Sunnybrae Elementary School

I am incredibly grateful to be able to send our kids to a public Montessori TK-8. Our oldest is now in his middle school years, and our youngest is starting her first year of the next decade there. By the end of it all, we will have spent 18 years at this one school - pretty wild, huh? I wanted to share a snapshot of what my middle schooler is learning as a part of his adapted Montessori curriculum - as there are public education curriculum requirements to be met, there is some adaptation but still a lot of bringing the Montessori philosophy to life. A pillar of their middle school curriculum is creating a micro-economy where they are bringing to life the Montessori plane of "contributing to the world" and raising funds to go on an end of year class trip. I think this year they are targeting a visit to the state capital. Enhancing Social Skills & Collaboration- practicing teamwork and shared decision making- learning to delegate tasks based on individual strengths- developing conflict resolution strategies- negotiating roles, schedules, and responsibilitiesUnderstanding Economic Systems- exploring budgeting for materials, supplies, and future investments- tracking income and expenses to learn about profit margins- understanding how prices, demand, and competition affect business- learning about ethical production and consumer responsibility- experiencing the connection between labor and valueBuilding Self-Sufficiency- solving real-world problems with creativity and resourcefulness- taking initiative without waiting for direction from adults- learning skills that have practical and economic value- making decisions based on needs, goals, and ethical considerations- developing adaptability and perseverance when plans changeDeveloping Responsibility- learning how to manage time effectively- being accountable for their role within a group enterprise- practicing financial responsibility with real money and resources- experiencing the natural consequences of their decisions- developing follow-through and commitment to long-term projects(ran out of space but there are others!)These are such important skills for kids to build, test, and grow their self confidence, toolbox of skills, and scientific method-driven mindset. I can't say it enough - THESE are the skills that humans need to master in an AI-first world. If we ever needed a map for how to prepare our kids for what lies after the knowledge economy, this is it.

Our son attended EDS from K through grade 5. Lower grades were mostly a positive, nurturing experience for our son. But once 4th grade and preteen issues started coming up, it became clear that it’s only a good school for neurotypical kids who are into sports, but not for kids who don’t fit that mold. Small class sizes, supportive teachers, friendly community and fun events are plusses. But the curriculum is inconsistent, there’s a high turnover rate, and an appearance driven culture. Lots of talk about diversity, community, SEL but mostly displayed with performative events, not curriculum or genuine fellowship. Changes in administration (we had three school directors while there) went from “We’ll do whatever is necessary to support him” to “No, if we do that for him, we have to do it for everyone” (and everyone could have benefitted). With mild ASD, all our son needed was accommodations for field trips, a sensory space to take breaks and most importantly explicit SEL for all the students about teasing and bullying all the way through middle school. With a high tuition, large administration and “close community” we thought we could expect those things, but we couldn’t. Even the social connections we and our son made during six years at EDS all dissipated once our son had a hard time with the social demands of his tween “friends”, and bullying and teasing ensued. He was not the first to experience this in middle school there, and we’re sadly confident not the last. Reaching out to fellow parents for support was met with dismissal or anger. The school and its community is not what it used to be, nor what we hoped it would be for the duration.