“Watching your child intellectually blossom at Montessori Shir-Hashirim is an utterly profound experience as a parent. The school teaches children and adults alike how very capable preschool-aged children can be when they have the right tools, methods, and setting. It’s truly a magical place, and we couldn’t be happier to be parents at such a special school. ”
— Lizzie Garrett Mettler
“We are so grateful to Shir-Hashirim. Our daughter has had a very fulfilling preschool experience that is unlike any other in Los Angeles. She is graduating enriched by the impressive academic curriculum but also the terrific arts program. The school (led by the incomparable Elena Cielak) nurtures them to be strong, independent thinkers and global citizens. Children leave this school incredibly well prepared for the next stage of their education, and it’s no accident that elementary schools across this town all love Shir-Hashirim graduates! It is truly the best preschool and a magical place.”
— Michelle Lee and Erik Baiers
“From the first moment we were introduced to MSH we developed strong feelings that this would be the ideal place for our daughter and for our family. The head of school, Elena Cielak, is second to none, and she has done a masterful job in hiring exceptional educators who exhibit intelligence, grace, and patience and serve as ideal role models for the children.
MSH has been a great fit for our family because our daughter needed a school that would challenge her, expose her to the arts, and foster independence in an incredibly fun and loving environment. MSH offers the perfect balance of creativity and structure in teaching academics and the arts.
We have loved the parents at MSH and have established strong friendships that will last for years to come. We are still amazed and will always fondly remember the incredible plays with intricate costumes and five-year-olds who remember lines for days — it is truly an experience to witness. We wish that there were more than the two MSH campuses so that many other kids and their families would have this amazing and unique opportunity, and we would certainly recommend MSH to all families without any reservation. Ultimately, we wish that MSH was a K-through-college program. ”
— Phillip Gharabegian
“When we stepped onto the Montessori Shir-Hashirim campus we immediately understood why so many say this is the best preschool in Los Angeles. The walls were richly decorated with art, anatomical charts, books, and hundreds of ordinary objects that soon proved to be anything but. This charming little campus felt like a wonderland, alive with confident, curious, and creative children. Four years later, our experience is better than we could have ever imagined.
From the enrichment classes to the language exposure to the amazing community, and to the plays that rival any professional production, MSH is a truly one of the best preschools in the country. And yet, it has a charm that makes the school feel like a hidden gem, thanks to the humility of its incredible teachers. Our kids left more than prepared for their future and indeed our whole family is better for our years at MSH. We could not be more thankful for Elena and her entire team of true professionals for creating this preschooler’s paradise. ”
