A Montessori preschool experience,
in a welcoming home-like environment.
Our School
MCHLG holds a Large Family Child Care License under the California Department of Social Services, license #376614702. Under our license, attendance is limited to 12 students a day, a 1:6 ratio, allowing for a small classroom that is cozy and home-like. Our classroom is a lovely environment for our 2-year-olds experiencing their first school setting and enables our older children to provide leadership and guidance as they continue their individualized learning.
Our license also allows for children who are not yet using the toilet and still require diapers or pull-ups, and we help with transitioning to bathroom independence when they are ready.
Our approval through the National Association of Child Care Resource and Referral Agencies (NACCRRA) under Child Care Aware® of America for our Military Families requires annual unannounced site visits instead of 2-5 years of other facilities. To view our past facility evaluation reports, visit: the Department of Social Services facility search.
We also have annual unannounced site visits from San Diego Fire and Rescue to check our smoke and carbon monoxide monitors, fire extinguishers, and fire and earthquake drill sheets.
- Teachers and assistants have current EMSA-approved and OSHA-compliant CPR-AED and First Aid certifications for adults, children, and infants (pediatric). These require the full 8-hour accreditation every two years. (EMSA-approved certificates cannot be re-certified at the lesser 4-hour time.)
- Teachers, assistants, and all household members have received Fingerprint Clearance through the Department of Justice.
- Under Health and Safety Code 1596.8662, teachers and assistants have completed Mandated Reported training for their duties as reporters of the California Child Abuse & Neglect Reporting Act.
- As required by Employee and Volunteer Immunization Code 1597.622, teachers and assistants have documentation of immunization against pertussis, measles, and influenza.
Ms. DeniseOwner and director Mary Denise Duppée received her Montessori Certification in 1994 and worked in Montessori preschools in San Diego and El Cajon for over a decade before opening MCHLG.She continued her education by completing Montessori Philosophy and Methods of Child Development through the Extended Studies Program at UCSD.
Ms. Denise holds a degree in Photography from the Art Institute of Pittsburgh. 2014, she became a Certified Barton Reading and Spelling Tutor for Dyslexia and a Dyslexia Screener and Consultant. She is a member of the American Montessori Society (AMS), the International Dyslexia Association (IDA), and Children and Adults with Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (CHADD).
Ms. SophiaMs. Sophia has a BA in Child Development from Point Loma Nazarene University and is working toward her Montessori teacher certification. She worked in the classroom during high school for her Child Development internship and continued teaching while she attended university.
Montessori Method
The name “Montessori” is from Dr. Maria Montessori, the first female Doctor of Medicine in Italy, who lived from 1870 to 1952. Dr. Montessori developed her unique educational method through her work with children, known as the Montessori Method, which is both a philosophy of child development and a rationale for guiding such growth. Children’s developmental needs are fostered through freedom within limits in a carefully prepared environment, which guarantees exposure to materials and experiences.
The main premises of Montessori education are:
- Children possess unusual sensitivity and intellectual ability to absorb and learn from their environments, unlike adults in quality and capacity.
- The most critical years of a child’s growth are the first six years when their unconscious learning comes to a conscious level.
"Never help a child with a task at which he feels he can succeed." -Maria Montessori.
The Whole Child Approach: The primary goal of a Montessori program is to help the children reach their full potential in all areas of life. Activities promote the development of social skills, emotional growth, physical coordination, and mental preparation.
The Prepared Environment: In the self-directed classroom, the whole learning environment (classroom, materials, and social setting) must support the children.
The Montessori Materials: Dr. Montessori’s observations led her to design several multi-sensory, sequential, and self-correcting materials to facilitate learning.
The Teacher: The Montessori teacher meticulously observes each child’s behavior and growth. Based on this observation, the teacher guides the child in an environment designed to meet the child's needs. Montessori credentialing requires years of extensive training.
Dr. Montessori has impacted education and how we understand and teach children today. Her influence can be seen not only in the number of schools that bear her name but throughout child care, education, and development.
Modern kindergarten classrooms use child-sized furniture and didactic materials, first introduced by Montessori. She was an innovator in education, and ideas that were once met with resistance in her day are now accepted as natural aspects of childhood. Her ideas are now part of our knowledge, language, and thinking about children.
Current concepts such as individualized learning and readiness programs, manipulative learning, ungraded classes, combined age groups, team teaching, and open classrooms reflect many of her early insights.
Classroom
2024-2025 School Year Calendar
Enrollment Forms
Welcome!
When it is time for you to enroll, you will use the forms in the links below. You will return the completed forms, the $150 nonrefundable registration and insurance fee, and your child’s Yellow Immunization card to the school. (Checks payable to Mary Denise Duppée.)Your child MUST be up to date with all required immunizations to enroll in our school.
Required Immunizations.pdf
1 2024-2025 Enrollment Agreement and Registration.pdf
2 COVID-19 Waiver (rev. 2022 March).pdf
3 Consent For Emergency Medical Treatment (LIC627).pdf
4 Identification and Emergency Information Form (LIC700).pdf
5 Notification of Parent's Rights (LIC995A) (Y).pdf
6 Release for Electronic Student Work Photograph Video.pdf
7 Parent Notification Additional Children (LIC9150).pdf
8a Receipt of Effects of Lead Exposure.pdf
Here are links for the paperwork for you to keep:
8b Effects of Lead Exposure CDSS.pdf
9 2024-2025 School Year Calendar.pdf
10 Family Child Care Consumer Awareness Info. (LIC9212).pdf
11 Daily Schedule.pdf
12 Caregiver Background Check (LIC995E).pdf
13 Parent Handbook (revised 3-2024).pdf
Military Families
NACCRRA APPROVED 
Montessori Children’s House of Lemon Grove is proud to have met the qualifications required by the National Association of Child Care Resource and Referral Agencies (NACCRRA) under Child Care Aware® of America for our Military Families. This is a testament to our unwavering commitment to excellence.
OMCC
- We are an approved facility for Operation Military Child Care (OMCC). The OMCC program provides fee assistance for Families of Sailors deployed or attached to a ship. It also assists geographically dispersed Marines and activated Reservists living more than 30 miles from an installation.
MCCYN
- We have not only met but exceeded the requirements for the Military Child Care in Your Neighborhood (MCCYN) approval. This demonstrates our unwavering commitment to providing the highest quality care for our military families.
- The MCCYN program provides fee assistance for families of Active Duty Sailors who cannot access on-installation child care. It also assists geographically dispersed Marines and activated Reservists living more than 30 miles from an installation. Families living within 30 miles or 45 minutes of on-installation child care must be on the waitlist before applying for fee assistance.
Please note: While Montessori Children’s House of Lemon Grove made considerable effort to receive these certifications, we are not affiliated with the military. Any aid received will be applied to tuition, but tuition is due in full regardless of whether your request for fee assistance is granted.
- For information about these programs, visit usa.childcareaware.org
- Our provider ID is 460324.
Covid-19
Covid-19
The Coronavirus/COVID-19 pandemic guidelines will be updated as data and information change. We stay up-to-date through the California Department of Social Services (CDSS) Provider Information Notices (PIN). We also attend ongoing County Health telebriefings.
With this information and guidelines, MCHLG is following, and will continue to follow, the most current laws, mandates, requirements, and recommendations issued by Federal, State, and local authorities.
The expectation is for participants in our preschool program to do the same to ensure general safety and well-being.
Discipline Policy
We believe all children should feel safe at school, and children learn that they cannot engage in actions that hurt themselves, others, or the school. Safety is always our priority, especially for our outside play. We use positive, proactive statements such as “Please walk to get your lunch.” instead of “Stop running!”
We encourage the children to work out their differences with each other. We will help mediate their disagreements when needed, showing them how to talk to each other to resolve their problem. Children are discouraged from “tattling” and encouraged to give their friends a chance to right the situation. Many disagreements and hurt feelings come from misunderstood intentions. Forcing a child to say, “I’m sorry,” does not settle conflicts.
Here is an example of a disagreement and how we would handle it.
Situation: Aaron unknowingly hits Beatrice with his mat when he puts away his work. Beatrice becomes upset and tells a teacher Aaron hit her.
If the teacher only comforts Beatrice, Beatrice will not learn how to handle future problems. If the teacher decides to jump in and punish Aaron prematurely, that resolution is unfair.
Instead, the teacher can work with Beatrice to help her talk with Aaron. Beatrice could start by saying, “Aaron, you hit me with your mat.” Since Aaron did not realize this then, he may become defensive and upset, “No, I didn’t!” This is a vital teaching moment. By helping Aaron understand that he accidentally hit Beatrice, his response to Beatrice can change to “I’m sorry, Beatrice. I didn’t know I hit you with my mat. Are you alright?” He may offer a hug or a tissue for her tears. Beatrice has learned to speak up for herself and knows how to handle a future problem with a friend. She has allowed a friend to correct a situation and, by doing that, has had her injury acknowledged. Beatrice can now thank Aaron for his sincere apology and move on with her day.
At some time, all children exhibit behavior that needs correcting. However, not all children can be disciplined the same way due to age, the frequency of the behavior, the time spent in the environment, and the child’s personality. The main points used in disciplining a child at Montessori Children’s House of Lemon Grove are:
•A child must understand what behavior is acceptable before being expected to follow that behavior.
The school rules are explained to the children as they learn the school expectations.
•A child must be able to follow the rules.
As they grow in age, the children also grow to follow the school rules.
•Behavioral choices lead to consequences.
Giving consequences is teaching a lesson that leads to positive choices. It encourages self-examination, accepting responsibility for one’s actions, the ability to learn from mistakes, and the development of an inner voice of self-control.
Spanking, hitting, slapping, shaking, verbal or emotional abuse are not permitted.
Working for a child’s success is essential for classroom management, including anticipating a child’s behavior. Moving children closer to a teacher, reminding them of the rules before starting an activity, helping them express themselves with their words to voice their feelings, and acknowledging improved behavior are ways we discipline them.
If a child continues a hurtful or dangerous behavior, we will separate them from the group until they can control their actions. A teacher will sit near them, and when they feel ready to rejoin the group, the teacher will help them after first talking about the situation and reminding them of the rules. The teacher will help them make amends (if needed) to any friend they might have hurt with their actions or words. We do not use the term “time out.”
Parent Handbook
Hours & Tuition
SCHOOL HOURS
| Morning Arrival: 8:00-8:30 |
| Afternoon Dismissal: 2:30-3:00 |
AFTERSCHOOL CARE
| Afterschool care is available 3:00-4:00 at $12 an hour. Advance notice of care is needed. |
DAYS OF OPERATION
The School Year is from the last week of August through the 4th week of June.
- MCHLG observes most legal holidays and is closed for two weeks for Winter Break and one week for Spring Break. Also, MCHLG is closed for one week at the end of the School Year and two weeks at the end of Summer Camp.
Summer Camp is for six weeks, starting at the beginning of July.
TUITION
The School Year tuition is a yearly rate divided into ten monthly payments for convenience.
| 5 Days | M-F | $10,200 yearly, ten monthly payments of $1,020 Total days of school for 5-day schedule: 195 |
| 3 Days | M-W-F | $7,800 yearly, ten monthly payments of $780 Total days of school for 3-day schedule: 113 |
| 2 Days | T-Th | $6,240 yearly, ten monthly payments of $624 Total days of school for 2-day schedule: 79 |
The Summer Camp tuition is $250 per week or any particular day at $50 per day.
Visit and enroll
- Open Enrollment begins in April for the Upcoming School Year. Siblings and those on the waitlist are given priority.
- Summer Camp is for currently enrolled students or new students starting the School Year.
- We usually cannot take mid-year admissions, but you can inquire if we have space.
- Think ahead! Our school fills up quickly.
1. Review! Review! Review!
Please review this website. It offers information on school hours, calendar, location, pricing, and, most importantly, Montessori Methodology.
2. Looks good!
After reviewing the website and deciding that our school will be a good fit for your family, you need to contact the school.
3. Contact us!
You can reach us by filling out the Contact Form on this website.
4. Questions!
Our website is extensive, but if you don’t find the answer to your question, let us know using the contact form.
5. Visit!
You can schedule a tour for your family. If you don't want to visit but have questions, refer to Step 4.
6. Waitlist!
Open Enrollment for those on the waitlist will begin in April. A school visit is required to secure a place on the waitlist.
7. Visit other schools!
We love our school and all we offer, but we encourage you to visit other schools for comparison. We know finding a good fit for your family is essential.
Please note: we do not allow unannounced “walk-in” visits. Prospective parents must make an appointment to visit the school.
However, parents with children currently enrolled in our school have the legal right to enter the school unannounced at any time. This is the law, but it would be our policy regardless.
Annual visits from state licensing and safety inspections from the fire department are always unannounced. When they arrive, they have complete access to the school.
Contact
- 8121 Braddock Place, San Diego, CA 92114
- Arrival between 8:00-8:30am Dismissal between 2:30-3:00pm
FAQ
Can my child attend if they are still using diapers or pull-ups?
- Yes!! Our license also allows for children who still require the use of diapers or pull-up, and we help with transitioning to bathroom independence when they are ready.
How old does my child need to be to attend?
- We accept children 2 to 5 years old.
What are the school hours?
- Our hours are arrival between 8:00-8:30am and dismissal between 2:30-3:00pm.
Do you offer afterschool care?
- Afterschool care is available from 3:00-4:00 at $12 an hour. Advanced notice of care is needed.
My child does not have all or some of their vaccinations. Can they still attend?
- You must have documentation of your child’s up-to-date immunizations.
- There are no exceptions to this rule.
- 3 Polio
- 4 Diphtheria, Tetanus, and Pertussis (DTaP)
- 3 Hepatitis B
- 1 Measles, Mumps, and Rubella (MMR) on or after the 1st birthday
- 1 Haemophilus influenza type b (Hib) on or after the 1st birthday
- 1 Varicella (chickenpox)
How many children are in the classroom?
- We are licensed for 12 children per day.
What is the teacher-student ratio?
- The teacher-student ratio is 1:6.
How many classrooms are in the school?
- We have one mixed-age classroom.
Does my child bring their lunch?
- Yes. Children bring a packed lunch from home. Look at our Parent Handbook for some lunch ideas.
Why does it say parents can't visit the school? I want access to my child.
- If your child is enrolled at the school, you can enter the school any time you want. This is your legal right.
- However, we do not allow unannounced "walk-in" visits from prospective parents. Those parents must make an appointment to visit the school.