Independent Schools

On Tuesday, March 26, Cascade Canyon School opens its doors to the whole family with a K-8 open house event from 6:30–8 pm. Marin's "intentionally small school" will be expanding a little, from 60 students to 70, with the fall 2013 addition of an innovative new green classroom and lab for science and math. The open house includes a student-led tour, demonstration lessons, a teacher-led question-and-answer session, and an opportunity to meet the head of school. If possible, families should plan to attend for the full program.

Cascade Canyon hosts its next parent tour on Thursday, March 28, at 9 am. Tours provide parents an intimate opportunity to see our school in session. Prospective families are urged to attend both a tour and an Open House event, if possible.

Cascade Canyon is an intentionally small, independent, progressive, and non-profit school that offers individualized attention, a program is based on critical thinking, a rich academic core, and an inspirational science, math, arts and language program.

Marin Mommies presents a guest article by Karen LeFurgy, Ring Mountain Day School parent and Vice Chair of the school's Board of Trustees.

As a mother who enjoys reading Marin Mommies on a regular basis, I wanted to share with other local moms a positive story about a group of engaged and active parents at Ring Mountain Day School. I’m very proud of our story and particularly eager to share it with other parents who may be searching for a top quality school that embodies what a true school community is all about.

All three of my children are attending or have attended Ring Mountain and I serve as Vice Chair on the Board of Trustees. For those who are unfamiliar with us, we are an independent K–8 school in Mill Valley with an enrollment of just under 100 students. At Ring Mountain, we try to be a little different than other schools by offering small class sizes of 8–15 students so that our faculty can apply an individualized, integrated approach and teach a core curriculum that emphasizes problem solving in real-life situations, promoting comprehensive

This Saturday, several prominent independent schools in Marin and southern Sonoma counties are holding open houses for prospective parents. If you're considering a local independent school for your child, you'll definitely want to attend.

The following schools have open houses scheduled for tomorrow. Click the title links for more information on each open house.

• Dunham Academy Open House
  10 am–noon
  Dunham Academy, Marin's School for gifted children, holds an open house from 10 am–noon at its campus at St. Vincent's near Marinwood. More information
• Cascade Canyon School Open House Event
  10 am–noon
  Cascade Canyon School, a progressive K–8 school in Fairfax, holds its open house on Saturday from 10 am–noon. More information
• Marin Waldorf School Open House
  10 am–12:30 pm
  Marin Waldorf School, which offers eduction for children from early childhood to 8th grade, holds its open house at its San Rafael campus from 10 am–12:30 pm. Free childcare is provided in the preschool room (dropoff at 10 am) More information
• Spring Hill Montessori School Open House
  10 am and 2 pm
  Spring Hill Montessori holds open houses for its bilingual preschool–kindergarten program at 825 Middlefield Drive  at 10 am and its 1st–6th grade program at 121 Spring Hill Drive at 2 pm. Open houses are for adults only.

If you're looking to enroll your child for kindergarten in a local independent school, make sure you attend the Marin Independent Schools' Kindergarten Fair on Wednesday, October 5, from 6 to 7:30 pm at the Osher Marin Jewish Community Center. Each participating school will have a table where parents can pick up brochures, ask questions, and sign up to receive more information. It's a great opportunity to learn what makes each school unique!

Participating schools include Dunham Academy, Brandeis Hillel Day School, Lycee Francais International School, Marin Country Day School, Marin Montessori School, Marin Waldorf School, Saint Mark's School, Ring Mountain Day School, San Domenico School, and others.

The Kindergarten Fair takes place in the JCC's Kurland Lounge. The Osher Marin JCC is located at 200 North San Pedro Road in San Rafael.