Basic Programs:

•    Extracurricular activities: Flamenco, music, drama, gymnastics and others. Offerings vary each year.

•     La Casita participates in Raising A Reader. “Raising A Reader’s mission is to engage parents in a routine of daily “book cuddling” with their children from birth to age five to foster healthy brain development, parent-child bonding, and early literacy skills critical for school success.” Program rotates book bags with 4 beautiful books meant to be read and shared with parents. Each week a new bag is lent to the children.

Raising A Reader link:
http://www.raisingareader.org/site/PageServer?pagename=rar_homepage
Below is a bit more info for the “ABOUT” section maybe?

NAEYC brochure link:
http://www.qualitycareforchildren.org/files/NAEYC_Accreditation_Brochure.pdf

NAEYC for families link:
http://www.naeyc.org/families

About NAEYC:
http://www.naeyc.org/content/about-naeyc

PMD info:
La Casita Bilingue Montessori participates in First 5’s Preschool Makes a Difference or PMD program whose mission is to “provide access for all preschool age children to comprehensive, high-quality, developmentally appropriate early learning programs that meet the diverse needs of children and families.” As part of PMD La Casita staff undergo a variety of assessments and evaluations to maintain high quality program for all children.

PMD link:
http://www.firstfivecc.org/uploads/partner/pmd/PMDFactSheet052007.pdf

•     Organic garden: It has taken us years to have the beautiful, organic garden we have today. Our garden serves as an outdoor classroom where children experience hand on, the cycle of the plant and nature, by fending to soil, planting seeds and harvesting as well as observing various insects and the natural local fauna that come by our playground. We harvest tomatoes, carrots, green beans and other vegetable and then we share them with the kids. It’s our way to teach them how important is to eat healthy and to take good care of our mother Earth. Children are usually excited when we cook together with ingredients we have harvested from our garden. In the same area we have a safe and nurturing play yard where children enjoy outdoor time.

•    Field Trips: La Casita strives to enhance our curriculum and enriching child's experiences by providing field trips and classroom presentations throughout the year. We work with volunteer parents to plan and chaperone field trips. Field trips have included visits to the Academy of Science in San Francisco, Opera for children in Martinez, Pumpkin patch in Brentwood among many fun and educational adventures for our students. We also schedule onsite visits from community organizations, Oakland Zoo’s zoomobile, Insect Discovery Lab and others…