The Flintridge Montessori Preschool and Elementary in La Canada, California was established in 2000 by a group of women who recognized the need for Montessori education in their local community. One of these women, Rohini David, now leads the school’s operation as partner and site director.
While the school started with only a handful of children, Rohini reports that the enrollment doubled within a few short months, and within a year, it was operating at full enrollment. Today, the school serves a diverse community of professional and nonprofessional people from all over the world, representing a wide range of class, creed, religion and color.
The school employs a policy of sensitivity to the environment, eliminating and recycling waste as much as possible. For example, parents are encouraged to send lunches in reusable containers and recycling plastics as much as possible.
Respect for the environment also extends to nature as well. For example, over the years, staff and children have planted fruit trees, including grapes, apples, plums, nectarines, peaches and apricots. Rohini says, “Children love harvesting them and having them for snack. By participating, they understand where fruit comes from (not from the supermarket), and how plants grow and what care is needed.”
On the academic side, Rohini says, “The schedule of our day resembles the natural rhythms of family life – time for work, time for meals, and time for rest. Each day, the children participate in the work of ‘making home’, setting the table, washing dishes, folding laundry, watering plants, sweeping, etc.” The school environment also includes an abundance of materials for learning such subjects as math, language and culture. In this environment, Rohini notes that, “Children are given the experience of discovering the answers for themselves. This leads to a much deeper learning experience and creates a life-long love of learning as a self-directed process of problem solving and discovery.”
For further information, Contact Rohini David, Flintridge Montessori Preschool and Elementary, Inc. 1739 Foothill Blvd. La Canada, CA 91011 Website: http://www.flintridgemontessori.com Tel. 818-790-8844.
