While there are many outings, our favorite school trip is the afternoon program to SF Symphony where all the instruments are presented in advance of the field trip. We have enjoyed the after school class offerings including gymnastics, soccer, playball, music, spanish. Overall, I was most impressed with the happiness and development of my children during those three years. They gained independence, close friendships and passion for learning. It was a kind, safe and nurturing environment for all of our children. When my children went through the kindergarten process and (and my oldest subsequently started k), they were well-prepared. We will miss the school and community tremendously as our younger ones graduate.

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  Kyle Kaufman

  :: 30 June 2015 13:51:08

  MCH has been a stellar, safe and supportive preschool with nourishing intellectual, physical and social stimulus for our daughter. We went to a dozen different preschools, applied to 7 or 8, and got accepted by 6. We chose MCH with no hesitation. The variety of activities, the great staff and teachers, the ample classroom, and above all, the gentle, busy hum of contented children going about their daily 'work' won us over. There is also a real community of parents and families here pitching in with volunteer and social activities. Our daughter is going into Kindergarten this fall, and thanks in no small part to MCH, both she, and our family, our ready.

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  Reeta Petajisto

  :: 21 May 2015 12:45:29

  I can't say enough good things about the MCH. The school maintains a high standard of education. The core strength of the school is its excellent curriculum and highly skilled teachers. The teachers are very knowledgeable about the Montessori Education, they are warm, loving and on top of every child's personality and development. Both of our kids have really thrived at the MCH and have gained a strong sense of independence, confidence and a joy for learning. The parent community is amazing and such an important part of the school as well; fun, warm, active and diverse group of people! I highly recommend touring the school to get a feel for it. The school is a hidden gem in San Francisco and we feel lucky to be part of it.

• en

  Conrad Herrmann

  :: 15 May 2015 15:36:57

  MCH has been a great preschool for our two kids. Experienced, sensitive teachers are its most important strength. A supportive, involved community makes the school a positive place for kids and parents alike.