About Us
What is Little Paws?
We are a farmhouse preschool serving children ages 2-6. Our schoolhouse offers a complete Montessori program, proudly unique in its:
- 1:3 ratio of teachers to students
- introduction of nature’s rhythms into daily activities
Our goal at Little Paws is to allow each child to develop at his or her own pace, with the presence of nature and loving teachers to guide and support.
What/Who is Montessori?
Dr. Maria Montessori was one of the first female doctors in Italy. She began to work with children, and quickly identified “sensitive periods” within a child’s life during which time a child is sensitive to the development of certain skills.
She also observed that, when provided with tools to act independently upon their own environment, children develop a sense of dignity and confidence that stays with them for the rest of their lives. She advocated “following the child”; that is, giving the right lesson at the right time and allowing the child to participate in their own progress - rather than teaching all children the same lesson at the same time.
Where are we?
We are nestled in the heart of Hollywood, conveniently close to Hollywood & Highland and the 101.
The Teachers
Miss Faith
Miss Faith served as lead teacher at two Montessori schools in Los Angeles before starting Little Paws. She earned her BA in English and Art History at UVA, her AMS Montessori Credential at Montessori Teachers Academy in Monarch Bay, and her Early Childhood Education certification from UCLA.
Miss Vanessa
Miss Vanessa is the Lead Teacher at Little Paws. She completed her AMS degree at Montessori Teachers Academy in Monarch Bay. Vanessa has been working with children for over 12 years. She has worked in state school, traditional preschool, and Montessori. Vanessa feels passionate about seeing children grow and being there to guide and open doors for them. "We are teaching the future of America."
Miss Caroline
Miss Caroline has worked with children throughout her life. She loves to see a child’s confidence soar in an inspiring environment filled with kindness and respect. Her favorite lessons are in language and letters as well as artistic and musical expression.
Miss Annica
Miss Annica is so happy to have the privilege of working with the wonderful children, teachers, and parents at Little Paws! She earned her degree in San Francisco and gathered 4 years of professional experience working with preschool-aged children before joining the Little Paws team in 2021. Annica adores helping children learn and grow as individuals and make progress in their education, and she is always surprised by how much they have to teach her, too. She is excited to get to know everyone over the coming school year!
Apply to Little Paws Montessori
Welcome
Thank you so much for your interest in Little Paws Montessori!
We are currently enrolling ages 2-6 for the 2024-2025 school year, which runs from September 3rd to June 6th.
Feel free to check in about earlier enrollment if your child is 3 years or older. We occasionally have space for that age group on a rolling basis.
Before registering at the link below, please take a moment to review the Downloads section of this website for more information about our school. There you will find:
- the current Enrollment Contract for more information on schedules and tuition rates
- the current Calendar, for an idea of how future years will look
- the current Parent Handbook and Sick Policy, for more information on our policies and philosophies from the Montessori Method to naptime, behavior, transitions, potty training, and more
- sample Monthly Newsletters, for more information on our culture and weekly curriculum
Should you still like to enquire about scheduling a tour and applying to Little Paws Montessori for any start date, please follow the below steps.
1. Register
Please click the below link to register with us:
https://www.himama.com/online_registration/apply/little-paws-montessori
You may not schedule a tour until you have registered in our system. This is not a mailing list or a commitment to apply, and will only be used further should you decide to officially apply after your tour. In the registration form, please be sure to include:
- The number of days for which you are interested in enrolling
- Whether or not your child has been to school before
- Whether or not your child is potty-trained
Once you have submitted the form, you will receive an initial email from Little Paws Montessori confirming your submission. Within a few business days, you will receive a second email inviting you to create an application profile, and a separate email from Little Paws Director, Antonia Faith, inviting you to schedule a tour with us. A tour - with your child present - is required for all applying families. *Please keep in mind school is closed June 10-September 3, and registration responses may be delayed during that time.*
2. Tour
The next step in your application process is your tour. We do tours at 9:30 am, Monday through Thursday. *Please note that you must bring your child with you to your tour.*
Book your time at the link below once you have registered and received an invitation from our Director to schedule your tour. Please do not book a tour until you have received an email inviting you to do so.
https://littlepawsmontessori.com/ola/services/little-paws-tour
We will show you around, answer any questions you may have, and encourage your child to spend some time in the classroom during the Montessori work period - exploring the shelves and meeting the other friends and teachers!
3. Apply
If, after your tour, you would like to officially apply for a spot in our class, follow the link in your second email from Little Paws Montessori. (The subject of the email is “<Your Child’s Name> Has Been Invited to Register at Little Paws Montessori”).
This link will allow you to create an application login, and then access our Application and Enrollment Materials portal. From there:
- Click on Step 1: Application Fee, and use the QR code to pay the $100 application fee.
- Click on Step 2: Application Questionnaire. Fill out this survey and upload it back into your portal.
At this point, you will officially be added to our applicant pool. Feel free to confirm with Miss Faith by phone or email that we have received everything we need from you.
4. Expect an application decision from us.
If you are applying for the 2024-2025 school year, you should receive a decision from us within two weeks of submitting your application.
If you are offered a place at Little Paws Montessori, you will be invited to complete your enrollment by filling out the remaining forms in the portal, which include: Enrollment Contract, Emergency Contacts, Health History, Vaccination Records, and California Licensing Forms.
Thank you so much again for your interest in Little Paws Montessori, and we hope to meet you soon!
