San Anselmo Montessori School

We had two of our three boys attend Preschool and Kindergarten at SAMS and our biggest regret is that our oldest son didn't get to go there because we didn't live in the area when he was young. We truly love everything about SAMS - the kind, attentive and loving staff, the peaceful, child-led classrooms, the curriculum that makes learning interesting and exciting, the greenhouse classroom where they learn about nature and sustainability, the music program and special guests that come in regularly, including author visits and animal experts. The staff at SAMS is also very good at helping children navigate social situations and helping them grow socially and emotionally, as well as intellectually.

We also feel lucky that our boys got to attend Kindergarten with Denise at SAMS. The Kindergarten provides a warm and loving environment where, in addition to getting the children ready academically for the next step in their education, they also learn the importance of being good people and leaders for the younger children, how to relax their minds and bodies through yoga and meditation and get to experience going on field trips to interesting and thought-provoking places. And so much more...

Over the past four years our boys have thrived at SAMS and we believe they are and will continue to be better people because they had that opportunity. One of the toughest parts of having our boys get older is knowing that they will no longer be able to attend SAMS. We will always keep in touch with the teachers and value them as friends and mentors. I cannot recommend SAMS highly enough.

Both of my boys have attended SAMS and they absolutely loved it! Not only is the main classroom beautiful and cheerful, but the outdoor garden and greenhouse classrooms are nothing short of amazing. But the best part of SAMS is the incredibly dedicated and nurturing staff. They are what sets SAMS apart from most preschools. From the thoughtfully prepared "work" to the amazing classroom enrichment guests I feel SAMS helps to foster a true love of learning in the children.

Both of my children attended SAMS and had an amazing experience. The teachers incredibly talented and dedicated to instilling a love of learning in the students. The school offers a wide range of learning opportunities, including field trips, creative projects, and educational guests. You could not ask for a better learning environment.

SAMS is a wonderful school, stable and well-run, with good facilities and very caring and experienced teachers. This is an excerpt from a note I wrote to the teachers there when our older daughter finished preschool and was moving on, and our younger one was about to join the SAMS community:

"I heard Alison Gopnik talking on Forum the other day about her new book, The Gardener and the Carpenter. Her bottom line, which of course isn’t news to any of you, is that children don’t need to be built, but rather to be given a secure and loving environment, so they can grow on their own. I thought of you all, and [our daughter’s] time at SAMS, and how much she has grown over the last two years, and how thankful we are to you for providing such a safe, fun, warm, interesting environment for her to grow. Thanks to your guidance, patience, and attention, she can happily play with big kids, goof around with little kids, and work through a conflict about what game to play with a friend without any help from an adult. It also amazes me how consciously she seeks out a challenge. “Hard is fun!” she says. How cool is that? So thank you for providing such a wonderful garden (both literal and metaphorical), allowing her innate work ethic to flourish, so she still knows that hard is fun, and that work is satisfying. Our family feels extremely lucky and thankful to be part of the SAMS community, and we are looking forward to several more years of it!"

SAMS offers children a wonderful balance of Montessori principles and playful learning. Warm, nurturing teachers oversee thoughtfully prepared classrooms. Multiple periods outdoors give students time for free play and opportunities to develop physical and social skills. Students help care for an outdoor garden, which has its own light-filled and airy classroom. The school also offers a Kindergarten year for its oldest students. This is a one-of-a-kind school and community worth getting to know.