Located on the Farallone View Elementary School Campus, our Montara Before/After School Center is open from 7:30 a.m. - 5:30 p.m.
Our learning and creativity center is designed for a variety of age groups: TK - 5th.
Our centers are warm and inviting, with couches, kitchens, work spaces for homework/learning, and play areas. The environment helps us to create a program with set activity times and structure, while also offering flexibility to provide your child with the option to self-direct during their time with us.
Montara Program Highlights:
Our learning and creativity center is designed for a variety of age groups: TK - 5th.
Our centers are warm and inviting, with couches, kitchens, work spaces for homework/learning, and play areas. The environment helps us to create a program with set activity times and structure, while also offering flexibility to provide your child with the option to self-direct during their time with us.
Montara Program Highlights:
- Montara is conveniently located on the Farallone View Elementary School campus.
- Attendance tracking for all children (parent or teacher sign-in and parent sign-out); TK and Kinders are picked up from class by CCP teachers.
- Site Supervisor and Assistant Director are California Department of Education permitted, having completed college coursework specific to before/after school programs and early learning .
- All teachers are required to obtain at least 24 child development units from college coursework to hold their Teacher permit.
- Strict adherence to a maximum of a 14:1 child to teacher ratio; this is a requirement of licensed before/after school programs per California state law as directed by the Department of Education.
- Hands-on homework support, customized for your child's needs. Families collaborate with the Site Supervisor to provide direction and feedback to tailor the support.
- Safe access to additional on-campus enrichment programs.
- Daily snacks.
- Strong relationship with The HEAL Project and learning about the natural world through hands on experiences.
- Tennis programs included at no extra charge.
- Full day programing for most days that CUSD is closed, lunch and snacks included.
Montara Program Curriculum:
We base our program on the Emergent philosophy of teaching and curriculum planning, which focuses on being responsive to childrens' interests to create meaningful learning experiences.
Emergent programs prioritize active participation, relationship building, flexible methods, inquiry and play-based learning. CCP teachers expose students to new concepts (examples include caterpillars, deep oceans, farming) with the goals of inspiring a love of learning. Teachers then skillfully create opportunities for children to learn more about the topics that interest the children the most.
We base our program on the Emergent philosophy of teaching and curriculum planning, which focuses on being responsive to childrens' interests to create meaningful learning experiences.
Emergent programs prioritize active participation, relationship building, flexible methods, inquiry and play-based learning. CCP teachers expose students to new concepts (examples include caterpillars, deep oceans, farming) with the goals of inspiring a love of learning. Teachers then skillfully create opportunities for children to learn more about the topics that interest the children the most.
A Typical Day
Depending on the hours your child is here this could vary, but a typical day includes the following activities.
TK-2nd grade:
2nd-5th grade:
TK-2nd grade:
- Quiet reading, journal writing, artwork
- Snack time & center exploration time - typically includes a unique art project (such as sewing, crafts, etc), creation with blocks or LEGOs, dramatic play, or free art/painting
- Large group learning - weekly or monthly themed topics that are of interest to children (Pumpkin Festival, Upcoming Holidays, Seasons)
- Gross motor - outdoor play with time to be energetic (relays, play structures, sports)
2nd-5th grade:
- Homework time and help
- Snack time and small group activities (construction projects, long term art projects such as murals, educational games (math and literacy focused), exploration of learning centers (science, blocks, writing journals)
- Focused, teacher-guided small group projects: cooking, decorating themed bulletin boards, scripting and shooting commercials
- Gross motor - outdoor sports, relays, time to get moving around!
Site Supervisor: Shannan Gotschall
My name is Shannan Gotschall. I am the Site Supervisor and teacher at our Montara CCP site. I have been part of the CCP Team since 2009. I hold an AS in Early Childhood Education and Site Supervisor Permit from California Commission of Teacher Credentialing. I've been working in the ECE field since the early 1990's. The best part of being a CCP teacher is watching a child's natural curiosity bloom as they discover new things about their environment and themselves. I also love building relationships with the family members and their children. Some of our families start in the Montara preschool and stay with our school age program through their years at Farallone View Elementary. The connections between families and school support a lifetime love of learning. One of my goals with each child is to create an environment fostering their independence. One that builds their physical and social-emotional skills in everyday experiences. My philosophy about learning is children learn through play with their natural curiosity in what matters to them.
My name is Shannan Gotschall. I am the Site Supervisor and teacher at our Montara CCP site. I have been part of the CCP Team since 2009. I hold an AS in Early Childhood Education and Site Supervisor Permit from California Commission of Teacher Credentialing. I've been working in the ECE field since the early 1990's. The best part of being a CCP teacher is watching a child's natural curiosity bloom as they discover new things about their environment and themselves. I also love building relationships with the family members and their children. Some of our families start in the Montara preschool and stay with our school age program through their years at Farallone View Elementary. The connections between families and school support a lifetime love of learning. One of my goals with each child is to create an environment fostering their independence. One that builds their physical and social-emotional skills in everyday experiences. My philosophy about learning is children learn through play with their natural curiosity in what matters to them.
Master Teacher: Justin Thomas
Hello! My name is Justin Thomas, and I have been teaching here at Coastside Children’s Programs since August 2024. In addition to teach teaching at CCP, I have been fortunate enough to be teaching for the past 17 years both here in the Bay Area and on the other side of the country, just outside of Washington DC. Teaching brings so much fulfillment every day and watching your children grow and flourish Is something that ignites a spark of happiness and joy within me. They are so inquisitive, and they never cease to amaze me with their capabilities and just how much they grow throughout the school year. It is an honor to be an educator, and your children teach me as much as I strive to teach them every day.
Hello! My name is Justin Thomas, and I have been teaching here at Coastside Children’s Programs since August 2024. In addition to teach teaching at CCP, I have been fortunate enough to be teaching for the past 17 years both here in the Bay Area and on the other side of the country, just outside of Washington DC. Teaching brings so much fulfillment every day and watching your children grow and flourish Is something that ignites a spark of happiness and joy within me. They are so inquisitive, and they never cease to amaze me with their capabilities and just how much they grow throughout the school year. It is an honor to be an educator, and your children teach me as much as I strive to teach them every day.
Teacher: Lilia Martinez
Lilia has been with CCP for over 2 years she started at CCP Hatch in the afterschool program. Prior to working at CCP she volunteered with the company while in High School to complete her community service hours. After graduation she enrolled at Canada College to begin her Early Childhood Education classes. While at Canada College she continued volunteering and completed 90 more hours of community service. Lilia has since completed her Early Childhood Certificate with Canada College
and is now taking classes to get her AA Degree in Early Childhood Education. Her goal is to transfer to a BA program.
Lilia has been with CCP for over 2 years she started at CCP Hatch in the afterschool program. Prior to working at CCP she volunteered with the company while in High School to complete her community service hours. After graduation she enrolled at Canada College to begin her Early Childhood Education classes. While at Canada College she continued volunteering and completed 90 more hours of community service. Lilia has since completed her Early Childhood Certificate with Canada College
and is now taking classes to get her AA Degree in Early Childhood Education. Her goal is to transfer to a BA program.
Teacher: María del Carmen Ayón Ruiz
My name is Maria del Carmen Ayon Ruiz. I am a teacher at our School Age and Preschool Montana CCP site. I have been part of the educational team since February 2024. I have a bachelor's degree in early childhood education, a bachelor's degree in elementary education, a bachelor's degree in secondary education with a minor in English, a master's degree in education, a Doctorate in education, and a Master teacher permit from the California Commission on Teacher Credentialing site. I have worked in the field of early childhood education since early 1992 and have experience working as a director and supervisor from elementary through preschool. One of my goals as a teacher is to contribute to the holistic development of children by focusing on physical, cognitive, affective and social development, language development and sensory and motor development. All of this is based on play, which is one of the fundamental rights of the child, which helps him or her to progress in their development starting with curiosity and even forming critical thinking. I love to be part of the progress in the development of children and contribute to achieve their main happiness and an education for life with the support of parents.
My name is Maria del Carmen Ayon Ruiz. I am a teacher at our School Age and Preschool Montana CCP site. I have been part of the educational team since February 2024. I have a bachelor's degree in early childhood education, a bachelor's degree in elementary education, a bachelor's degree in secondary education with a minor in English, a master's degree in education, a Doctorate in education, and a Master teacher permit from the California Commission on Teacher Credentialing site. I have worked in the field of early childhood education since early 1992 and have experience working as a director and supervisor from elementary through preschool. One of my goals as a teacher is to contribute to the holistic development of children by focusing on physical, cognitive, affective and social development, language development and sensory and motor development. All of this is based on play, which is one of the fundamental rights of the child, which helps him or her to progress in their development starting with curiosity and even forming critical thinking. I love to be part of the progress in the development of children and contribute to achieve their main happiness and an education for life with the support of parents.
