In-Depth Preschool Ratings and Reviews for:

• All Cities
• Austin Preschools
• Berkeley & Oakland Preschools
• Boston Preschools
• Chicago Preschools
• Dallas Area Preschools
• Los Angeles (West LA) Preschools
• Los Angeles (San Gabriel Valley) Preschools
• NYC & Brooklyn Preschools
• San Diego North County Preschools
• San Francisco Preschools
• San Jose Preschools
• Seattle Preschools

San Francisco, CA
Chinese American International School

Parents at this school would recommend this school to other parents.

Review this preschool

neighborhood: Civic Center ·  Telephone: (415) 865-6000  · Website: www.cais.org

• Summary
• General Info
• School Philosophy
  & Day-in-the-Life
• Curriculum &
  Teaching Approach
• Quality of
  Teaching
• Home/School
  Connection
• Discipline,
  Health & Safety
• Ages, Schedule
  & Tuition
• Application &
  Admissions
• Kindergarten
  Placement&Tips

Home-School Connection

OVERALL RATING (4.1)
Conducts an open house at start of school year
Conducts a parent-teacher meeting at start of school year
Conducts regular parent teacher conferences
Provides summary of child’s learning at end of year
Provides guidance on developmental goals for the following year
Provides guidance on best Kindergarten and elementary schools

source:

Separation

OVERALL RATING (3.9)

Beginning of the year separation is handled through:

- Pre-entry meetings with parents at school

source:

Director's Comments

The teachers are very nurturing and well adept at handling separation anxiety on a case by case basis, from individual hand-holding to finding new friends for the children to finding activities to distract the children, as well as helping parents to handle this situation.

Parents' Comments

Parent #1
None of the preschool separation items applied to us--possibly some of them would have been available to us if we had needed them.

Parent #2
Warm community. Great teachers. Kids felt loved and cared for, comfortable even while spending half the day hearing a brand new and totally foreign language, Mandarin Chinese. Most kids continue at CAIS for K.

Parent #3
Most children in the Chinese American Int'l School (CAIS) preschool (pre-K) program continue on at CAIS. Children typically stay in the preschool program for 1 or 2 years before entering K. This is a challenging, full-day, bilingual experience; for children not used to lots of school or multiple languages, the school can be a big adjustment.

At the beginning of Pre-K, both of our children complained that the day at school was too long. (They were used to about 12-hours of school a week prior to CAIS.) The community is strong and involved as it includes the entire school (Pre-K - 8th grades); there are lots of outreach programs to get new families acclimated and involved. The administration hosts a parent meeting just before classes begin to go over routine details (start time, sing-in and out procedures, what to send with your child, etc.). Shortly after the beginning of the year, they hold a back-to-school night where both Chinese and English teachers discuss objectives, classroom activities, etc. The Pre-K and K teachers also hold a Montessori night during the school year to teach parents about this teaching philosophy which is used in the English classroom.

Over the summer there are usually some playground play dates arranged by 2nd time parents to give everyone a chance to meet and play. Shortly after school begins there is a PA sponsored school-wide picnic at a playground, and a new parents gathering, usually hosted at a CAIS family's home. There are lots and lots of parent volunteer opportunities at the school and in the classrooms, many of which are organized through the PA.

A micro-soccer team of CAIS pre-K kids is usually organized and coached by parents. A wide variety of after school enrichment classes are also available during the school year. Last year our 4-year-old leaned how to play Chess in such a class.

Parent #4
The school has clear and helpful guidelines about separation; when you say good bye, then you leave, rather than saying and not doing. It helped to establish a ritual, the lining up of kids at a certain time in the morning and to agree ahead of time on separation at the class room door. As long as we maintained all the steps to the good bye ritual (a hug, a kiss and holding hands until the class room door), it was fine.

Parent #5
They don't offer Kindergarten admissions advice because the program is pre-K through 8th grade.

Parent #6
This preschool does not handle separation well. It expects children to be ready to go to school every day without any separation anxiety.

Parent #7
The school did not really do anything for separation anxiety.

Parent Community

COHESIVENESS RATING (4.1)

Parents:

- Fundraise

- Are required to make donations ourselves

- Are able to visit the school anytime we want

- Receive newsletters

- Hold social events outside of the school (with and/or without children)

- Encourage play dates out of school

source:

Parents' Comments

Parent #1
There are many opportunities to volunteer. I've acted as a class liaison for the last 2 years and also actively participate in meeting prospective parents.

Parent #2
Donations are, as I understand it, encouraged though not mandatory.

Parent #3
Weekly e-mail and flyer updates on school activities.

Parent #4
Parents Association, PACouncil, other venues.

Parent #5
While we can visit the school anytime, it would be disruptive to my child and the classroom to come in anytime of the day.

Parent #6
Coach the soccer team.

Parent #7
Many other venues

Modes of Communication Between School and Home

Parents' Comments

Parent #1
I also had many opportunities to speak with the teachers in the morning or after school but avoiding the actual drop-off/pick-up periods where the teachers are busy.

Parent #2
Any which way you would like - at the parents' convenience.