Do you find parenting challenging?
The Renaissance International School presents a Parent Education Workshop: "Redirecting Children's Behavior." This 8-week workshop is designed for parents and professionals working with children from toddlers to teens.
Parents will learn how to:
Parents and professionals will find that children will benefit from what is presented in the workshop by gaining:
The next 8-week session begins February 28, 2019 from 7:00pm to 9:30pm.
Class dates are:
February: 28
March 7, 14, 21, 26
April 2, 9, 23
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 International School community
$200 per couple of The Renaissance International School community
TRIS parents, please find the registration form in one of the offices or download it here
Parents NOT part of The Renaissance International School community, please register online here: RCB Registration
$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.
Even as we prepare for Thanksgiving, our Pre-Primary children (ages 2 years through Pre-K) are still talking about the fun Halloween party that we had on October 31st.
The children began their Halloween day by dressing up in their costumes. We had a Tom the Builder, two butterflies, a bee, two lions, two pumpkins, a princess Bella, and a Supper Dylan!
After getting into their costumes the children went outside to enjoy the special Halloween activities. They especially enjoyed making the spider with cream cheese, pretzels, and crackers and then eating the cracker “spider”. With their teachers, they walked around the schoolyard visiting the different Halloween activities that were set up.
They participated in Pumpkin Bowling, Fishing out the Eye Balls and the Toss the Beanbag into the big Jack-o-lantern. Also enjoyed was face painting and making a Jack-o-Lantern.
The children also participated in the TRS Halloween Parade, which took us on a walk around Dimond Park. Everyone had so much fun, and all the activities were greatly enjoyed.
Thanksgiving Letter from Leslie Hites, Founder, The Renaissance School
Happy Thanksgiving. I would like to share with you how our school celebrates this holiday.
Preparations for the Thanksgiving Feast begin on Monday, November 21, 2011 when our students start to prepare the food for the Thanksgiving Feast that is held on Wednesday at noon.
The Thanksgiving Feast is a very special celebration at The Renaissance School. For me, it is the most beautiful event we celebrate all year. All the students and the staff gather to share a meal that has been collaboratively prepared by all the students. It is a time when we also share all the things we are grateful for as individuals and as a community. The Primary and Elementary students and the staff share tables so that they can become better acquainted and enjoy each other’s company. The Pre-primary children sit together with their teachers so as to not disturb their sense of order. Traditionally the elementary students have hosted this event and thus are in charge of setting up the tables and chairs, decorating the environment and also, of setting the tables and placing the name cards. When the Pre-primary and Primary students arrive, the Elementary students welcome them and escort them to their places.
All the children in the school share the responsibility of preparing the turkeys, the gravy, the stuffing, the mashed potatoes, the yams, the salad, the cranberry sauce, the pumpkin pies and even the centerpieces for the tables. The Pre-primary students prepare the corn bread and help wash and tear the lettuce for the salad. Most everything is prepared from scratch and it is delicious. It is an incredible experience to see all the platters set on the buffet tables before the meal is served. How proud every student feels recognizing the dishes they prepared! By Wednesday, November 23, each one of our students will have contributed their part in preparing a meal for about 150 people! Of course none of this will happen without the children’s cooking partners, their teachers and their infinite patience and perseverance.
The community participation in this event also includes the parents who shop for us and who iron the tablecloths we use at the feast. It is not surprising that it is always at this time of the year that some of our elementary students start realizing and commenting on the support they receive from the parents and teachers of the community!
We plan to take pictures of the Thanksgiving Feast to share with you as well as some of the wonderful comments we hear from the children on such an occasion.
Happy Thanksgiving to everyone!
A recent article in The New York Times, "Delay Kindergarten at Your Child's Peril," presents reasons why children should start school at an earlier rather than later age. I agree with many of the premises of this article, but have my doubts on some of the details.
I agree with the fact that children should start school at an earlier age. That is consistent with what we do in Montessori and what we do here at The Renaissance School (TRS). Many of the statements in the article attributing an early school start to becoming a successful student are examples of what we do in our school.
An article came out recently in Science magazine which might interest you. The article basically says that traditional education does not develop what are considered the most important skills needed in the 21st century, which are classified under "executive functions". These skills include cognitive flexibility, inhibition (self-control, self-regulation), working memory, problem solving, reasoning and planning. They mention that these skills need to be developed in early childhood to improve school readiness and academic success. This of course is looking at education through the traditional lens where education starts in kindergarten. Of interest to us is that the article states that Montessori is one of two curricula that addresses these skills. The other approach is a highly structured play-based program for early childhood education only.
Find out more about our school's philosophy and curriculum.
I would welcome the opportunity to meet you and show you our school. Visit our Tour Calendar page for upcoming tours. Private tours are also available by appointment.
Leslie Hites
Head of School
The Renaissance School (TRS) (in Oakland's Dimond District) November Information Nights are open to the public. Parents of prospective students can find out about the school, our Montessori program with a strong emphasis on language immersion, music and art, and hear from teachers and current parents.
All of the following Information Nights will begin at 7 p.m. at 3668 Dimond Avenue:
Each night will include a general presentation and time for questions and answers. In order for us to be able to answer all questions, we ask that you submit your questions in advance. Please email them to: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..
To find out more about our school and curriculum, visit: http://www.therenaissanceschool.org/index.php/curriculum.
We look forward to meeting you.