Testimonials
Parent Testimonials
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Thank you so much for giving our daughter such an amazing beginning to her school career. We feel so lucky to have found you and Emma. I wish we could give the same experience to our youngest daughter. You have no idea how much we have all appreciated everything you’ve done for us.
-Jenn Rosenberg
I have had the great fortune to know Kathy since my son was in utero. At about six months old she began a facilitated mother/child group that I attended religiously until we moved out of the area when my son was 2.5 years old. Kathy was truly a godsend. Having had years of experience running preschools and being with little ones she brought a constant sense of calm, optimism and joy to our children and to us. Sometimes there would be meltdowns and upsets between the little ones and Kathy would approach each one as a learning and teaching moment. She would gently but firmly step in and help the little ones move through the upset in a positive and loving way.
Knowing that Kathy is finally starting a school of her own (almost) makes me want to have another child just so they could attend! She is so patient, knowledgeable, thoughtful, gentle, and creative with children. The quality of teaching and materials she provides is unsurpassed. I am a very overprotective parent and I trust her with my child without a second thought. Anyone who sends their child to Mount Sutro School is lucky to have a place there.
- Kasey Balin, MFT
My son was a handful. He didn't sleep well at night and didn't want to ever sit still. I often came to her group at my wits end. She would help me to see him and his behavior as normal and even amazing. And on many occasions she would take him from me and engage him directly to give me a break. She knew exactly when to give me a hug, when to tell me I was
doing a great job and acknowledge that motherhood was hard.
Additionally, I consulted Kathy professionally about what preschool to send my son to, what to do about his sleeping challenges and how to support him fully as a Mom. She was generous with her time and expertise and would spend lots of time listening and providing her deep knowledge to my husband and I.
Kathy's play space at her home is truly magical and each detail is thoughtful and supports the children's learning. She put everything in its place for a purpose. The colors, the textures, the shapes, they are all intentional and beautiful. We loved exploring her space.
I want to express how fortunate I was to meet Kathy Prophete. It was a matter of destiny that we met. It just so happened that my daughter was born a little before her oldest son, Sebastien. My wife met them in the parking garage of our building and Kathy mentioned that she was facilitating a play group on Friday's and invited us to attend.
In many ways, Kathy taught me how to be a great Mom. I watched hercarefully and learned so much in how she ushered the little ones through challenges, upsets and celebrations. I would copy her language and movements at home and see how much they worked. In our Mom's group, we would often say, "What would Kathy do?" when trying to approach a challenging situation with our kids. To this day (my son is now 5) I still ask myself this question.
- Niko Everett
I cannot express how much I learned through the playgroup, it gave me the ability to understand my toddler in a way I could never even imagine. Still today, I apply all the different techniques and ways to understand my little one.
The education that I received is something I will never forget the for rest of my life and most importantly the connection that I developed with my daughter is priceless.
-Bernard Birch
Thank you so much Kathy, for helping our son will separation, for taking the time to come to our house to get to know him before he started school, for doing the parenting evenings that have shaped us into better parents, for taking care of him, for being warm and nurturing, for helping him with the transition to the “big” school.
I have visited so many preschools, but yours is still the best, from all the great toys you have (and in excellent condition!) the best arts and crafts and activities, the slide, the swings inside, the outside space with the maze, the bikes, the basketball hoop, etc. All this is thoughtfully arranged, presented, and rotated so that it isn’t too overwhelming for the kids and is engaging and inviting.
But most of all, thank you for going us the best gift you could have ever given us, which is sweet and happy memories of our son’s first year in school. He (and us too) will treasure this memory all his life I’m sure.
- Katia Le Lait
Being part of Kathy's Materials Playgroup was an immensely valuable experience both for my daughter and myself.
Kathy has a beautiful ability to see each child for who he is and honor the child. I feel that is the single most important quality for an adult, whether a teacher, friend, or family, to have that enables a child to feel good about himself and blossom. I also enjoyed the weekly sessions with Kathy because she was easy to talk with and willing to share her experience and expertise whenever I had questions.
I learned enormously from watching how Kathy creates space for the children-- from the materials presented, the arrangement of the room and toys, to how she gave each child the time and space he/she needs. Kathy is a master at witnessing each child and interacting in a respectful and guiding way. She helped me see and value my daughter's style of first observing a new situation or material from a distance then finding her own entry points often different from the initially laid out situation or how other children are using the materials. Kathy is also masterful at modeling and teaching communication to the children. She helps give language to children to help them speak their experiences and negotiate with another child.
My daughter simply loved going to Kathy's place. She felt safe and had a great time exploring the richness of Kathy's space. As I had been a SAHM and was her caretaker all the time, it was especially important to me at that time that she develop a true and affectionate bond with someone else. She surely did with Kathy.
I am delighted to hear that Kathy is opening a school. The lucky children and families who find her will gain a rich experience in so many different ways. Kathy's use of and experience with the Reggio Emilia Approach provides integrated and holistic learning for children that fosters creativity, critical thinking, multi-faceted ways of expressing themselves, love for hands-on processes and experience in collaborating with peers.
-Josephine Lai
We just wanted to say thank you from the bottom of our hearts for the wonderful two years of care you gave our daughter. I’m grateful for the nurturing environment and love she received. She loved going to school every week. Not only was it a great introduction to learning for our daughter but we learned so much from you too. We appreciate all the help with finding a new preschool, you went above and beyond.
- Dallas and Thomas Stromberg