Montessori Shir-Hashirim

MSH Berendo is a school I wish I could have attended and one I feel privileged to have had my daughter spend three very formative years in.
It is a one-​of-​a-​kind, extraordinary experience. Beautifully tailored to each child. Our daughter flourished and we did too, learning things about her — both where her interests lay as well as where she needed some help to prepare her for the years ahead — we never would have been able to observe without MSH’s loving and keen-​eyed teachers.
I’ve read the earlier reviews and Elena, the director of the school, appears to polarize some people. She has a strong presence, as you would hope from a person who has to oversee both children and teachers. Strong should not be confused with rigid or cold. Elena is neither of those. She is professional and very, very smart. Children respect her and in turn she adores and understands them in ways few others can. In all interactions about our daughter she was thoughtful and caring.
Elena has constructed and maintained a wonderfully ambitious environment. The breadth and depth of what the school has to offer is stunning. And the children respond to it with an exhilarating combination of joy and achievement. They play hard and work hard. And the physical space, is clean and beautiful.

The best of the best. I have had two children attend Shir Hashirim over an 8 year period and I cannot imagine them having gone anywhere else. My children have extremely different personalities and yet both have thrived and most importantly, loved their school. My younger child, who started out timidly, now begs to be «the last one» picked up at 5:30. Their lives inside the school are so rich that although they are so well-​prepared for Kindergarten, they don’t want to graduate and have to leave the school! The highlight at the Berendo campus, which sets it apart from all other schools, is gardening and baking. The children are so excited for their turn at these two favorite activities. The Berendo campus has a beautiful garden full of trees, fruit, vegetables and herbs and the children learn all about gardening. They also love to take their turn to bake each week in the kitchen. Their recent work exploring the art of Georgia O’Keefe is so interesting and beautiful. My child is learning about the solar system, has lessons in Chinese, and is looking forward to the winter play. I am so grateful for this exposure to art, music, language, and academics. They also have a beautiful playground and plenty of time to run around and play. My children love the school and adore their teachers, and so do I.

We thoroughly canvassed L.A. preschools before applying to Montessori Shir-​Hashirim and we are thrilled to be there. It’s simply the best. Our first child is entering her second year and we hope our second child will attend when he’s old enough. The campus is beautiful, the teachers attentive and the children thrive.

We have a 3 year old son currently attending the Berendo campus and our 6 year old daughter graduated from Berendo last year. It has been an exceptional experience for both children and for us as parents. Elena, Nelida and their staff are committed to providing an unparalleled pre-​school experience. Our children have had exposure to a whole range of experiences — many of which they never would have received at home. A typical day includes gardening, baking, the Montessori «jobs», yoga, dance, singing and lots of play. They are also exposed to foreign languages, Shakespeare and various artists and musicians. The school also puts on 3 plays a year that provide an extraordinary opportunity for the children to work together, sing and dance, and achieve a great sense of accomplishment. Our kids have really thrived in this environment that engages their imaginations and potential so thoroughly. And we feel very lucky to have had the opportunity to be a part of this very dynamic community of families.

First of all, who chooses schools from Unilocal reviews? I mean, no disrespect to Unilocal,but you may want to dig a little deeper than this site if you’re concerned about the future of your child’s education.
That said, my wife and I are finishing up our fifth year (second child) with Elena, Nelida and the team at Montessori Shir Hashirim (Berendo campus). To say that we’ve enjoyed our experience there would be an understatement of unimaginable magnitude. What this school has done to enrich our children is simply beyond compare.
Here’s what you can expect if you enroll your child at Montessori Shir Hashirim:
— Lest you fear Montessori is «all work and no play», you’d be terribly misled. They play. They play plenty.
— Your child will learn various tasks and «jobs» meant to hone their fine motor skills and help in their ability to work in groups. This is manifested with the aforementioned «jobs» — classic wooden Montessori projects — but also with weekly baking, gardening and other stimulating activities.
— Your child will learn about all manner of the arts — not finger painting and PlayDoh, but the actual construction of thought-​provoking crafts and artwork inspired by artists that the children get exposed to throughout the year — the likes of Picasso, Klimt, Haring, Warhol, Renoir, etc.
— Your child will perform in three plays a year. (And lest you think your child wouldn’t possibly be able to learn lines or pay attention or sing complex songs, you are dead wrong. In the capable hands of the enrichment teachers, your child will absolutely astound you.) The plays are often based on Rudyard Kipling stories, and at least one play a year is Shakespeare. Yes, Shakespeare. A fun, witty, amusing rendition of a Shakespeare play. It’s phenomenal.
— Your child will also be exposed to math, reading, language arts (Mandarin, Spanish & French), dance, music, and a host of optional extracurricular activities (my daughter is currently taking ukulele).
But as enriching as all this is, your child will most certainly make friends that he or she will likely keep for a long, long time. And you, as parents — believe me – you will meet new and interesting and fun parents that you too will want to hold on to for years to come. As much as it saddens me to leave Montessori Shir Hashirim, I will be most saddened to leave this incredible community of families.
Know this: As a parent preparing for your child’s first educational experience, this is a big deal. A really big deal. And admittedly, Montessori is not for every kid. You go and see if it’s right for you and your child, and if you think it is, and if Elena agrees, you will be rewarded with a program that will change your life. As it has most certainly, unequivocally, changed ours.
(Oh, and Elena doesn’t do any fundraising. So there’s that…)

Quite possibly, the best preschool in LA!
My wife and I, typical nervous parents, spent two years visiting and researching local preschools for our first child. To us, Shir Hashirim stands above all other schools. They have a 360-​degree focus is on educating well-​rounded children who are fully prepared for the rest of life. We have put both our kids in Shir Hashirim and could not be happier.
The founder, Elena Cielak, is actively and passionately involved in all aspects of the school. She instills a unique culture that encourages kids to master basic skills while exploring artistic themes and global cultures. Both our kids have blossomed into thoughtful, confident, and creative little people.
After «graduating» our kids were accepted into our #1 choice of kindergarten. Did I mention, we could not be happier!

Our 3 year old started here when he was 2.5 and his older brother went to the Carlton Way campus. I absolutely cannot say enough good things about this place and the amazing, dynamic headmistress and staff. Both our children thrived in this caring and stimulating environment. They were taught things that no other pre schoolers were learning, comprehending the information, and still have the knowledge. Our family adores this place and I have sent my closest friends and family to explore it for their children.