Treasuring Childhood Learning for Life
Welcome to MP&MS Since 1975, Marin Primary & Middle School has been an innovative learning environment where integrated, experiential projects complement a strong core curriculum. Our founders envisioned a school where childhood is treasured, and where teachers respect the pace of each child’s journey from childhood to adolescence. Our dedicated teachers, specialists, and staff engage, inspire, and challenge students throughout their academic journey. Our graduates leave MP&MS well-prepared to embark on the next chapter in their educational lives. The integrated MP&MS curriculum and team teaching model provides opportunities for students to explore their passions and attracts talented teachers to guide their learning. Our newly enhanced campus promotes interaction across all grade levels through planned and informal opportunities during the school day, an active after school program, and extracurricular drama and athletics. We value and foster a diverse and inclusive community. Our school encourages application from children who love to learn, who rise to the challenge of a strong academic program, and who thrive in an environment that promotes leadership, independent thinking, and participation as collaborative and caring members of a learning community. I invite you to browse our website at www.mpms.org or better yet, come visit our campus to learn more about Marin Primary & Middle School. Julie Elam Head of School
Marin Primary & Middle School is a co-educational preschool through eighth grade independent, learning community. Our spacious campus includes beautiful and sustainably designed indoor and outdoor learning spaces, and is located on eight acres in sunny Larkspur, California. MP&MS Profile: Co-educational preschool through eighth grade 360 students 7:1 student-teacher ratio Accredited by the California Association of Independent Schools (CAIS) and Western Association of Colleges (WASC)
Why MP&MS?
“We wanted a place where our children are valued individually, supported by a community, and where they can become good citizens. MP&MS has exceeded our expectations and we are grateful for the meaningful experiences and extraordinary academics they have provided our children.” – Pam & Cris, primary school parents
At Marin Primary & Middle School, we educate children in an environment where all students are appreciated, respected and inspired to learn. We treasure childhood by nurturing students’ social, emotional and cognitive development throughout their formative years. Our team teaching model, with two head teachers in each classroom, enables students to engage and learn in small, collaborative groups. Our teachers focus on integrated projects linking content areas to promote deeper understanding and creative and innovative thinking. Our inclusive community cultivates strong relationships between parents, teachers and administrators to most effectively support students’ learning. We know our students well as learners, celebrate and support their growth through the preschool, primary and middle school years, and partner with their families to ensure academic success.
Learning at MP&MS “I love teaching at MP&MS because I am supported to be the kind of teacher I want to be. With the team teaching model, specialist teachers, and a hands-on administration, I am able to differentiate and make authentic connections with my students. I feel very lucky to be here!” – Sarah, third grade teacher
“We were looking for a village, a community filled with inspiring individuals our kids could use as guides. The minute we met the teachers and staff at MP&MS, the criteria was met.” – Carrie & Brian, primary school parents
At Marin Primary & Middle School, students are empowered to strive and prepared to thrive. Our teachers have the flexibility and resources to celebrate and support diverse learning profiles and to create an engaging environment in which each student’s natural abilities and interests will flourish and grow. Our school’s low student-teacher ratio supports a personalized approach to teaching and learning, with primary and middle school students spending most of their learning time in small groups of 12-15 students. Our structure uniquely combines two full-time classroom teachers who specialize in the areas of language arts, math, social studies, and science. Specialist classes in music, art, drama, physical education, garden (Outdoor Education Center), media, technology, Spanish, and projects lab are an integral part of each child’s weekly schedule and deepen our students’ understanding of core subjects. MP&MS has an extensive outdoor education program using our own campus and the vast natural and cultural resources of the Bay Area. Our students travel throughout California to inspirational destinations that enhance their learning about geography, science, the environment, history and culture, and the arts. We prepare students to become citizens of the world through classroom activities, our service learning program, and through global connections such as our partnership with Collegio Williams in Cuernavaca, Mexico. Students engage in local community service projects such as coastal clean ups and working in food banks, and respond to current global needs through programs such as Save the Children. These projects prepare students to take a more active role in making a difference in both local and global communities.
Bringing Learning to Life The deep integration of skills and concepts within multiple disciplines is a defining aspect of the MP&MS program. Our teachers understand that learning is most effective when integrated and reinforced in multiple modalities.
“By teaching to each child’s strengths in a way that is collaborative, thoughtprovoking, and fun, MP&MS has successfully instilled an intrinsic drive to learn and achieve which will carry our children into high school and beyond.” – Kim & Marc, primary and middle school parents
Marin Primary & Middle School’s multi-disciplinary approach to teaching and learning is augmented by our hallmark specialist programs. Our specialist teachers are practicing professionals in their creative fields who offer a unique learning perspective to students as they create, perform, and develop new ways of thinking. These programs inspire our children to consider and to analyze, to create and to achieve, and to discover unknown talents and affinities. Beginning in the very earliest grades, students participate in presentations and performances where they assume leadership roles and learn to speak in front of small and large groups with ease. Whether on the playing fields, in the arts, or in the classroom, students are given multiple opportunities to take risks and become effective leaders and followers. In addition to our classroom and specialist teachers, dedicated learning specialists based in our Learning Resource Center provide support for students with specific learning needs and assist teachers in differentiating instruction to provide support and enrichment to all students. Together, Marin Primary & Middle School’s unique and talented teachers, enthusiastic learners, and supportive parents create a one-of-a-kind learning community that is ideally suited for children to thrive throughout their educational lives and beyond.
Community & Traditions MP&MS has a rich tradition of schoolwide events, including those below, that engage our entire community throughout the year. The school year begins with the annual September Welcome Picnic when our entire community gathers to celebrate the new school year and to welcome new students, staff, and families. Our Outdoor Education Center is the hub of the Fall Harvest Festival. Students make baked goods and craft items using the bounty of the harvest, share music, artistic creations, and play games in celebration of our organic garden. The MP&MS Book Fair, held in partnership with a local independent bookstore, highlights the joys of reading and writing for children and families and features a rich selection of literature to appeal to readers of all ages.
“MP&MS is a place that celebrates every child and helps them grow and develop into well-rounded, responsible, and happy members of the community.” – Cynthia & Philip, primary school parents
Grandparents and Special Friends Day welcomes our students’ families and significant friends into the MP&MS community. From an introductory presentation about the school, to musical performances, to classroom visits where students share their poetry, art, and school projects, grandparents and special friends revel in a first-hand look at the daily lives of our young people. International Day celebrates the diversity of our school community and the wider world. A series of learning experiences and presentations represent the music, dance, traditions, and foods of different countries and cultures, highlighting the integration of academic and specialist programs. Each school year concludes with our Stepping Up ceremony, a celebration of our students’ advancement featuring speeches, acknowledgments, and creative musical performances by each class.
Looking to the Future
“MP&MS’s faculty is enthusiastic and interested in new ways of teaching. The curriculum is constantly evolving to reflect our changing world. Our graduates were certainly prepared for their high school years.” – Michelle & John, parents of alumni
Marin Primary & Middle School’s goal is for students to matriculate to the high schools best matched with their strengths and passions. We work closely with students and their families to find the best secondary school fit for each child. Our graduates leave MP&MS with the academic and personal skills necessary to thrive in the Bay Area’s strongest independent and public high schools. The MP&MS educational experience provides students with an effective academic foundation and the self-knowledge and advocacy skills to gain the most from their higher level education. We hear from high schools that our students are effective leaders and collaborative group members. They are characterized by a thirst for knowledge and the skills to successfully navigate academic challenges. Marin Primary & Middle School’s graduates succeed in diverse and distinguished colleges and universities around the world. Our alumni group remains connected through relationships that last a lifetime. Visit the admission section of the MP&MS website at www.mpms.org to learn more.
Our graduates have attended the following high schools over the past three years: • The Bay School of San Francisco • The Branson School • Convent of the Sacred Heart • Drew School • Lowell High School • Marin Academy • Marin Catholic High School • The Marin School • Marin School of the Arts • Redwood High School • Sacred Heart Cathedral Preparatory • St. Ignatius College Preparatory • San Domenico School • San Francisco School of the Arts • San Francisco University High School • Sir Francis Drake High School • Stuart Hall • Tamalpais High School • Terra Linda High School • The Urban School
Admission to MP&MS
“MP&MS is community of belonging. On any given day one can observe the students making discoveries, navigating a limit, overcoming a challenge, taking a risk, caring for each other; in short, students becoming their best selves. Deborah & Douglas, middle school parentsÂ
The personalized admission process at Marin Primary & Middle School provides many opportunities for families to learn more about our school, including campus tours and open houses, admission coffees, and a visit by the prospective student in primary and middle school. Parents can see the school, observe the program in action, and speak with our head of school and division directors. Each year we have openings in our preschool classes and the primary and middle school entry points of junior kindergarten, kindergarten, and fifth grade. Openings in other grades depend on attrition. How to learn more about MP&MS We offer open house events to provide an overview of the school and several small group tours each week during the admission season. Parents are also invited to admission coffees held at the homes of current parents where they can meet our head of school and administrators. Families are required to attend a school tour as part of the application process, either during one of the open house events or during a weekday tour. To reserve your spot for a school tour, open house, and admission coffee, call the admission office at 415.413.9044. When to apply Students applying to kindergarten should be five years old by September 1 of their kindergarten year. Preschool students must be at least 22 months old to enter our youngest classes. Unique to the primary school is the junior kindergarten program. This transitional year between preschool and kindergarten allows for additional time spent developing early academic and social-emotional skills in a challenging and nurturing environment.
Our Mission At Marin Primary & Middle School we make education meaningful, while encouraging pride in self, respect for others, and enthusiasm for learning. We treasure childhood. We honor and enjoy children’s natural curiosity, competence, and exuberance. We teach to reach children. Using teams of teachers and educational methods tailored to how children learn best, we connect with our students, build trusting relationships, and make learning relevant, memorable, and fun. We teach children to reach. Asking not “how smart is the child” but “how is the child smart,” we guide our students to see their full potential, and we equip them to pursue it with passion and purpose. We inspire children to make a difference. We value academic excellence, personal integrity, and community action and encourage our students to become informed, engaged, and ethical global citizens.
20 Magnolia Ave, Larkspur, CA 94939 . (415) 924-2608 . www.mpms.org