New Preschools Open Their Gates to Incoming Students

The San Mateo-Foster City School District is welcoming two new preschools in San Mateo to its already long list of schools this year.

Parkside Montessori Preschool and Helping Hands Preschool, which were added to the San Mateo-Foster City School District this year, offer unique programs to the San Mateo community.

There was a request to open a preschool at Parkside Montessori School, which was a K-5 grade, said Cheryl Shrewsdury, Principal on special assignment for the district.

“This way the students would begin in preschool and stay in one place until fifth grade,” said Shrewsdury.

Parkside Montessori Preschool specializes in a curriculum based on Montessori philosophy. Montessori philosophy says that to be effective, the education method must provide “a social environment that supports each individual’s unique development.”

The school follows a year-round calendar and students attend from 8:30 a.m. to noon.

“It’s a nice option to have for parents,” said Amber Farinha, Coordinator of Community Services for the district. “Students retain the information they’ve learned in the summer.”

According to the school’s website, the staff believes that “all children have absorbent minds, pass through sensitive periods and stages of development, can learn through work and play and want to be independent.”

Helping Hands Preschool was piloted last year at a different campus.

“Clearly there was a demand,” said Assistant Superintendent of Student Services Molly Barton, describing the need for additional preschools in the district.

Helping Hands Preschool offers a unique integrated classroom of general education students and high functioning special education students.

“These special education students are expected to go into general education kindergarten,” said Barton. “All research shows that special education needs are best met when with typical developing peers.”

The school, which is the first in the district, offers a limited class size of 16, with one teacher and two assistants, a curriculum designed by early childhood speech, language and motor development specialists and an opportunity to grow not only academically in speech and motor skills, but also in their confidence and interaction with peers.

Both preschools are located within Parkside Elementary School at 1685 Eisenhower Street in San Mateo. For more information about either school, call 650-312-7343.