Principal's Welcome

Principal's Community Welcome!

Hello Current and Prospective Parkside Montessori Families,

My name is Nima Tahai and I have been Parkside Montessori’s Principal since 2019. What attracted me to Parkside was the dedicated staff, active parent community, and the unique gift a Montessori education provides in helping a child reach their potential. San Mateo is also my hometown and I love that I can give back to this vibrant community and also raise my kids here.

If you are a prospective parent, please visit our enrollment page today!

Our commitment to a Montessori education
Parkside's North Star is implementing a high quality public program dedicated to Montessori fidelity. This involves a commitment to the five essentials of a Montessori classroom including multi-age classrooms and uninterrupted work periods. We are also striving to ensure our teachers are all trained in the key fundamentals of Montessori teaching such as responding to students need with appropriate individualized guidance and instruction.

Our students
Our program emphasizes the development of every aspect of a child's intellectual, social, and creative abilities, using hands-on materials and structured learning environments. Importantly, the Montessori method emphasizes attitudes and skills which inspire lifelong learning and help our children navigate an ever-changing world. These are just some of the reasons why I enrolled my son and daughter at Parkside.

If you come into any of our classrooms, you will see students learning how to collaborate, complete math problems using hands on materials, making their own pollinators in a science lesson, or writing a personal narrative about a day in their life. More importantly, you will see them developing independence, concentration, responsibility, and empathy.

Our families
We could not provide this amazing program without our wonderful parent and family community. Their volunteer time, community involvement, financial support and collaboration help Parkside Montessori continue to grow and thrive.

I am thrilled that you are visiting our school website and hope you enjoy finding out more about our school, staff, students, families, and community!

Go Parkside Tigers!

All my best,

Nima Tahai

2024-2025 Principal's Back to School Message, published on parent square 7/31/24

Hello Parkside Montessori Families,

I’m writing to share some important next steps to help you prepare for the first day of school on August 14th, 2024.

Principal’s Update

I hope that all families have had a restful and joyful summer. The Tahai family enjoyed our first summer of the kids going to Summer Camps and a family vacation to Monterey that included lots of swimming and a visit to the Aquarium!

On campus, Parkside has been closed to all staff and families as the school experienced significant construction projects. Our exciting improvements include:

New HVAC air conditioning in all classrooms,
2 new solar panel structures (one each on the Primary and Upper Yard),
A redesigned Upper Elementary/Adolescent courtyard space,
A new turf field on our Upper Yard,
And new paving and striping on our Upper Yard

So much good stuff!

The physical construction on campus parallels well with the growth and improvements we have made to our Montessori program since 2019.

Each year at Parkside we continue to set and exceed big goals for our community! We just don’t get tired of winning :)

With our expansion complete our staff and families can fully focus on deepening the great work we are doing to develop a thriving and sustainable excellent school model.

At Parkside, we are not just a school, we are an incredible community! I’m looking forward to seeing everyone back on campus to get our education on :)

Principal Tahai

(Please read on for more details to help you prepare for the first days of school.)

Don’t Wait, Join the PTA Today!

The most important thing you can do to help the school right now is join the PTA. :)

Register and join the PTA to get immediate access to the school community directory. While you’re there, submit and complete your Direct Donation, Family Waiver, and Volunteer Survey. Get started HERE.

Parent Portal and Parent Square

Update Aeries Parent Portal- Please sign in to verify your child’s contact information and complete the required annual SMFCSD forms for the 2024 - 2025 school year. Get started HERE.

Sign up and help other family members and friends get on the system today by passing along this information on how to sign up for Parent Square HERE.

Bell Schedule, Arrival/Dismissal Procedures

School Starts at 8:15a for all students this year! We also have adjusted dismissal times. Please review the updated Bell Schedule HERE.

Scroll down to view detailed Google Slides, including updates on breakfast, morning yard access, and walk-up pick-up gates designated to each teacher.

Help make drop-up and pick-up a success for all by reviewing the updated Arrival/Dismissal Procedures HERE. A reminder that arrival and dismissal will take longer on the first days of school until our community gets into our groove.

Breakfast, Snack, Lunch and We are a Nut-Free School

Parkside is a Nut Free school - We have students with very severe nut allergies and to ensure their safety, we ask that all families respectfully ensure that the food you bring on campus is nut-free. At this time “nut free” means peanuts and tree nuts. Pending the needs of our student population this year, other food items may be added to this list.

Breakfast - Parkside will serve breakfast in the LGI daily from 8:05-8:15a. Parents can drop their child off or come join them in the LGI for breakfast. Please do not park in either parking lot in the mornings.

Snack - Send your child with a nut-free snack and water bottle. Please avoid packing sweetened beverages and candy in student snacks to help your child focus. Please remind your child that we cannot share snacks at school.

Lunch - Parkside 1st-8th graders will have lunch during lunch recess on Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, and Friday from 11:30-12:30p. Students can either bring a nutritious and nut-free lunch to school or request a free school lunch. TK/K students do not have a lunch period during their 4-hour school day.

A note about district lunches: State law requires that district-provided lunches be consumed by students on campus. Daily for TK/K students and on Wednesdays for all students - if your child wants a district lunch they will need to eat in the LGI after dismissal. If your child is in the Annex, they will oversee the lunch arrangements.

What’s for Lunch? Link to district breakfast and lunch menu.

First Day of School Checklist

Send your child with a nut-free snack and water bottle.

Apply sunscreen to your child and include it in their backpack for them to re-apply as needed.

Please Do Not Buy School Supplies - Instead, we ask ALL families to donate to the PTA’s Direct Donation Drive! The PTA buys all the school supplies, pays for all assemblies, field trips, funds staff support, and more!

Back to School Nights

These gatherings are parents-only events to welcome and orient families to the school year.

This year the on-campus Back to School Nights will kick off with principal Tahai in the LGI at 5p, followed by parents visiting classrooms for teacher presentations.

Virtual Principal’s Back to School Night, on Google Meet, Tuesday, August 13th 4-5p, link coming soon

TK/K “Primary”, Thursday, August 15th, on-campus, 5-6:30p, kick off in the LGI

*7th/8th “Adolescent”, on Google Meet Thursday, August 15th, virtual, 5-6:00p, link coming soon

1st-3rd “Lower Elementary”, Wednesday, August 21, on-campus, 5-6:30p, kick off in the LGI

4th-6th “Upper Elementary”, Thursday, August 22, on-campus, 5-6:30p, kick off in the LGI

*The Adolescent teachers will host an info session on the beginning of the year retreat and invite parents for an on-campus “Back to School” gathering later in the first trimester.

Other Important Save the Dates:

All School Back to School Picnic, hosted by the PTA, Sunday, August 11th 1-3:30p (details to follow)

Back to School- Dine & Donate PTA Fundraiser @ Lazy Dog Restaurant, Tuesday, August 13th & Wednesday, August 14th All Day (proceed of dollars spent will come back to Parkside)

First Day of School, Wednesday, August 14th, 8:15a (plan to arrive early, it is busy on the first day!)

First Day of School PTA Hosted Parent Social, LGI, Wednesday, August 14th, ~8:15a right after drop-off

1st PTA Meeting of the Year, Tuesday, August 27th, 6:30-8:30p (in-person, details to follow)

** Sync the PTA calendar with your calendar and never miss an event! Click HERE.

Parents as Classroom Assistants Program

If you are a parent who can volunteer at least 3 consistent hours a week to be a classroom assistant and are passionate about increasing your Montessori expertise - please click here to read our informational flyer and email Principal Tahai if you are interested in becoming a classroom assistant.

If you are a returning parent assistant, please contact our Montessori Coach, Julie Mamis, the week of August 12th to set up your schedule.

Construction Updates

Our School offices will open at Parkside on Monday, August 5th. Please call, email, or visit if you have any questions or need support.

In addition to all the upgrades noted at the beginning of this message, construction will continue throughout the year on the new Multipurpose Room, lunch shade structure, and portions of landscaping. This will all be completed by the summer of 2025. This year the work area for the Multipurpose Room will continue to be fenced off on our Upper Yard.