Enrichment Programs

Sports.

Sports enhance the physical, emotional and spiritual development of children. Furthermore, lack of movement is one of the biggest threats to health in modern societies. Technological developments contribute to a sedentary lifestyle. Obesity is a serious threat to mental health and quality of life. The Dahlia School is committed to our children’s access to sports. We offer the following programs throughout the year for various age groups.

  • Soccer

  • Yoga

  • Swimming

  • Basketball

  • Chess

  • Latin and Hip Hop Dance

Kid learning motor skills at a swimming leason at The Dahlia School
Teacher leading a physical education class in stretching exercises outdoors.
Students practicing yoga during outdoor physical education at The Dahlia School of San Francisco.
Students expressing creativity with paints and brushes during a Montessori art class

Arts.

The Montessori classroom develops the key sensorial experiences: seeing, touching, feeling, so that then the child could express themselves through art. We do not tell the child what or how to create, when or how to move, but focus our efforts on providing them the tools and skills to do so for themselves.

At times a child may experience a period of sensitivity for a particular type of art, music or nature work, and may select this activity for the entirety of their workcyle: for which they are allowed to do so in the Montessori classroom. Our extended care and performance schedules allow for additional experiences with music, arts, nature and sports as we expose the children to specialized classes, trainings and performance experiences during this time.

  • Free Art

  • Complex Art

  • Winter Performance

  • Classroom Group Art for Annual Gala

  • Handcrafted Markets (Elementary and Up)

Student creating a colorful painting during an art activity following the Montessori method at The Dahlia School
Toddlers painting together on a pumpking as part of a collaborative art session
Group art activities building friendships at The Dahlia School
Young learners exploring shapes and colors through drawing and painting activities
Child expressing creativity through drawing with markers in the Montessori classroom.
Teacher supporting students through an art project at the Dahlia School of San Frnacisco.
“Extracurriculars. I’ll just say it: These kids are spoiled. Soccer, yoga, art, hapkido/karate, music, swimming (yes, swimming), and the list goes on. All this while getting to explore and enjoy Mission Bay everyday. Between the activities and high quality plant-based menu (which they post on the doors of the school), I think I might be jealous of my kids.”
— Nic B.
Children learning gardening skills as part of their Montessori education.

Nature.

As a Wildflower school, we cultivate each child’s direct relationship with the natural world, by attending to and going out into the nature that surrounds us and by bringing abundant plant life into our schools so that children learn to care for their living environment.

We limit each school’s physical footprint and minimize its impact on the environment, including through the choice of sustainable, nontoxic and earth-friendly materials whenever possible. We maintain plant-based high protein nutritional standards that are earth-conscious and protect natural, healthful diets for our students.

We also offer the following nature-based programs throughout the year.

  • ParkLab Community Gardening

  • Indoor Gardening

  • Nature-based field trips and going outs

  • Animal meet and greets

Children watering plants and caring for the garden in a hands-on nature activity.
Students exploring natural textures and elements during an outdoor learning session.
Students connecting with animals through montessori learning
Children exploring nature on a school field trip.
Children exploring the school garden, learning about plants and nature.
Students of The Dhalis School at a outdoor nature walk.

“A prepared environment should help a child develop an eye that sees, hands that touch, and a soul that feels.”

- Dr. Maria Montessori