Advertisement
San Francisco, CA
Glen Park Montessori
|
Parents at this school would recommend this school to other parents. |
 |
Review this preschool |
neighborhood: Glen Park · Telephone: (415) 585-7701 · Website: http://20thStreet.Chester...
Home-School Connection
| OVERALL RATING (3.6) | 
|
| 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:
Director's Comments
New parent orientation/reception, parent yahoo group online, curriculum posted, bi-annual 'progress reports', whole school projects with homework assignments (home-made valentines, boats that float, mouse toys, bird houses, etc.) Parents join us on field trips: zoo, Muir Woods, Glen Park canyon, aquarium, pumpkin patch SF, and parent education nights re: Montessori curriculum.
Separation
| OVERALL RATING (3.6) |
|
Beginning of the year separation is handled through:
- Abbreviated schedule at start of school year
- Parents in classroom early on
- Extra staff dedicated to handle seperation
- Small group sessions
- Pre-entry meetings with parents at school
source:
Director's Comments
The number of visits scheduled for the child usually takes care of separation issues (if any). If child and/or parent needs more time we schedule parent presence in classroom on an individual basis.
Parents' Comments
Parent #1
There is a significant staff turnover at the school; there will be an all new staff in 2007. Perhaps as a result, there has been consistent difficulty in ensuring a certified teacher and aide are able to supervise the children (usually between 16 to 18). On many occasions, they have been in the care of only an aide. This has been a challenge since the beginning of this school year.
Parent #2
The director advertises parent education nights and parent-teacher conferences. We have never seen any of these since being at GPM. Sometimes they are even posted on our calendar, but they have never happened. When parents have expressed concern and desire for these promised things, the director says they'll happen in the future and that she ahs been too overwhelmed.
Parent #3
I don't think the director ever attempted to get to know our child and work with his strengths and personality...that would be too much effort on her part.
Parent #4
Communication is a particularly weak area for our school; no form of communication has proven effective for (or welcomed by) the director. The younger children are handled particularly poorly, in that there was little to no assistance with transitions. Though our child was particularly resilient, we witnessed many crying and ignored children and many parents actively asking for support while the one overwhelmed staff person continued to not assist. Perhaps contributing to this situation, children had no consistency in who would be their "teacher" (sometimes simply one aide they referred to as "teacher" - which is not in compliance with licensing).
Parent #5
There is a fairly active yahoo group for the school. Parents also get to kow each other over time and then have play dates and network with each other.
There is a fall parent meeting as well as a Winter Solstice Tea Party. There is a family picnic before the summer break.
Drop-ins are not encouraged unless you will be taking your child home with you. The children get very upset when parents drop in mid-day and then leave without them.
Parent #6
In the two years my child has been attending the school, I've only seen one child really lose it as far as separation goes. He was given space and after a few days blended in. Parents are free to come and go as they please.
Parent Community
| COHESIVENESS RATING (2.6) |
|
Parents:
- Fundraise
- Go on field trips
source:
Parents' Comments
Parent #1
Provide gifts to support school goals.
Parent #2
Volunteer during weekend to clean up/fix up school
Parent #3
We are on several commitees and help with cleaning days.
Parent #4
Clean Up days
Parent #5
Receive email communications; are required to commit to 25 hours of school work per year; are welcome to bring any issues up any time
Parent #6
Parents are asked to volunteer: maintenance, preparing snacks, organizing
Parent #7
We, like many other parents, regularly offer to volunteer but are not given the opportunity.
Parent #8
Does not meet and is discourage by director from having an e-mail group, though an informal one does exist anyway.
Parent #9
The director does everything in her power to discourage communtiy-building and open lines of communciation (such as a yahoo group)
Parent #10
Has minimal communication as director has actively discourage a parent community to develop (discouraging an e-mail group, coordinating know family events, family outings or parent educational workshops). She has actually tried to set parents against one another on numerous occasions.
Parent #11
There is one family event - a picnic in the summer.
Parent #12
Discourages all forms of parent communication (has tried to deismantle e-mail groups, reluctant to create rosters, etc) ... other than the family picnic in the summer.
Parent #13
Hold a yahoo group where information is shared and concerns addressed
Parent #14
Again, extremely poor communication between director and parents.
Parent #15
The development of the parent communtiy is feared and actively discouraged by the director. Any relationshipos that do exist, exist in spite of this.
Modes of Communication Between School and Home
- Notes
- Phone Calls
- Voice Mail
- Special Meetings
- Two or More Regular Conferences
- Drop-Off
- Pick-Up
source:
Parents' Comments
Parent #1
Extremely uncommunicative through any means.
Parent #2
Director is extremely unavailable and unresponsive to communication.
Parent #3
There are only two forms 'encouraged' and neither of these are responded to with any regularity.
Parent #4
'Emergency Meetings' with one or two days notcie are called frequently.
Parent #5
Extremely poor communication.
Parent #6
Bulletin board, and notes on sign-in log
Parent #7
Yahoo group
Advertisement
A Great Book Rhymes!
Kids are a funny bunch. They are often loath to change and anything new. But still, our little ones are open to so much -- and so much more than we more ossified parents are! Think of poetry: preschoolers happily read and repeat poems with ease and
Now in BeingSavvy, San Francisco
Baking Bread with a Toddler
As we enter into cooler weather, indoor pursuits beckon, and what could be better than baking with a toddler? I'm all over the "easy" way -- buy some pre-made dough, roll it out, and cookie cutter it to death
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.
Today's “Preschool’s Out” Activity
This game is a variation of '20 questions' and we played this with all four of our kids when they (read more)
| Comment (4) |  |
Take Our Expert Quiz
how is your toddler or preschooler progressing developmentally?
This Week's Poll
Off the Beaten Path
Plan fun activities to do in:
