About us
Our Vision
The Child Unique Montessori School is dedicated to providing students with a learning experience that will form a foundation for their development as complete human beings. Our vision is that this foundation will open a world of positive social, emotional, and educational opportunities to every student. We see an environment that will foster each student's unique strengths, guiding them through those areas where they are challenged, and encouraging understanding and tolerance in their world. We believe that this is education for peace.
The History of The Child Unique Montessori School
The Child Unique Montessori School was founded on July 3, 1983. The school was first located in a small house at 1516 Bay Street in Alameda, and was licensed for 12 preschool students. The house was leased, and a parent exchanged childcare for the building of furniture and electrical work.
In 1985, parents asked the Administrator to enlarge the program to accommodate Kindergarten and First Grade students. Parents, like the Standke-Braun and Accord families, assisted with needed materials and furniture.
In June of 1985, the building, which housed the preschool site, went on the market. As funds and availability was scarce, parents received notice that The Child Unique might close its doors. With the help of Denise Rosko, five other Child Unique parents and the Economic Development Corporation of Alameda, the Victorian house at 2226 Encinal Avenue was purchased and renovated. The house was lifted, moved, and a school created on the new first floor.
In the same year, the owners of a house at 2212 Pacific Avenue asked the Administrator of The Child Unique to consider their home to rent upon the closure of their infant day care center. The house was leased, and an additional license was granted for preschoolers. School began at the Pacific and Encinal sites in September 1986, paving the way for an additional 60 families to join The Child Unique.
Two years later, The Child Unique outgrew its space, and parents assisted with the renovation of the upstairs unit at the Encinal site. Richard Sherman, a Child Unique parent who has since passed away, left his mark of love through the texturing of the walls of the upstairs unit.
One grade was added each year, until The Child Unique reached eighth grade. In 1991, The Child Unique graduated its first official seventh grade class. We are pleased to have 100% of our students from that class enrolled in college; two of whom are National Merit scholars or finalists; the remaining students enrolled in schools in the UC system. As one of the graduates from that class remarked, "It was weird leaving, and knowing that for the first time, I wasn't coming back. It was hard—the leaving, because it was so fun here. But I felt ready. All of the teachers, the way they taught, the things I learned and the way that I learned those things, it made me really ready for high school. It was good, and I'm really well prepared."
In 1999, to meet the demographic demands of the area, The Child Unique returned to its preschool-Kindergarten status. To meet this need, one campus focuses on toddlers (2-4 years.); the other site serves preschool through 1st grade.