Mountain Boulevard Montessori

Most Recent Comments

• March 2023 by James S.
  Our son attended in 2021 and 2022 and we couldn't be happier with the decision. The staff was always warm and welcoming and most importantly our little one loved attending every day. His teachers were amazing and he made tremendous educational progress in his time here. I would definitely recommend to anyone looking for a great child development learning center.
• July 2022 by Guo D.
  we spent one wonderful year with our 4-year-old girl at the school and really enjoyed the experience and the progress she has made. We speak Mandarin only at home so she didn't speak English at all when went to school the first day, and we have worried that if she can get used to it and like it. surprisingly she did very well even in the first week and managed to communicate with others in Mandarin. There is a Mandarin and Spanish teacher in the school, so she learned three languages all together. After a few months, her English is good enough to teach grandma at home! Besides languages, we are also very happy to see she learned a lot of songs and games which she shows us all the time! While I'm typing, she is looking at my phone and saying she loves her teachers and asks me to say those to the school : I love you! -Lilo
• April 2022 by T K.
  We had our son here for one year before he went to kindergarten and we couldn't recommend it more. Everyone was friendly, detailed and our son loved going to school everyday. He was also very well prepared, if not, ahead of where he needed to be for kindergarten. Again, we love ourselves some Mountain Boulevard Montessori and couldn't recommend it highly enough! - T
• February 2022 by Stephen Y.
  Having been involved with two other Montessori Schools in the past and another preschool, I assisted at Mountain Boulevard Montessori School this past year in preparation for entering the educational field as a teacher in the elementary classroom. I have also worked 40 hour weeks at Lawrence Hall of Science Summer Science Camps for age 3-7, as well as 40 hour weeks at LHS teaching coding camps for junior high and high school, instructed classroom workshops at Chabot Science Center, taught 6th grade science camps in San Bernardino county, tutored in schools, and worked with Upward Bound students in math. I have also worked extensively for five years with developmentally disabled adults' day program, so have seen a variety of environments and populations of generating full life meaning and fulfillment and completion. I am passionate about helping all kids reaching their greatest potential - from pre-natal to natal and all the way up to high school and beyond - it is my greatest passion. I feel honored to provide this review having taught in many educational environments and finding this the best experience across decades of involvement with children's summer camps and science-oriented education. This place rocked the boat - they are so far superior in meeting the needs of children and placing them ahead on track to be well-rounded fast-track living beings - academic, interpersonal, good citizens who are well-adjusted interpersonally. I found this Montessori School to be kind, loving, attentive, and clear in their expectations and guidance of their students to excel academically, socially, and emotionally. The staff are devoted, experienced and knowledgeable - paying close attention to the developmental level and care of each student. The directors stand out with their years of experience and excellent instruction and adherence to the highest standards of Maria Montessori. The hands-on leader and director has 40 students, and she can rattle off the exact age and months of each child, their family situation (siblings, parents, home environment) - their level of development - cognitive, linguistic, emotional, their each special personality, talents, strengths, challenges, happiness and joy - - Her love of children is so suffused in her 40 years experience in guiding and instructive growth of providing structure and growth of all the kids on an individualized basis. I was REALLY IMPRESSED with her dedication, hard work, preparation, INDIVIDUALIZED treatment and knowing how and when to be firm and leading and when to be soft and yielding and empathetic. She is a wunderkind with great natural talent and it shows in her every day considerations of each child individually. This place was so exemplary and there was no comparison with the other three preschool Montessori and day care centers I spent many months with in the past. They were so much a level above. The staff are all dedicated and effective with leading the little ones, "friends" in moral role-model, and firm loving instruction and guidance socially, emotionally, interpersonally, behavior for success and life. I really can't recommend them enough. Along with modern attentions such as instruction in computer usage and language skills in Mandarin and Spanish, they included excellent curriculum in their music and movement class. I highly recommend this school to any child - And would be glad to discuss in more detail with any parent - to explain why I feel the way I do with the leadership of the director in the program and the program itself and the staff strengths and leadership. Can leave a comment on my review and I will be glad to respond and articulate and connect and flush out testimony and praise the structure and direction of the program by the strengths of the staff and environment in detail for any questions. Thank you. Steve.
• July 2021 by Mallory R.
  I will try my best to express in words how much I love this school. We had had our daughter in another childcare program prior to entering Mountain Boulevard Montessori, and we were looking for something that would be enriching and promote a love of learning. I work in education, so having a place where she felt both challenged and successful, as well as a place that supported the whole child (pre-academics, positive behavior, and social emotional development) was important. I knew from the moment I toured that this was the spot. Every classroom's materials were organized with great care to promote exploration and build curiosity. My husband went for a tour after I did, bringing our daughter (just past her third birthday), and as they left, he said she told him that's where she wanted to go. She started shortly after, full time, and has been there since. While we really wanted to make sure she came home loving school and learning, there was SO much more that developed, and the beauty is that new skills are introduced as a child is ready, so we never got the sense it was too much for her. They were meeting her where she was at. I love the artwork she brings home, seeing her progress in work samples (or just observing at home), hearing about her friends, and watching her walk confidently in at the start of the day and be full of smiles at pick-up. If I ever did have a question or concern, (I.e., "Hey, she does this at home or is saying this-is this what you are seeing/do you see that at school?") the staff was incredibly responsive. The only hard thing is that she is leaving for kindergarten!! We are sad to leave this beautiful school community, though we also know our little one is well prepared for next year. These are critical years for development, and I can't think of anywhere else we would have rather spent them!
• July 2021 by Tecsia E.
  During the 7 months our 4 yo attended this school here were the pluses and drawbacks that we experienced. The pluses were that Ms. Renee (who is no longer there), Mr. Andreas (Dennis' son), Ms. Kathy and Ms. Katrina were very kind to us and our son. Mr. Andreas and our son's teachers Ms. Renee and Ms. Katrina were responsive to our questions and partnered well with us to help him grow in his confidence particularly with speaking up and advocating for himself. Because of the partnership we saw him improve with being more vocal and progressing well with his letters and numbers and making improvements with his pencil grip. Another plus is that on one occasion we were allowed to bring our 6 yo (who did not attend the school) for 90 minutes while we attended a parent teacher conference. The major drawbacks are the ways in which the school is managed by the directors/owners Dennis and Eleni (who also was a teacher in my son's class), the following are examples of their leadership that were concerning to us. Example 1.) Even though our son was not going to attend school for the summer due to family travel the directors expected us to pay the full tuition amount to hold his spot (though in the enrollment agreement we signed, it noted that for extended vacations families could discuss arrangements with the directors). After some back and forth, we were able to reach an agreement but it was done begrudgingly by one of the directors. Once we dropped off the check for our summer tuition the directors then emailed us stating that we would need to sign a Non-Disclosure Agreement (3 page legal document) for our summer arrangement or our tuition check would not be cashed. We shared with the directors that signing a general NDA was not appropriate and that this term was never discussed as part of our arrangement but they still insisted to be done if we wanted to keep a spot for our child. We then consulted with the child care licensing board and they also agreed that it was alarming for a child care center to ask a parent to sign a sweeping NDA. When all was said and done we decided to withdraw our son from this school entirely and our security deposit was refunded to us. We were deeply troubled that a school who worked with our son so closely would go about their business matters in a harsh, coercive, non personable and questionable way. Example 2.) When we attended a parent teacher conference we asked to receive a copy of the school progress report that was presented in the meeting for our son. Eleni declined to give us a copy and instructed us to take a picture of it. We advocated a few times and were able to get a hard copy but could not understand why there was so much resistance. Example 3.) We called the school asking to speak to the director Dennis and he misrepresented himself and told us that he was his son and not Dennis. When we weren't believing him, he admitted it was him and that he was avoiding some calls. Example 4.) On a couple of occasions Eleni would refer to the race of another child when race had no relevance to our conversation. For instance during our parent teacher conference, she said "we have a Black boy who likes Spanish" like it is some exception or anomaly that Blacks could like another language. With all that said before committing to this school, please do your research, speak to a variety of parents (who are able to speak to the pros and cons), read all the reviews and contact the licensing board to gain information on the history/past concerns of the school so that you can make a well informed decision for your child!
• May 2021 by Gavin D.
  I currently have two daughter's enrolled here, and we couldn't be happier with our experience. The staff are caring, considerate, and, most importantly, genuinely concerned with the education and socialization of the children left in their charge. They have handle this past Covid year impressively, and made a stressful time for everyone's families a lot more manageable.
• May 2021 by Minerva D.
  I'm a first time mom looking for childcare for my 2 year old daughter and when I came across this school I decided to give them a call and got the opportunity to speak to Mr. Dennis. He was very thorough and helpful with information I didn't even know I needed since this is my first time looking for child care outside of my family. I just want to say thank you for taking the time to have a conversation with me about my concerns and for all the tips that will ensure I find the best placement for my baby girl. I am so disappointed that this school is outside of my respective county or I would have signed my daughter up today. I hope my daughter and I have the privilege of working with people just like him when we do finally find a day care we are happy with (:
• April 2021 by Chaniqua B.
  I was referred to this school by a friend after searching for a warm yet challenging preschool for my kids. After just one visit it was abundantly clear that this was the school for us. The comprehensive curriculum is outstanding, and the staff is dedicated. In addition, the passion with which Ms. Eleni and Mr. Dennis administer the school is palpable. I highly recommend this school to families that are interested in developing happy learners with a strong educational foundation.
• April 2021 by Charese A.
  When we began looking for a pre-school for our daughter when she was 2 1/2 years old, we knew we wanted a Montessori program. My step-mother was a Montessori teacher so I grew up in that environment and as an older child and teen-ager I spent my summers in her classroom. This allowed me to have a clear expectation of what a Montessori program should look like. When we toured different schools I was unimpressed until we arrived at Mountain Boulevard Montessori. It was quite clear from the minute we walked in that this was a high quality Montessori school and when we talked to director I was impressed by her knowledge and her obvious love of the work she does. Prior to starting at MBM, our daughter never attended any sort of childcare program (only with grandma or a parent) so it was a tough transition. The staff was kind and patient as she slowly grew more comfortable with being away from us. They would give us daily updates about how she was doing and let her set her pace. This allowed her to become more and more comfortable and before we knew it, school was something she looked forward to. In the time she has attended MBM, she has developed a greater understanding of the world including it's history and how it works. Her education has also included mathematics, writing, reading, and languages. She loves to come home and share something she learned. There is also lots of time for play and activities like art and music. The instructors and staff at Mountain Boulevard have been kind and helpful and given our daughter a moral grounding in a highly diverse social environment. Both Miss Renee and Ms Kathy have been her teachers, and she loves both of them. Mr. Andres is so kind and patient with the kids and it is obvious that Ms. Eleni is a dedicated teacher and director. The school has provided her the foundation and grounding that she will need to succeed in the years ahead. We are very thankful for their dedication and highly recommend them to other parents looking to introduce their child to positive educational experience in a kind and patient environment.
• March 2021 by Alice Z.
  This school is a safety and lovely school. The environment is peace, calm, and prepared Montessori environment. The teachers are very professional and nice to the children. The director is a nice person to talk.
• March 2021 by Carol M.
  Mountain Boulevard Montessori has been an amazing find for our family. It has been such a blessing to have our son attend MBM. We are eternally grateful to Eleni and Dennis and the MBM Community. Our son was a student at a small daycare in Berkeley before attending MBM. After touring other preschools in Oakland and Berkeley, I was immediately impressed with MBM by how cooperatively the children played together and navigated their learning space. And, I am grateful for MBM's diverse student body. When our son first started MBM in the summer of 2019, it took less than a day to transition to his new school community. He talks about his friends and teachers all the time! The teachers are patient and kind with our energetic son. He adores Miss Renee! I've seen him gain confidence with his letters and phonics. He had surgery in June for hearing loss. In the past 6 months, he's learned so much. It's been amazing to see his development and confidence grow. He surprises me with singing a new song, or showing off a new skill each day. The school provides a lot of stimulation and a well-rounded curriculum. His art project themes seem to cover everything from ABCs to animals to vehicles and more. Sometimes he comes home asking me random questions and I know this interest was first sparked at school. I love the variety of topics the school covers. This school is a treasure and I hope more parents and children are lucky enough to experience it as we have. Thank you, Mountain Preschool, for providing such a wonderful environment for our son and many other kids!
• December 2020 by Barbara W.
  In the 2 years that my son attended Mountain Boulevard Montessori School, I was never so overjoyed with the phenomenal education & caring that my son received. Eleni & Dennis were always so professional & treated each student like they were very special! They carry on the traditional principles of teaching by the founder Maria Montessori. I highly recommend this school for the nurturing & supportive learning education that all children deserve & should have! It was an investment in my son's future! Thank you Eleni & Dennis for living up to those incredible standards!
• November 2020 by Mirely V.
  Both my girl have been attending Mountiab Blvd for about 3 years now. The staff is amazing and the girls love being at school and would take foverever just to leave. They especially love Mrs. Dalaney is so tender and sweet however can be stern and direct which I appreciate as I don't want my kids to be over coddled. Mr. Teacher Man (Mr. ANDRES) is just like the same. The girls always come come singing in either Spanish or Mandarin, talk about everything they learned that day without prompts or me asking. They also have developed great At social emotional skills and problem solving techniques qhich are quite advanced for their age but have a full understanding and grasp of as such a tender age. I love this school and their amazing staff.
• August 2020 by Taj T.
  I wanted to express my deep thanks for the absolutely wonderful experience that Mountain Boulevard Montessori School provided for my two children. Knowing that their safety protocols, dedication to working with young children, and being so supportive of parents during this difficult time was a comfort to my wife and I. As our children go into elementary school, my wife and I are thrilled that our children are fully prepared for their new classes. Being immersed in Mtn. Blvd. Mandarin and Spanish language classes expanded their vocabulary and understanding of the greater world around them. Coupled with the hands-on approach of using Montessori materials, my kiddos are going to do just fine. We highly recommend Mtn. Blvd. Montessori for any perspective parent thinking of pre-school for their child. When we wanted the best for our kiddos, we're glad we made the right decision with Mtn. Blvd. Many, many thanks to Dennis & Eleni and their wonderful staff for supporting, caring, and nurturing the most precious things in our life, our children.