Primary Program – 3 to 6 year olds

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.

Our school is open from 7:30 am- 6:00pm. Class begins at 8:30am.

Full day program ends at 2:30pm and half day ends at 12:30pm and both schedules are five days a week.  Most of the class time is spent in individual and small-group work. This uninterrupted period allows the individual and the class to develop a work cycle.

Children are free to move where their interests and abilities take them, promoting purposeful and independent work, and encouraging the development of their own sense of pace and rhythm.

Teachers offer guidance and support, initiating activities and responding to the children's individual interests. The daily schedule also includes collective gatherings for discussions, music, stories, games, celebrations, group lessons and guest visits.

Our extended day program for pre-school and kindergarten students includes more advanced work, special projects and daily formal lessons in preparation for first grade. Our after care program includes indoor and outdoor playtime and offers additional activities such as music, "Itty Bitty Sports, "Gym Bus",  "Wee Dance" and "Mad Science".