San Francisco, CA
Cow Hollow School

Discipline

OVERALL RATING (4.8)

Parents at this school, on average, believe that conflicts between children:
...are handled extraordinarily well in a way that not only gives me confidence in the safety of my child but also reassures me that my child (and his/her peers) are learning the early skills needed to socialize effectively with one another

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Director's Description to School's Approach to Discipline

At the root of our guidance strategies rest the belief that all children are competent and capable learners. All children have a right to care-giving and learning experiences that develop a sense of belonging, usefulness, influence, competence and respect. The parents and teachers will guide children to safe learning and relationships through the use of learner empowerment strategies, positive guidance strategies, redirection, scaffolding, logical consequences and trust.

Director's Response to a Sample Discipline Scenario

Description of how teachers handle the following scenario: Child A and Child B are good friends and usually play together. One day, Child A decides to play with Child C and tells Child B, 'I don't want to play with you today. I'm playing with Child C instead.'


A teacher or teaching parent would encourage Child B to tell Child A how that made him/her feel, and then facilitate respectful language between the two children. The teacher or parent would make sure that Child A addressed Child B's feelings, and find creative ways to work out solutions, with the children's help.

Parents' Notes on Discipline, Health and Safety

Parent #1
Currently Cow Hollow has very limited outside space. (Savvy Source Comment: refers to old location and no longer applies)

Parent #2
The classroom is very thoughtfully laid out and stimulating for the children. We do not have an outside play structure but we do have a beautiful courtyard with flowers and an apple tree. In the courtyard there are balls, streamers, chalk, bubbles, water station, outside planting projects etc. (Savvy Source Comment: this comment refers to old location and no longer applies) Also, we have a very large indoor open room (The Great Room) where the children have either a music specialist or a tumbling class each of which happens once a week.

Parent #3
The school has very little outdoor space and tries to make do with this limitation. As a result there are no climbing structures, tricycles or other toys to better enhance gross motor skills. We hope the school finds more space in the near future. (Savvy Source Comment: these comments refer to the old location and no longer apply.)

Parent #4
They are in the process of building a brandnew school. The facilities will be spectacular, but since they haven't openned yet I chose not to comment yet.

Parent #5
We are moving to a renovated building in the Presidio this year! It will be beautiful!

Parent #6
Cow Hollow School is now in a beautiful building in the Presidio. It is absolutely warm and inviting.

Parent #7
Sometimes I have wished the teachers would actually be firmer in disciplining children in certain situations instead of so carefully talking it out. Occasionally I have felt the 'talking it out' approach, with certain issues such as hitting between children, etc. doesn't make a big enough impact with the children doing the hitting.

Parent #8
CHS is located in the heart of the Presidio near the YMCA. As a result, children often go on walks with their teachers/parents through the Presidio, as far as Crissy Field and often just around the nearby "woods" as the children call it. Our child calls it the "school in the forest." Being at a school in the midst of a national park has provoked the children's curiosity in the world around them. The children have grown a vibrant vegetable and flower garden, have done projects on everything from water conservation to learning about skunks and the like. The school is great about bringing the classroom into nature and nature into the classroom.

Health

OVERALL RATING (4.9)
Temperature and overall air circulation is comfortable
Healthy and nutritious snacks are provided More >
Toys and furniture are cleaned regularly

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Safety

OVERALL RATING (4.9)
Screen and identify all visitors
Parents may not bring sick children to school where they may infect others

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Montessori? Waldorf? Play-based?

What school type is right for your child? Is one model better than another? What does the research say?

View an example from the Savvy Source guide to learn more.

Trace around your child's foot, with shoe on, on a piece of white construction paper or card stock. Have child cut out the shoe print and add a spooky face. Glue it to a popsicle stick and you have a ghost stick puppet!

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