Electives

Gym/Music/French (Nathalie Sanchez)

Nathalie is a certified Early Childhood Educator.  She is French Canadian and speaks French fluently.  She comes with experience in dance, movement, singing and music, including two recorded albums.  This school year Nathalie is our music and gym specialist.  She will teach gymnastic as well as music, songs and movements once a week during the morning classes.  The gymnastic routines help the children build body-confidence, coordination, motor skills, strength, and flexibility as well as a love for movement.  Each class includes a warm-up, followed by age-appropriate tumbling passes, obstacle course and large muscle movements that build integrated strength and coordination.  Nathalie will also continue to teach French as an elective course.  This is the 3rd year of French Immersion at MSP!  In the French class children will learn French through conversations, songs, arts and craft activities, as well as the French culture.  

Dance (Mary Lyons)

Mary was trained at the Royal Academy of Dance London, England. She had a dance school in Scotland for ten years.   She has been operating "Dance Center One" in Walnut Creek.  This is the 7th year that Ms. Lyons is teaching dance at MSP.  With a passion for creativity and discipline, she is committed to teach dance to children of all ethnicity.  In dance children learn a variety of activities in large and small groups, such as skipping, turn taking, posture and beginning dance positions for a variety of dance forms such as ballet, tap, and jazz.

Karate (Kristen Matarazzo)

This is the 4th year of Karate at MSP!  Kristen was an instructor and student at The Academy of Martial Arts for 6 years.  Karate is a wonderful opportunity to help children strengthen their gross motor development.  Through the use of games and drills, children also learn self-control, perseverance, listening skills and team work.

Spanish Immersion (Janet Martorano)

Janet was a chef and cooking teacher at Berkeley Montessori School.  Teaching has always been enjoyable to her.  It particularly brings her great joy and excitement to teach children in her native language (Spanish).  This is the 3rd year of Spanish Immersion at MSP!  In this elective class Janet hopes to instill in children a love for learning the Spanish language and the Mexican culture.  She intends to share with the children her knowledge of the Mexican culture and teaches them Spanish through conversations, songs, stories, arts, and cooking activities.  Her son Nick (17) and daughter Gabby (15) were once students at Mustard Seed Preschool.