Thank you for your interest in our school. We are so happy to share a little bit about our program with you. At La Casa dei Bambini, the educational method that we follow is the Montessori philosophy. It emphasizes self-directed activity on the part of the children and the importance of adapting the learning environment to meet the developmental level of each child. The Montessori curriculum contains six areas: Practical life, sensorial, cultural, science, language, and math. Everything we do with the children falls into one of these categories.

What makes La Casa dei Bambini stand out from other Montessori schools is our devotion to fostering respect and nurturing of the Earth and all its inhabitants. Our school was a result of the Gift economy in action. Gift economy is a social theory which emphasizes generosity toward others without the expectation of receiving something in kind. Some of the ways we foster this practice in our school is by encouraging children and parents to participate in fundraising efforts to aid others, and in helping the children understand the daunting obstacles faced by people in their immediate community and abroad.

We also have an agricultural program that gives the children experience and knowledge in agricultural sustainability. Children help prepare the ground and plant seasonal vegetables and fruit trees. They care for them by pulling weeds and watering them until it is time for harvesting. The agricultural cycle ends with children participating in preparing and eating the food they helped to grow. In this model, children also learn to recycle and use resources with care in efforts to make them aware of the impact people can have on their environment, both positively and negatively. The aviary, donated by the grandfather of one of our students, is where the children are able to feed and care for the birds and experience the gestation cycle from egg to adult bird.

Our music program is non-traditional. Tonico Vanalli, our music director and professional musician, believes in a hands-on approach guiding children to learn and enjoy music through direct experience with various instruments and music styles. The selection of songs chosen for the children contain messages of unity, love, appreciation, and respect. Our program uses music as the modality to inspire togetherness through song and the expression of the soul and its higher purpose. The children sing songs in various languages often reflecting the native languages of the children and their families, to include English, Spanish, Portuguese, Italian, and Japanese. Our program also invites children to participate in song writing as well.

At La Casa dei Bambini, our language development model includes storytelling and learning Spanish in the classroom. Our staff members areal bi-lingual. Children are exposed to extensive Spanish vocabulary and small common sentences both in formal lessons and as a part of the daily routine. In addition, we incorporate storytelling to enhance speaking and listening skills while nurturing self-confidence and self-expression.

The energy that moves La Casa dei Bambini is our parents and extended family. Our parents are very involved in helping us to incorporate their children’s interests and family traditions into the curriculum. This provides authentic experiences that enhance our overall sense of community and our love and respect for its beautiful diversity. It also embeds new learning into existing experiences which make a more meaningful and lasting impression on children. Again, we thank you for your interest in our program and look forward to including you in our La Casa dei Bambini family.