A strong visual art program provides children with so much more than an opportunity to express themselves. It improves their critical thinking, problem solving, flexibility, coordination, creativity, self-direction and communication.

At The Renaissance School (TRS), art lessons are provided at all levels—from pre-primary to 8^th grade. Our students consider the art studio as a place where solutions are found for even the most impossible problems. The work that they create is exceptional.

Our students often exhibit artwork in the main lobby of 1111 Broadway in Oakland’s City Center. In fact, the building manager recently asked TRS to bring new work every semester.

Here's a look at what our pre-primary students are doing. In celebration of Valentine’s Day, they were introduced to the colors pink, white and red and to the shape of the heart. The classroom was decorated with pink and red hearts.

Other shapes learned were: circle, rectangle, triangle, oval, diamond, pentagon, and hexagon.  The children have been doing puzzle work with different shapes. 

They read a book, “Zin! Zin! Zin! A Violin” by Lloyd Moss, and learned about different instruments including the trombone, trumpet, French horn, cello, violin, flute clarinet, oboe, bassoon and harp.

One of our students shared the book, “Hands Can,” and we learned about different things that hands can do. For example: hands can wave to say ‘hello’, hands can give hugs, hands can touch high and low, hands can wave ‘goodbye’, hands can clap and hands can play ‘peek-a-boo’. The children had fun doing all the different gestures showed in the book.

During the holidays, our pre-primary classroom focused on the theme of the winter season. The children used red, green and blue colors for thier Crayon Work because these colors represent the holiday season.

Along with their teachers, they talked about different holiday decorations as they decorated the classroom with Christmas and Hanukkah decorations. They enjoyed the decorations on the small holiday tree.

Other projects they did related to the holidays including stringing beads to make candy canes. They enjoyed the work and wanted to bring home their fnished products.

The pre-primary classroom for the two to three year-old child involves exercises in practical life, which are the most important in the Montessori classroom. It is through these exercises that a child learns how to work. The child needs to have the opportunity to practice purposeful activity at an early age in order to be able to focus later on.

The Montessori approach provides exercises so that children learn to care for themselves and their environment and demonstrates the grace and courtesy required to smoothly interact with the society they live in. The goal is for children to learn independence and acquire confidence to trust in their abilities. Acquiring practical life skills  allows children to become physically and mentally competent, by encouraging repetition of various real-world tasks. This gives them a feeling of self confidence that comes from within themselves, and cannot be taken away.

Tired of arguing with your children? Constantly reminding them of things they need to do?

The Renaissance School presents a Parent Education Workshop: "Redirecting Children's Behavior." This 8-week workshop is designed for parents and professionals working with children ages toddler to teen.

Parents will learn how to:

• Reduce arguing, scolding, reminding and yelling
• Feel positive about parenting skills
• Promote change in children's behavior
• Promote agreement on discipline with your spouse

Parents and professionals will find that children will benefit from what is presented in the workshop by gaining:

• Self responsibility and good decision making skills
• Enhanced self esteem
• Self motivation and initiative
• Cooperation skills and successful attitudes
• Resistance to peer pressure

The next 8-week session begins March 8, 2018 from 7:00pm to 9:00pm. Class dates are:

March 8,15,22,29

April 3 (Tuesday)

May 3, 10, 17

Classes are held at 3618 Dimond Avenue, Oakland in the upstairs auditorium.

The class is taught by Leslie Hites, founder and director of The Renaissance School.

The cost for the workshop is:
$150 per parent of The Renaissance School community
$200 per couple of The Renaissance School community
$299 per guest parent
$495 per two guest parents
The fee includes workbook and reference book.

For more information, email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or call 510-531-8566.

Please dowald the registration form here