Seeking Feedback on Spanish/Persian Preschools in East Bay

Our son started at Colibri last year and we have been very happy with our experience so far. The school is very well-run and I like how a majority of the teachers have either been there since the beginning or for more than a few years. Our older child went to a different (bilingual) preschool and there was a lot of teacher turnover. The teachers are very engaged with the students, and they’re also very attentive, warm, and loving. My son has picked up Spanish in such a short amount of time—it’s pretty amazing! The curriculum is play-based but there’s also more structure than the school my eldest went to. They also incorporate a bunch of special activities that are funded by the parent’s board—soccer classes, capoeira, dance, etc. Because class sizes are small I would definitely contact them if you are interested in a spot for this coming Fall. You may be put on a waitlist. If it’s for the following year, you should be fine! 

I love Colibri. Three of my kids have gone there and my fourth will go in the fall. They are truly Spanish immersion, with most of the 4s class ohear easily talking to each other and the teachers in Spanish. It is a very nurturing place  with excellent teachers and great admin. We went through Covid with them and was so impressed. They are good communicators and have the best interest of the kids at heart. My kids are energetic and have some challenges but they did well welcoming and accommodating them.    

Our first child joined EBI at 4 years old, and we loved it so much that we started our son even earlier, at age 3. Both kids were totally fluent within 6 months.  The teachers are warm, loving, and experts in their field who have spent their careers teaching.  Because the preschool is part of a PK-8 institution, it runs much more smoothly than the many other preschools we tried, but because the kids are at a campus that has only 3-7 year olds, it feels very cozy and sweet.  Everyone who works there seems to love it, and so do our kids.  And if it turns out you want to stay, your kids can continue on!  

We absolutely love EBI! Watching our child grow and thrive in their caring and engaging environment has been such a joy. From the very first day, we were struck by how warm, attentive, and genuinely dedicated the teachers are. They've created a nurturing space where learning feels like an exciting adventure every day.

Our daughter started at EBI right when she turned three, and now, in her second year of preschool (TK), she is incredibly well-prepared for kindergarten. We plan to keep her at EBI because we've been consistently impressed by the nurturing environment and thoughtful, engaging academics.

We especially appreciate the International Baccalaureate framework at EBI and the thoughtfully designed units of inquiry that truly set it apart from other Spanish immersion schools. These units encourage curiosity, critical thinking, and a deeper understanding of the world, providing our child with an exceptional foundation for future learning. Our daughter loves exploring new concepts, building towers, creating colorful masterpieces, and enthusiastically singing songs in Spanish.

EBI has also built an incredible sense of community, and we genuinely enjoy the opportunities for parent involvement. The Spanish immersion aspect of the preschool has been particularly impressive. Since the teachers are native Spanish speakers, our daughter gets exposure to diverse Spanish accents, enriching her language development. She started the year without knowing any Spanish, and by January, she was already understanding and responding to her teachers’ questions in Spanish. Seeing her language skills blossom so quickly has been truly wonderful!

I strongly recommend The Renaissance International School. My son began at the Primary level (age 3) and is now in the Lower Elementary Program (age 8). He wakes up excited to be at school every day!

We are a multilingual family (not including Spanish) so sending him to a trilingual school made sense for us. Even though he began with the school during the pandemic (when masks were a thing), he picked up Spanish fairly quickly thanks to the patient work of the teachers and the Montessori pedagogy. After two years in the Spanish/English program he is now learning the curriculum in French/Spanish/ English and is fluent in all 3. In general, the cultural and lingual diversity in the faculty and the student community is unique. The Montessori approach allows children to immerse themselves into learning deeply. Lessons are given 1:1 or in small groups around a learning mat. The children then practice their lessons with the teachers supporting their learning and development. While each child is learning at his own pace, there are milestones that need to be met.

Separate from the rich language immersion aspect of it, we found that the Montessori approach focuses on the whole child, which means the academic focus is not the only priority. Emotional and social development of the child are equally important. Respect, grace, courtesy, confidence, self assurance and kindness are important family values for us. The school has allowed my son's personality to bloom to be the best version of himself, aligned with these values. 

Then there are unique things that only happen at TRIS because they are so intrinsic to the monti approach -  Starting at the Elementary level, the school has cooking days where children shop for and prepare an entire lunch for their class and sit down to a fabulous meal, usually from a culture/continent they are studying. At the younger levels, they help prepare with chopping, cleaning, laying the table etc. on their cooking days.  At the elementary level, they go for a week away camping trip (sans parents) to practice independence (the children LOVE it!!). Depending on their curriculum, international trips may also be undertaken, for example for the Montessori Model UN.  The entire school contributes their labor and cooks up an amazing Thanksgiving feast - some classes are in charge of laying the tables and the decorations, others prepare pies, some are on side dishes etc. It is such a wonderful and unique experience for the children. Probably my son's favourite!

The music program is rich. The spring and winter concerts are well produced. They sing in many languages, not just Spanish/French and English. There are instrumental lessons available as well and the instrumental recital is a treat! 

The Art program is also robust. The kids work not just in fine art but also in making small 3D items. Starting @ the elementary level, the 3D work can also be quite STEM-ish, but it is all hands on, nothing digital, which we love. Children get to display their work at a proper Art show/gallery organized at the end of the year. 

All this said, for our family, the MOST important aspect is the school has a strict no device policy even for the older children. This allows the children to have a chance at a real childhood, away from social media. 

I suggest reaching out to the school for an open house. That's the best way to learn about their approach! Good luck with your search.

We love the Renaissance School! Both our kids are currently enrolled there, our daughter has been there for 3 years (she is 6) and our son for almost 2 years (he is 4). 

Our kids are also in a trilingual environment (my husband only speaks Turkish in the house) - and being at TRIS has strengthened the love of language. 

The school follows the Montessori philosophy and the days and children's work (depending on age level) is structured while enabling the kids to go at their own speed. The teachers are phenomenal, both of our kids are so happy and thriving.

The pre-primary program (2 -3 yr old / preschool age) is wonderful. The kids have plenty of play based work and practical life activities - again, the teachers are so loving and great guides. If your child is not potty trained they also guide them through this process. I highly recommend checking TRIS out - happy to answer any other questions.