Welcome!

     Montessori Child Development Center (MCDC) is a private pre-school and kindergarten. It is an affiliate of the American Montessori Society. The school house is in California ranch style and is nestled in the beautiful rolling hills of Poway California on 1-1/4 acres of land and takes full advantage of both the sunlight and the view. The indoor classrooms provide areas for practical life, art, reading, manipulative tools, and plenty of space for children to independently explore their world.

    This is a peaceful environment for outdoor learning. There is also an expansive grassy lawn dotted with fruit trees, the children's flower herb and vegetable garden, a bird aviary, and an enclosed farm yard with roosters, hens, and goats. The playground offers many recreational amenities, including a large sand box and a three story tree-house style play structure with two slides. An onsite nature walk is available to students for environmental studies.

  I believe young children thrive in an educational environment where they are treated like the unique individuals they are and are guided by teachers who love children and understand their needs. 

At MCDC, children experience a deep sense of security and are motivated to learn by the warm, home-like setting that we have created for them. Situated in a large house re-designed for school use, surrounded by trees, vegetable and flower gardens, selected farm animals, and a big, grassy play area, learning at MCDC extends beyond the classroom to the gifts of the natural world.

I opened the school in 1978 to provide parents in our community with a quality educational alternative for their children. We have remained intentionally small so that we can maintain a close relationship with the children and their families. As ever, the staff and I are committed to giving every child an opportunity to discover and develop to their potential.

Thank you for your interest in MCDC; I hope that you and your child can visit our school in the near future. Please wander through this website and then come by and see for yourself how children here learn to become happy, healthy, and capable individuals.                                                                                                                                                                                                                       Sincerely,   Marijane Schafer