Bamboo Montessori Preschool

KG 4 months ago

Our family has been with Bamboo Montessori since 2021. My son completed the program last year and my daughter has been with the school for almost three years now. As another family mentioned, parents often come for the Spanish but stay for the Montessori, and certainly there is truth in this. I sought out an immersion preschool because of the immense opportunity for language development in younger kids and my desire for my children to be able to speak a second language. My son left this school able to speak, read, and write in Spanish at levels much higher than typical for his age (the same could be said for his English reading and writing, as both are taught here). We took a trip to a Spanish-speaking country and my son easily conversed with the people there. He used Spanish while ordering food, purchasing things in shops, and playing with kids at the park. He was only five years old at the time. So, I’m happy with his Spanish, but I also LOVE the Montessori. These days the Montessori label seems to be casually applied to everything. Bamboo is actually a true Montessori classroom. The passion for providing an authentic Montessori education here is evident from the minute you tour the classroom and meet the teachers. Kids are given space to explore their interests and learn at their pace. However, there is also a balanced push for reading/writing standards. I’ve seen many kids graduate from Bamboo over the years and the vast majority of children are leaving this school with above average reading and writing abilities. This is not some for-profit school that caters to the parents – every intension here is for the benefit of the child. How to better explain – there are not things such as photos uploaded in an online portal for daily updates. That’s not what Bamboo is about. Teachers are there to be guides to your child’s learning. To provide a loving and safe environment. To prioritize learning emotional regulation and development just as much as academics. To teach children about our world and how to care for it. To let kids play outside and run and just be kids. There is no other school like this in our community. Reach out and tour and get on the waitlist as early as you can!

Helen Tresillian 7 months ago

Ms Paz and Ms Sandra are wonderful, caring teachers. My daughter loves going to school each day and has learnt so much in her 3 years at Bamboo. They make learning fun and the kids education and happiness is their priority. I highly recommend Bamboo.

Caroline J. Lewis Palmer 9 months ago

Our eldest daughter has been enrolled for 3 years and our youngest this past year. This is a DREAM preschool as the attention to your little ones education is far superior compared to any program. They followed a structured Montessori approach and expect you to do the same at home. We do not speak Spanish in our home, so the only exposure is at school. My children are SO happy here and they're thriving emotionally, as independent humans, and intellectually. They speak Spanish, and are exceeding their education targets. This is a one classroom place, with max 12 students that are mixed ages and with two teachers. I've volunteered a few times at the school and it's incredible to see how they teach and how the kids learn from one another and the teachers. They go outside every day (rain or shine) plant gardens, compost, and focus on a lot of life tasks. We wish our daughters could stay through grade school. There is nothing like this in Portland or Vancouver. If you get in - it's a gem! School is 8:30-3:30/4pm M-F and there is summer school that is the same beginning of July - August.

YB 9 months ago

I think Bamboo Montessori is best summarized by a statement I heard from Mrs. Paz (the director), people come for the Spanish, but they stay for the Montessori. Any organization ultimately boils down to the people who comprise that organization. Mrs. Paz is a women who genuinely cares about the children. You can see it in the way she speaks about their education and their development as little humans. You can always see the concern in her face for their future and wellbeing. Her love is exemplified in the level of discipline and structure she has in her school. If you are not native Spanish speaking at home, you may not notice your child speaking Spanish the first year to year and half. That is normal, they’re absorbing and internalizing. After about a year and a half all of a sudden our daughter began speaking fluid Spanish, phrases here and there. Most of all, I value bamboo, because I know my child is loved, nurtured and educated to thrive, and most of all protected.

Domenique Costello 9 months ago

Our family has been at Bamboo Montessori for 3 years now. This is our child's last and final year (2025-2026) and we are forever thankful to Alejandra, Sandra and other teachers that have instilled a deep rooted love and respect for the Spanish language and the culture that surrounds it. Finding a spanish school was a top priority for our family so we were natural very interested to be apart of Bamboo. What we did not realize was how much more Bamboo had to offer. Mrs. Paz creates a classroom environment that is welcoming, safe and tailored to little learning and growing children. She balances the children's interests individually, as a group, and developmentally appropriate subjects for the children to thrive. The highlights for our family is the individual love and care the teachers given to the children. The school has 12 children and they are from various backgrounds and our family has been able to bond and connect with the children and their families as Mrs. Paz creates those opportunities and encourages it. At Bamboo you are getting much more than a school, you are getting a community. It truly has been the best experience. My child comes home singing in spanish, naming the flowers and plants in her school's garden, explaining to me how different math equations work, how to create more colors from primary colors, asking to help cook in the kitchen to develop her own recipes, and so much more. This school requires the parents to be actively engaged in the school, the community within it, and the day to day learning and developing of your child. This is not a drop off/pick up go about your life school. There is passion and dedication to the children's spirit, their social development as well as their education.