I am convinced that the one of the most important education that I can give my baby bean is foreign language education. So I did some research and found a French Mommy and Me class near our house. See you there!

Alliance Française de Los Angeles
French cultural and language center

10390 Santa Monica Boulevard, Suite #120
Los Angeles, CA 90025
310-652-0306

Classes they offer are:

1. Bebe Musique (newborn to 2 year old)
2. Mommy & Me / Petit a Petit (1 to 2 years old)
3. French Preschool (3 to 5 years old)
4. Mini-Groups (3 to 5 years old)
5. French for American Children (7 to 10 year old)

For pricing and class schedule, visit Alliance Française website.

Founded in 1983, Evergreen Community School opened its doors with four children enrolled and one teacher. In 1996, having outgrown its church setting, the school transitioned to an independent non-profit status, and the entity Evergreen Community School was born at their current Santa Monica location.

Evergreen uses a developmental curriculum based on the theories of Piaget, Erikson, Vygotsky and the Reggio Emilia approach. The curriculum is experiential and is designed to promote growth through play and exploration. Using age-appropriate materials and activities, children are assisted in building socialization skills while practicing the developmental tasks of trust, autonomy and initiative.

Evergreen program includes music, art, storytelling, science, woodworking, cooking and various other indoor and outdoor activities. The classrooms are designed to encourage independence. The environment provides a wide array of choices that foster autonomy while building self-esteem and a sense of responsibility.

Evergreen enrolls 60 children ages 2.5-5 years old.

Current hours and tuition are:

Monday – Thursday, 9:15 am – 1:30 pm; Friday, 9:00 am – Noon $12,000 September – Jun
Monday – Thursday, 9:00 am – 1:45 pm; Friday, 9:00 am – Noon $12,000 September – June
*Tenants of 2600/2700 Colorado Avenue have first priority providing the timely submission of child’s application and our ability to find an appropriate placement. Second priority is given to residents of Santa Monica.

Evergreen Community School is located at 2800 Colorado Avenue, Santa Monica, CA 90404
Phone: (310) 453-6255

Little Dolphins by the Sea may be the coolest preschool ever. My wife and i went on a walk today and stumbled on this place. They started as a co-op 17 years ago in a back yard in the Palisades and now they are in Santa Monica in a huge facility. Their website shows some of the things they do with kids and its awesome, very creative, and hands on, cooking and painting etc… awesome stuff. I will say this after looking at their prices i was a bit shocked, they are truly expensive…..

2008 – 09 Little Dolphins By The Sea Preschool Program – $12,900
2008 – 09 Little Dolphins By The Sea Transitional Kindergarten – $17,500

Little Dolphins by the Sea :
1812 Stanford Street
Santa Monica, CA 90404
(310) 998-0011

The Santa Monica Montessori School is a private elementary school established in 1960 as a fully accredited Montessori School and Teacher training Institute by Dr. Claude Claremont, an Associate of Dr. Maria Montessori.

They provide services for the following age groups:

Early Childhood (Ages 2-5)

The Santa Monica Montessori School’s early childhood program emphasizes learning through all five senses not just through listening, watching, and reading. This is an environment learn at their own individual pace and with their own choice of activities from numerous possibilities.

Elementary School Program (Ages 5-12)
Santa Monica Montessori School

The Santa Monica Montessori Elementary School Program (Ages 5-12) encourages children to see the relationship among all subjects and among all of life.

Secondary (Ages 12-18)
Santa Monica Montessori School

At the Secondary level the Montessori School Teacher remains focused on the individual needs of each student. There are no curriculum requirements except those set by the State or college entrance exam requirements similar to what you would find at any private school.

They promote the Montessori Teacher Training method.

Montessori Teacher Training requires a full commitment to the development of the child to help the child’s personality unfold. The teacher must seek to continually inspire the interest of the student as well as be ready to stand back when the child has become engaged in their own work.

Montessori Teacher Training requires a full year of graduate work for each of the following three age levels, and stages of development: birth to three years, three years to six years, and six years to twelve years.

For more information please visit the Santa Monica Montessori School web site.
For more general info on the Montessori method you can visit their web pages.

School Hours
7:30 AM through 6 PM extended day.
8:30 AM through 3 PM ¾ day.
8:30 AM through 12-noon 1/2 day.

I’ve found a great resource on how to find out if a school that says they are a Montessori school really is a Montessori school.

Anyone who is interested in finding or starting a Montessori school should be aware of the fact that the word Montessori, is not patented and anyone can use it. Thus, the use of the word Montessori is no assurance of quality. If you want to enroll your child in a Montessori school it is important that you learn what a Montessori school should be like, and then observe children working in the school you are considering.

In a good school there will be:

1. A certified Montessori-trained adult, the teacher and preferably also the administrator. The teacher or director will not be giving traditional group lessons, but will be implementing the progress of each child through individual lessons and record keeping.
2. A full range of tested and proven Montessori materials elegant, uncluttered environment.
3. Happy, kind children, busy on self-chosen, uninterrupted work.

There are many different kinds of Montessori teacher certification courses in the world today. Some schools are certified by a particular organization and only have teachers with that certification. Some schools have been known to call themselves Montessori schools even though they have no certified teachers. Parents must look carefully into this question.

Montessori schools are found in tiny church halls, large public school building, even homes. The physical environment is secondary to the natural ability, and the training of the adults.

There is a great need for certified Montessori teachers. Because of this shortage many Montessori schools have long waiting lists. Choose carefully; your child will be entering a second family.

A great place to start your search is to see if the school you are interested in appears here

You can also visit MONTESSORI SCHOOLS to get more info.

Hill & Dale Family Learning Center currently occupies two campuses. The Learning Center in Clover Park houses the My Family and Me program as well as the Infant and Toddler Programs. The Pre-K program is run out of the Discovery Center in the Colorado place office park known as Yahoo Center. They are a full service childcare and family educational facility catering to the needs of the working family. They are open from 7:00am to 6:00pm, Monday through Friday with hot lunch and snacks provided at both locations from an on-site nutritionist. The center is typically closed only 15-21 days per year for most major holidays including a winter and spring break.

View a sample of their yearly curriculum. (click here)

A non-refundable enrollment fee of $300.00 is due when your child is accepted into the program at Hill & Dale Family Learning Center. A last month’s deposit is also required prior to your child starting in the program. They do not have a Tuition Reduction Program (TRP) for qualifying families. To apply for this program you must have a combined household income of $75,000 or less and be a Santa Monica Resident. TRPs are granted to families on a sliding scale based on the information provided to the program committee and the program funds available. Forms are available from the Center Office. Please apply for TRP when you apply for enrollment.

Visit their web site.

Tuitions and Fees: July 2008-June 2009

For more than 23 years the Growing Place has committed to providing the young children of working families with an exceptional quality, year round education program. We are a learning community sustained by a close Collaboration of parents, teachers, and students.

The Growing Place at Ocean Park
401 Ashland Ave.
Santa Monica, CA 90405
(310) 399-7769
(310) 399-6560 (fax)

2.5 – 5 years old
OceanPark@growinglace.com
Hours: 7:30AM to 6:00PM Monday-Friday
License # 191671677

Please check back on Sept. 5th for the next prospective parent tour dates.

Families are admitted from a waiting pool taking into consideration siblings currently enrolled, a balance of age, gender, economic and ethnic diversity.

Generally, most openings for 2.5 to early 3 year olds occur in September and only a few spaces open up in July for 3.5 year olds. Vacancies are made available when children move on to kindergarten.

The Ocean Park site is made up of three classrooms, The Sun Room, the Moon and the Star Room. Each class is made up of 24-27 students, with three full-time teachers and one full-time assistant. The teacher to student ratio is 1:8 in the Sun Room and 1:9 in the upper two rooms.

Tuition as of September 2007:

* $1100/month
* There is also a non-refundable $1000 enrollment fee per child due upon enrollment.
* Tuition assistance (partial only) may be available to families who qualify. Request a separate application and submit with a current income tax filing at the time of application. Space permitting we accept children receiving assistance from Connections for Children.
* There is an annual materials and snack fee of $200.
* Rates are subject to change. Next rate change September 2008.

The Growing Place at Marine Park
1406 Marine St.
Santa Monica, CA 90405
(310) 392-9737

(310) 396-8327(fax)
3 months – 5 years old
MarinePark@growinglace.com
1406 Marine St. Santa Monica, CA 90405

(310) 392-9737

(310) 396-8327(fax)
Hours: 7:00AM to 6:00PM Monday-Friday
License #
- Infant- 197107721
- Toddler- 197407720

Please check back on Sept. 5th for the next prospective parent tour dates.

Children are admitted using a priority system because the City of Santa Monica generously funds part of the program to provide infant care and services to low income Santa Monica residents. Children of City of Santa Monica employees get first priority, then siblings of current students, and finally all Santa Monica residents get third priority.

Tuition assistance (partial only) may be available to families who qualify. Request a separate application and submit with a current income tax filing at the time of application. Space permitting we accept children receiving assistance from Connections for Children.

The Marine Park site is made up of three classrooms, The Infant Room, the Toddler Room and the Preschool Room. There are 12 children in the Infant Room, ages 3 months to 2 years. The student to teacher ratio is 3:1. The Toddler Room has 19 children, ages 2 to 3.5 years, and the ratio is 6:1. The Preschool Room has 21 children, ages 3.5 to 5 years, and the ratio is 9:1.

Tuition effective September 2007:

* Infant Room: $1375/month
* Toddler Room: $1145/month
* Preschool: $1100/month
* There is also a non-refundable $1000 enrollment fee per child due upon enrollment.
* Tuition assistance and scholarship may be available to families who qualify.
* There is an annual materials and snack fee of $200.
* Rates are subject to change. Next rate change September 2008.

Check out their web site.

The First School opened in 1975 with one small group of three and four year olds. Founder Ellie Spezell had a vision of the most effective approach to educating young children, and she based The First School program upon a careful understanding of child development.

The First School curriculum progresses from nurturing a child’s emerging autonomy to promoting initiative and accomplishment. Our teachers focus on facilitating problem solving, encouraging creativity, providing developmentallly appropriate activities, and promoting social skill.

They have 3 locations in Santa Monica.

1733 Ocean Park, Santa Monica 90405

1810 Broadway Street, Santa Monica 90404

731 Pine Street, Santa Monica 90405

They also have a cultural exchange. A new international exchange program developed with preschools in Japan. Each year, selected teachers from The First School go to Japan for ten days to visit preschools and study the Japanese educational system. In exchange, preschool teachers from Japan will come to The First School each year to learn about American preschools. The program provides hands-on experience of Japanese culture for not only teachers, but also children.

Read more check out their website

If you have questions about programs or would like to schedule a tour, please call them at 310.452.0095.

Gan Israel opened their doors in 1996. They started with very limited space, but quickly became a popular Westside preschool. Due to state regulations governing maximum numbers of students permitted, they had to turn away many families who applied to the preschool and summer camp.

With a strong base of community support, they began a capital campaign to build a larger preschool, to facilitate the growth. In February 2007, They opened the magnificent new building, a state-of-the-art center.

The Gan Israel Philosophy:

Your child is a precious gift to you — and to the world. At Gan Israel, we offer a warm, creative, loving environment – a home away from home – where each child can spend the days playing, learning, exploring, and growing. Each child’s specialness is valued and nurtured. At Gan Israel, the very best concepts of early childhood education and the beauty of our Jewish tradition are integrated into a meaningful, exciting, and enriching experience. Learning and playing are self-rewarding, joyous, and non-competitive. Your child will be encouraged to grow in independence, creativity, self-esteem, self-control, and self-confidence.

The Gan Israel curriculum is planned with the awareness that children learn best by doing. The program activities are therefore designed to help children learn more about the world, their heritage and their values through hands-on activities and active involvement.

If you want some more info please take a look at their site.

Bright Start Learning Center is a full-day preschool program, serving children ages 2-5. Hours of operation are Monday-Friday 7:30-6:00. The center’s philosophy is understanding that young children experience the world and begin learning through their play. Noted developmental psychologist Jean Piaget stated “Every time we teach a child something, we keep him from inventing it himself… that which we allow him to discover by himself will remain with him.”

“At Bright Start we are building the foundation for later learning by allowing children the time and opportunity to play and discover the world around them. We are constantly working to create an atmosphere of childhood self-discovery, personal independence and individual uniqueness. Every day we promote feelings of self-worth and positive self-esteem, joy in creating and learning, respect of other people, plants and animals.” Bright Start Learning Center.

Programming

Bright Start is a child-centered rather than an adult directed program. The program is based on sound principles of child development and early childhood education. The significance of child-centeredness is that the children, and their development and individual needs, provide the basis for planning the daily program, for scheduling, and for the content of the curriculum. Each month we have a theme in which we base the month’s activities upon. The theme will be taken into account when planning art projects, dramatic play, story time and all other aspects of the daily program. A monthly calendar of activities will be given to the parents each month. This calendar will show one planed activity for every day, but it must be understood that many activities are occurring every day, but they are coming from the children. As the staff plans for children, the following are among the considerations:

1. The status of the individual child’s growth and development
2. The general developmental level of each group of children
3. The interests of individual children and of children in this age group
4. The material and equipment available in the classroom and outdoors
5. Upcoming holidays and special events, and their significance to the children and their families
6. The season of the year, prevailing weather conditions, and how these affect children
7. The mood of the children on a given day
8. The activity level of the children during various seasons and at different times of the day
9. Skills and special interests of the staff
10. Available community resources
11. Special concerns of and goals that parents have for their children
12. Skills children will need for success in later school experiences.

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