Mission San Jose Children’s House

I feel so lucky to have my three kids in MSJCC.
My oldest one attended the afternoon K program, my second one started full-​day preschool program when he was 3, and my youngest one started at age 2.
What do I like the most about this school:
— Teacher, teacher and teacher
Teachers in MSJCC are extremely nice, caring, patient, loving, warm-​hearted. They all seem to have great passion to be with the kids, caring their needs, teaching them, guide them life skills.
My oldest one had attended 4 preschools prior to MSJCC, some of them were well-​known company based children center with super long waiting-​list or well known private schools, but I think MSJCC has the best teachers overall based on my own experience.
The head teacher Ms. Mei is a very passionate and energetic person. She is so knowledgeable in early childhood education. She always keeps her door open, and she would talk to me one hour long about my kid recently minor behavior change, what might cause that, how she is working on it with the kid at school, whats the progress, how should I cooperate it at home … She always has good answer and idea whenever I come to her for advice. I feel I’ve learned so many from her to be a better parent that I always wanted to.
Teachers also seem to know every kid’s personality very well. Sometimes, they came talk to me how excited they see my kid are making progress on their social development.
Some additional items that I’d like to list out:
— Program
Though there are very few kids in the K program. I was so surprised how Ms. Mei adjust their different level of needs, and how much time to spend with them. As a result, I see my 6-​year-​old learned a lot more than I expected: division, multiplication, fraction, story writing, clock reading, map reading …
My 3-​year-​old one did not speak any English before attending MSJCC. Just few weeks at school, I was already surprised to see how much work he can do independently.
Besides regular Montessori circulation, Ms. Mei also created many fun art and craft projects. Kids always bring back some fun craft they made at school and they seems to be very proud that they did it by themselves.
Addition to the regular program, the celebration of Christmas and Halloween were the big surprise. They hired a vendor to visit the school acted as Santa Claus during Christmas (attached a picture). ‘Santa Claus’ asked each kid of their wishes and gave the gift individually. What a great excitement and memory for the kids ! I don’t see any other school have such caring event even though we pay much higher tuition.
— Behavior and Social skill development
From what I noticed, kids there are calm and happy, with very good manners.
My 3-​year-​old was not a social kid before attending to MSJCC since he stayed at home with grandparents all day long. He was pretty shy and not talking much. I was really worried to send him to a pre-​school. But in fact, with great care from MSJCC teachers, he only had few days of adjustments and adopted his school life very smoothly.
He started using word of ‘please stop’, ‘no shouting’… at home with his sibling. He’d like to share with others. He greats the teachers and says good-​bye to the parent every morning. He would even great the doctor by shaking their hand when he visits the doctor office.
He learned to clean up his toys and applied it at home.
The kids have time to work independently, and work with a small group too. I can see my 3-​year-​old become more socialized.
The school also cares for kids health very well, as example: kids brush their teeth everyday after lunch.
— Facility
Very bright, clean and organized facility indoor and outdoor. I see teachers clean the center in the morning or evening sometimes. Very safe and shady outdoor playground.

My son has been to a lot of preschools because we have moved around so much and there’s one thing I want to emphasize: it’s not really about the preschool, but more about the right fit with your child. One school might be a right fit for others but may not be right fit for your child. And another school might not be a right fit for others but might be perfect for your child. My son happens to love this preschool.
We like this school because:
It’s extremely well organized and clean.
It has a well-​rounded Montessori style curriculum.
It offers some international exposure with different language learning.
It has an outdoor play area.
They teach children life skills and how to be more organized (I found my son putting away toys more at home after attending)
I recommend doing either a morning session and add on an additional hour so that you can pick up after the kids second outdoor playtime or doing a full day session with the pick up at 3:30. My son wanted to attend the second outdoor play session after lunch.
Overall we are extremely satisfied with the school.

I’m sorry that the one star reviewer had such a negative experience with their half-​day student. Our son has been going there for over a year and our daughter has just started attending. Both are half day students, always have been. We have found the staff to be excellent! As well, the school is safe, clean, and well, organized. Ms. Mei and her staff have impeccable classroom management skills which include kind and gentle demeanors with the children.
It is my understanding that the half-​day students’ day is over at the lunch break and most of them are picked up as the full-​day students begin their outdoor play time. We have found the staff very accommodating and asked if we could pick them up during the play time so they can continue their social interaction. I also believe that this is the head teacher’s lunch break (?), which would explain why she would be inside while the children are outside (with the other teachers).
Overall, we have had a wonderful experience there. It was the 3^rd preschool we tried for our son and by far, the best. Both my children are getting a great education at this Montessori school and the other families are friendly and close.
From what I understand about Montessori, all schools slightly differ. The philosophy and underlying principals are the same, but each school and teacher will add their unique elements. I’m sorry that person did not find it up to par with their Montessori in Washington, but again, they are all unique. As a public school teacher myself, I get many students coming from Montessori and each has a very different experience.

Oh boy. How I hate to write this review. Maybe the previous 5 star reviews are from parents of children enrolled in the full day program. I based my decision of this school through Unilocal with all the glowing reviews. Well, I am letting you know it’s not all rainbows and butterflies here.
This goes out to parents who have an interest in the half day program or those parents who believe in simple equality.
We are a Montessori enriched family. After transplanting from Washington state and witnessing first hand some of the best montessori schools around I was frantic looking for one that could compare. I thought I found it in MSJCH.
I had a negative gut feeling about MSJCH when I toured it and should have stuck to my gut.
Why?
My simple questions about the montessori method seemed lost on the head teacher. When i asked for a sample schedule of the day she verbally told me instead of having a hard copy to let me take home. I took a huge risk and enrolled my child and yes, I’m still really upset with myself for doing it.
What happened?
On my child’s third school day there, I entered to see her and another child sitting at two separate desks in the DARK unstimulated by a teacher or toys. All the other children were outside playing. The head teacher was wandering around doing her own thing. She tells my daughter I arrived. My child quickly ran up to me bawling her eyes out. Initially I thought she was in trouble from doing something bad and the school acted on it by putting her in time out. Nope! It turns out PART TIME students aren’t allowed to play outside! Asfinkstersayswhat? Exactly!!!
My daughter was being punished for not being a full day student. That is essentially the short version of what I witnessed. Oh, and let’s not forget the sitting in the dark part. Really, what the heck?!
After a heated discussion with the head teacher, all while holding my traumatized daughter in my arms I was absolutely furious and high tailed it out of there.
Sadly, this has been practiced in school years past. The head teacher was going to make an «exception» for my daughter the next day since I was obviously upset. Umm, no thank you — I will NOT bring her back! What else happens when I’m away? If only I could be a fly on the wall at that so called, «school».
Shame, shame, SHAME on the «teachers» there for discriminating against a child who has a parent that doesn’t have to keep them there all day. Shame, Shame, SHAME on them for letting kids sit in a dark classroom, unstimulated by a teacher or peer. How dare they call themselves a loving, nurturing environment when all I saw was neglect and sadness in my child’s eyes.
I’m sure they will change their ways after my incident there, but I strongly consider thinking twice before attending this «school».
Oh, I also forgot to mention no apologies were ever given either. Shows you they don’t think what they did was wrong. To each their own I guess. My own says RUN far, far, FAR away from this place!

Our experience has continued to warrant every positive you can imagine about this schoolI have no doubt that our family will be grateful to Mr. Mei and the Mission San Jose Children’s Center for the rest of our lives. Our 3 year old has attended since September. She not only has fun and is happy to go everyday, she has mastered a multitude of knowledge and skills and is as challenged on a given day as she chooses to be. Montessori may not be for every kid, but if is is, you will not find a higher quality, better rounded, safe, fun, stimulating and caring environment than this place. The environment is small enough that each child gets the full compliment of attention from the amazing directress Mrs. Mei and the teacher student ratio is very low. Even the other kids and parents are friendly, engaging, and inclusive. Can’t even express how lucky we feel and happy we are to be part of this school and parent community.

After researching all the different preschools in this area, I am so happy with my decision. The head directress and her small and dedicated team of teachers are caring and willing to work with all students. For my very talkative child, they help him focus and let him grow at his own pace. It is a small school so that they can do projects often. My child has taken part on molding/​sculpting different animals, making plenty of wind mobile type decorations, cooking, as well as the academic side to the Montessori curriculum. I am extremely pleased with my child’s progress.

We moved to Fremont from San Leandro and looked for a good preschool for our 3 year old. After alot of researches, we found Mission San Jose Children’s House.
My daughter loves this school especially circle time, she always sings at home and really learns alot from the school. She goes 5 days a week, 8am to 3pm.
I love this school too. Although it’s a small school, but teachers can pay more attentions to the kids. Ms. Mei and 2 teachers do excellent work in taking care of the kids, read to the kids, daily activities, etc.
I highly recommend Mission San Jose Children’s House for anyone who is searching for a school in Fremont area!

This school has a very warm atmosphere. The children were all working on their lessons and were very happy. The staff is very loving and supportive of the children as they learn. I was surprised to see how many 4 year old children could read!