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A Letter From the Founder
Welcome to Kumara School!
In 1983, with two young daughters in tow, I arrived at what was then an abandoned school site and immediately knew I had discovered a place full of magic. As I worked to design a program that could evolve, I took on two roles, one as an innovative educator and the other as a parent. I have always made decisions for the school based on my wishes for my own children’'s success and happiness as preschoolers and in life. Kumara School is built upon the principles of loving kindness, compassion for all and mindfulness. We believe that each child at Kumara School is a special and gifted collaborator in our program.
Now, many years later, my children and the school have grown. Like my children, the school has developed into a far more wonderful place than I could have possibly imagined.
Whenever I meet Kumara alumni, we begin by sharing fond and fun memories. Then as they are telling me about themselves, I often realize how the school has given them the foundations for empathetic problem solving, environmentalism and life-long learning that brings them their success. My top priority has always been creating a place where children can thrive and I am always thrilled when I can see the positive results of the deliberate decisions and organic changes that have occurred in the years since Kumara began.
Kumara is about spirit. The many families, children and teachers
who have been a part of Kumara over the years live on as their
influence continues to touch and shape the program. Their spirit
never leaves; it is woven into the tapestry that is Kumara School.
Each day brings with it something new to learn and experience, and
with that, I welcome you to a wonderful adventure.
- Wende Kumara
The Kumara Approach
At Kumara, we place a high value on each child as a unique and capable learner. Teachers guide children in their quest for social, emotional, physical and cognitive development by providing them with meaningful, concrete and hands-on experiences. These experiences inspire the children to continue to play, question, explore and discover. As each child begins to create his or her path, our teachers notice and encourage these individual pursuits. The interests of the children at Kumara become the sparks that ignite our curriculum and project work. We believe that our method of guiding children encourages a healthy and complete self-concept, which is the key to becoming an independent, self-motivated learner.
Children have a naturally positive attitude toward learning. At Kumara, we focus on giving children the foundation to harness this early positive attitude and utilize it for the rest of their lives. We know that children learn best when they feel intellectually stimulated, well cared for physically and loved by those around them.
Kumara strives to meet each of these goals for every child. A child's ability to learn is impacted by relationships with peers, teachers and the concepts and environment that surround them. Building positive relationships and learning the skills necessary to continue to connect with people and surroundings is an important part of the Kumara curriculum; this principle weaves throughout our daily activities. Kumara School focuses on social competence using a constructivist style of education. We support children in scaffolding their own knowledge by presenting and encouraging opportunities for deep exploration of subjects, promoting questioning, teaching problem solving skills and nourishing expression, creativity and wonder. Children's interests and knowledge inspire teachers to create developmentally appropriate and meaningful curriculum involving the whole child.
Many great educators and theorists have influenced the educational styles of Kumara. These include: Piaget, Dewey, Vygotsky, Gardener, Montessori and Steiner/Waldorf. As we integrate these educational theories with our own ideas and work we collaborate to create well-founded and innovative learning.
It is our job to support each individual child in his or her own learning
process. We strive to remain open to new ideas whether they come from
children, other educators or the world at large.
What Makes Kumara Special?
The overarching philosophy of Kumara School is that each child is a respected individual
and an integral part of our program. It is truly a child-centered school. It is remarkable to look
around the playground or classrooms and see the quality of individual attention that each child receives. The result is a curriculum that is driven by the needs and interests of the children.
At Kumara, we have shaped a world that is rendered meaningful in the eyes of the children first. There are times when you will walk through the gate into what seems like a chaotic environment, but if you take a closer look, you will see that there is organization within the chaos. In order to see it clearly, you need only view the world through the eyes of a child. What sometimes may seem like disorder is a carefully struck balance of a broad spectrum of teacher-initiated and child-initiated activities, giving the children the opportunity follow their own interests. A deep-seated respect for creativity and a love of the natural world creates an ideal setting for the children who, above all, are happy.
The individuality that Kumara fosters would not be possible or complete without the complementary focus on community. At Kumara we dont just talk about community, we grow it every day. The entire faculty emphasizes helping children acquire the skills of conflict resolution. Children learn empathy, negotiation, compromise, problem solving and patience. These important social skills and tools enhance a lifetime of experiences.
Another aspect of our community is mixed-age groupings that allow children to experience themselves as both competent teachers and learners. By design, this system allows students to share with children at their same level of competence, to help children who are still learning skills they have mastered, and to be inspired by the children who have gone on to the next level. Furthermore, the inherent flexibility in this design allows greater opportunities to meet each child's emotional and intellectual needs.
In keeping with the community spirit of Kumara, families are welcomed, integrated into the program and supported in the mammoth task of parenting. During your family's years at Kumara, you will all
grow, learn and have a great time. Try to embrace every moment!
"If you are having fun, you must be learning something!"
--Wende Kumara
I am always so excited to go to school. When my mom opens the front gate, we are in the middle of a big garden. I've had my eye on a certain strawberry and this morning it looks absolutely ready. I carefully pick it. It tastes as good as I thought it would. I show my mom around the newly planted carrots, the mint that smells so good and a beautiful yellow flower.
I can't remember the name but we wrote it on the
sign and my mom helps me read it, daffodil.
We then go through another gate to the big yard.
Two kids are on the swings and some are
playing river in the sandbox, building with tubes
and shovels. Some kids are dressing up for a
circus in one of our playhouses. So much fun
stuff to do, but I'm excited to go indoors to see
what is going on. And besides, since the outside
is almost always open and I can come back out
later.
Mom and I go through the art room door; she will sign me in and walk
with me to my cubby. Then she will say goodbye, but first my teacher greets me. Even though I am a little sad when I wave goodbye to my mom, I know I will have a great day and see her later.
I start looking around the art studio. There are things that stay the same like the easels and play dough. But every day I can do something new with these familiar objects. There are also new things all the time. Sometimes there are so many things to do it is hard to choose what to start with. Two kids are already mixing their own colors to start painting on the easel so I go to the play dough table.
The dough is still warm from being freshly made. It feels so good on my hands as I knead it. Then I just start pushing and banging it as it changes form. I notice my friend is making something so we start talking. And maybe we will make something together.
I decide to go over to the independent art area to use recyclables to create a special play place for my pretend kitty. I grab an old cereal box; it looks a lot like the one I brought in yesterday. I attach one tube, three pipe cleaners, and a cork to the box using tape. My teachers tell me to use as much tape as I like. That's good, because I need a lot of tape for my kitty house. No one seems to hurry me either. I get to take as long as I want with whatever I want.
I'm done making my house so I know a great place to
play with it and I go into the next classroom. I have a
special place where I can save projects to work on
later or sometimes share with my friends and teachers. T This classroom is full of so many fun things. I decide to
put my house away for now and lookaround. Some
kids are reading books, doing puzzles, and playing
games. Under our loft my friends and I havemade a
puppet show. We made a place for the audience to s sit. Later I will go into the art studio to make my
own puppet. Right there is our music area so that
we can also have musicians to help us with our show.
When I go back outside, I walk on the beam, over three blocks, bounce on a trampoline, go through a tunnel and climb a ladder. It's called an obstacle course and it is lots of fun to go through. I can do the obstacle course really fast or really silly. After a turn on the tire swing, I run over to paint on the big plexiglass. Lots of kids can paint at once and you can really be messy. This school is like a park with painting and an obstacle course!
After a while its core time, this is when we spend time in small groups; we work on things that we are interested in. Like seeing my seed grow in the cup by the window, or how to use the blocks to help each other make an airport. We have been collecting leaves and making pictures and poems about them. My teacher spends time with just one, two or three of us talking about what we are doing. Sometimes my whole group meets and we sing songs and play games that make me giggle.
After group time, its time for lunch. Since we take off our shoes to go inside, I put on my shoes for lunch, wash my hands, go get my lunch box and find a place to sit. There is plenty of room and I get to sit with my friends. My teacher makes sure I can open everything and is always there if I need help. When I'm done with my lunch I go off and play.
I quickly head for the sandbox because I haven't been there all day. Im so glad there are now more tubes and balls. Some kids are already building some kind of a magic city. I volunteer to carry water to pour down the tubes. Sometimes we put other things down the tubes like rocks and leaves. Putting stuff in the tubes makes funny sounds. Sometimes we make the tubes so full that it takes a really long time for things to fall out.
Then it's nap time. My teacher holds my hand and we walk to the bathroom.
I wear a diaper at nap because I'm still learning to go potty in the toilet.
She helps me find my bed. We sleep in the youngest children's classroom.
They move some things out of the way. They have so many fun things in
here. Next time, I will remember to come in here to play.
In no time, my nap is over. I have a snack, hear a story, and then my
dad comes to pick me up. I show him I know how to pump on the swings.
Just like when my mom left this morning, I feel a little sad that I have to
go home, but I know that I will be back at Kumara tomorrow and there
will be many new adventures waiting for me.
- The End -
Application Process
An application can be printed off this website or you can request an application to be mailed by calling Kumara School at 415-388-5437, please include your name, phone number and mailing address.
Return completed and signed application along with a photo of your child and a $50.00 application fee to:
Kumara School
540 Marin Avenue
Mill Valley, CA. 94941
Your cancelled check serves as receipt of application.
Prospective Parent Events: At these events we provide an overview of our program, tour the school and provide an opportunity to ask questions. Upon receiving your application you are added to our invitation list and will be notified by post to attend a parent event in November, January, or February. You may call or email for additional information.
Typically parents are invited to this event the year prior to the potential placement in our program.
When are you open?
We are open 7am to 6 pm Monday through Friday. We are closed for major holidays and the month of August.
Where are you located?
We are in secluded wooded neighborhood in Tam Valley, Mill Valley.
Who attends Kumara School?
We serve children 2 to 6 years old, we have an all day as well as a part-time program richly diversified to meet a full range of childrens tempos and personalities. There are 50 children with a ratio of 8 to one or better.
Who are your teachers?
Our educators are fully qualified and devoted to excellent standards of teaching. On average, our teachers stay for 5 to 10 years. We work as a collaborative team and meet often to ensure that each child's individual needs are met. The consistent exchange of ideas and sharing of information is what has made Kumara special since 1983.
What types of classrooms and activities are available at Kumara?
Our children have the opportunity to flow between three indoor classrooms, an art studio, and an outdoor learning environment including our garden. They are engaged in a full range of developmentally appropriate hands on activities.
What do children eat while at Kumara?
We serve two healthy snacks each day. Our own garden provides some of the snack ingredients. Children bring their own lunches. We have a no sugar policy and encourage use of reusable containers.
Does my child need to be potty-trained before beginning at Kumara?
It is not necessary that a child be potty trained before starting here. Once children are ready to
take this step, we work with families to assist with and support the toilet learning process.
Is there a waiting list? How do we enroll our child?
We encourage you to apply early with persistence. Please see application page
for more information.
FAQ
