Mama Maria's Garden

Our Teachers

Maria DeLuca - Director and Head Teacher

Hello! I am Maria, the founder of Mama Maria’s Garden. I have 15 years of experience working with young children. I worked as a Private Music Teacher for children of all ages.

The creative arts have always been a huge part of my life. I began playing music when I was two-years-old and continue to play professionally today. I have also produced award-winning theater and published books written and illustrated by children.

I was inspired to start my own school because it has always been my dream to design a space where children can blossom and grow in their own individual ways. I love using music, nature and art to allow children to explore, learn, and develop a sense of confidence in themselves, while also developing a sense of respect for others and their community. There is nothing I appreciate more than going home after a day when I have not only taught children, but when a child in turn, has also taught me.

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Philosophy

At Mama Maria’s Garden, we embrace the Reggio-Emilia approach, focusing on music, literature, and art to inspire children’s learning and growth. Our philosophy emphasizes that children discover and learn best by exploring their own unique interests and styles. We strive to create a safe and empowering environment where children can feel confident and capable, guided by their natural curiosity. In our program, children are encouraged to express themselves creatively and freely, both indoors and outdoors, allowing for endless opportunities for learning and self-expression. Come meet us at Bixby Park’s Adventure Area for Children to experience our approach firsthand! Click here to access a map of Bixby Park.

Location

Mama Maria’s Garden takes place in Bixby Park. Bixby Park has lovely facilities, tons of park benches, and tables where children can eat and cook. Even more exciting, we would be footsteps away from the beach which would make for wonderful nature, art, and literate exploration. There is plenty of parking, plenty of activities, and I would consistently provide supplies for all the children.

If your child is 2-5 years old, let them come laugh, learn, and love with us. We will explore literature, music, math, art and science together in Bixby Park.

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Admissions

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We encourage you to take your time to review our online materials, and then pick a date to meet us in person. We offer tours and open houses each month, so you have plenty of opportunities to learn more about our program and our values. Feel free to call or email us if you have any questions you’d like to address immediately.

Join the Mama Maria’s Garden community in four easy steps:

1. Explore our website

We’ve provided information about our philosophies and offerings to help you decide if our program may be right for your family.

2. Tour our program

Come see what makes Mama Maria’s Garden unique. If we are currently hosting tours/play dates, you can request or schedule a tour at the top of this page. If we are not currently hosting an already scheduled tour, you’ll see a “Request Info” button at the top of this page. If you submit your information using this button, we will notify you when we are able to host a tour that may better fit your schedule.

3. Submit an Enrollment Application

If you would like to enroll, please submit an application at www.wonderschool.com/mama-maria-s-educational-services-1220/apply – note that we require tours for all prospective families. Please do not submit an application if you have not visited the program.

4. Enroll

After reviewing your application, we’ll send an enrollment invitation. Upon accepting your invitation you’ll pay your enrollment fee, fill out enrollment documents and review our Parent Handbook.

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