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Our Teachers
Vasi Thathiah, Director
Miss Vasi graduated with a BA in early childhood pedagogy in South Africa, then moved to the US and trained in the Montessori system under Dr. Ursula Trush at the Maria Montessori School and Teacher Training Center in San Francisco. Miss Vasi worked as a child educator since 1985 (more than 38 years). In 1987 Miss Vasi started her program which cared for more than one thousand children to date. Teachers at the center have been on staff for an average of 15-20 years.
Testimonials
Our 7-1/2 year old daughter Lucy is warm, engaging, funny, bright, motivated, curious and eager to learn. We truly believe a big part of who she has become is the direct result of her attending the Montessori School of San Francisco from age 3-months to 5-years old. The care, the teaching, the warmth and love that Lucy felt and experienced during her time there will benefit her for a lifetime. Our family is grateful for this truly special pre-school and recommend it as highly as possible. Damian and Steve (Parents of Lucy)
Our daughter has been at Montessori of SF for almost two years. We transitioned her quickly at the age of 13 months after a big disappointment with our nanny. She loves coming to “school” and is thriving in terms of development. She comes home with new skills,’interests and words every day. Her social skills are blossoming. Ms Vasi and all the teachers are friendly, warm and very attentive to my daughter’s needs and supportive of our family. They have helped us through potty training, tantrums, a move, arrival of a new sibling- always with the utmost patience, experience and a tailored approach based on my daughters personality and developmental stage. They have taught me a lot about parenting and how to best work with my toddler ! Above all, It is clear to me that Ms Vasi and the teachers cherish my daughter for who she is and recognize her potential and to me that it is the most important thing that an educator can do to support a child’s development! CW
My daughter was one of the first babies, in the infant program . She is now in her 2nd semester of college at St. Mary’s College in Moraga, on a academic scholarship. She has had a thirst for learning and the school environment her entire life. My son who is now 21 also attended pre school here, and thrived. He was born 3 month premature and grew by leaps and bounds once he started this program. Ms. Vasi was a friend and mentor to me. My husband and I still talk about how lucky we were, to find this school. The fact that Stella and Martha are still here, speaks volumes. TM
Our son was in the loving care of the wonderful teachers at Montessori School of SF from 4 months until he went off to kindergarten this year. WE, as new parents, were also cared for by the staff, including lots of feedback on our son’s progress, tips on sleep and potty training, etc. - which was fantastic as we had no local family to give us pointers! Our son was completely prepared for kindergarten (what a wonderful job Ms. Martha does!), and we are all still friends with many of the families we met through the school. I would highly recommend the school, Ms. Vasi, and all the teachers. The individualized attention is fantastic, the classrooms are clean and orderly, and the academics for the older children truly prepare your child. KO
My daughter has been going to this school since she was 2. She is now 3.5 and our entire family is in love with this school! The entire staff is completely amazing. They have really been like a second family for us. Every day I pick up my daughter, she, as well as all of the other kids, are so happy and I always see the staff being kind and using encouraging words. Since my daughter started there, her skills went through the roof. I have always been thrilled with what she has learned at her age. I’ve also witnessed all of the older children (4 and up) reading with ease and even doing math problems. This is such a wonderful school and our family couldn’t have made a better decision! SD
We are very happy with the care & teachings provided by the Montessori school. Both my infant son and 4 year old were warmly welcomed and quickly adapted to their new environment. The teachers are loving and great educators (a particular shout out to the 3 women caring for the teeny tiny babies), the parent community is very involved and Mrs Vasi is an extremely dedicated professional who makes everyone (both children & parents) feel special. EP
Philosophy
Our philosophy is based upon Dr. Maria Montessori’s vast understanding of children and their natural tendencies to explore and become independent.
Montessori is an approach to working with children that is carefully based on what has been learned about children’s cognitive, neurological and emotional development. In early childhood, Montessori students learn through sensory-motor activities, as well as working with materials that develop their cognitive skills through direct experience: seeing, hearing, tasting, smelling, touching, and movement.
Children are innately curious about the world around them, and the classroom is a place where the child is able to move freely and choose from a multitude of fascinating materials to interact with, in a peaceful and serene atmosphere. Dr. Maria Montessori believed that all children are unique and learn at their own pace. Children should always have the opportunity to advance and develop according to their pace. Maria Montessori believed that instead of forcefully teaching a child, teachers should instead become “directors” and “quietly follow the child” to understand what interests the child and where their strengths and weaknesses lie. By observing the child carefully, our teachers are able to create learning experiences and cater a curriculum based on the individual child to encourage real learning and growth, giving children the ability to be active participants in their educational journey.
At Montessori of the Bay Area, each child progresses at his or her own pace – free to choose from work with a world of vivid “sensorial” materials and tools of “discovery.” Our dedicated staff encourages independent thinking and individual learning. We work toward the enhancement of each child’s awareness of and participation in the “wholeness of life.” Our teaching method is based on respect of the individual child and their timetable for growth and development.
Each day we strive to:
- Awaken a love of learning, a passion for knowledge, and a joy of creativity in each student.
- Provide a peaceful, secure, prepared environment where children long to be.
- Help children discover their abilities, find their independence and develop their self confidence.
- Foster a strong sense of self, respect for others and an ability to work as part of a group.
- Develop a strong academic foundation and a repertoire of life skills in each of our students.
- Create and provide programs which will heighten a child’s development through the processes of exploration and discovery with concrete materials, while nurturing a natural curiosity and a love of learning.
- Provide a reliable source of care, support, information and training for families.
About our program
Montessori School of the Bay Area - San Francisco is a premier child care center enriching the lives of young children. Our center is open year round and offers programs for Infants, Toddlers and Preschoolers. Here at Montessori of the Bay Area, we provide children a great learning experience in a fun, safe, and friendly environment.
Our unique program combines both the traditional Montessori method and preschool academia which are combined in order to provide a well balanced early childhood education.
Admissions
We are thrilled that you are interested in learning more about our school! Our admissions process is designed to be simple and easy to navigate. To get started, please visit our website (https://www.montessorisf.org) to find all the information you need about admissions, including how to apply and our application requirements. If you have any questions or concerns, please don’t hesitate to reach out to us. We are always happy to assist you in any way we can. Thank you for considering the Montessori School of San Francisco, and we look forward to hearing from you!