- SB Children’s Museum – Opening 2014!
- Ensemble’s Storybook Theatre – Productions for children
- Boxtales – Storytelling, music, masks, movement present world myths & folktales for all ages
- Drama Dogs – Theatrical pieces, training programs, educational outreach activities to touch the human spirit
- Michael Katz – Professional Storyteller Michael Katz
- Santa Barbara Dance Arts – Multi-arts center & comprehensive professional school of dance
- Dancing Drum – Educate, entertain, and inspire people of all ages through interactive percussion programs
- KiD’n TOGETHER – Great Children’s music!
- Wilderness Youth Project
- Santa Barbara Natives Nursery – A distinctive wholesale nursery specializing in California native plants
- Eco Lawn and Garden – Eco friendly lawn & landscape company using proven environmentally aware techniques
- Lime Green Monkey – organic, daily-use fun cloths for children & adults
- The Three Sunflowers – Beautiful children’s book on little life lessons
- Summer for Kids – Wonderful eco friendly/organic children’s store
- Santa Barbara Parentclick – Local family scene & city guide
- Santa Barbara Family Childcare Association
- Santa Barbara Charter School
- Goleta Family School
- Laurie Counihan-Childs – Favorite Alternative Doctor
- Santa Barbara Midwifery
- Santa Barbara Birth Center
- Santa Barbara Summer Solstice Parade
More Favorites
- Paradise Found – Bookstore, and more – for the Body, Mind & Spirit
- Santa Barbara Fudge – Best fudge ever!
- Lucy in the Sky – Best children’s hair cutting adventure!
- Gull Wings Children’s Museum – Fun Children’s Museum in Oxnard
- JCC – Fun free children’s classes for all!
- Another Mother for Peace
- Life Chronicles – Videotaping life stories of an elderly family member or ill loved one
- Direct Relief International – Provides medical assistance for people affected by poverty, disaster, and civil unrest at home and around the world
- Inner Light Choir – Awesome Community Gospel Choir
- The Pet Psychic – Amazing animal communicator
Erika Krystian, MSS Alumna
Erika Krystian, 31 yrs.
December, 2012
Teacher Testimonial: Al Keys, M.A.
Alice, you have brought a calm and level of comfort that is critical to parents…. This is priceless! I can tell you from experience that 35 years later you will have parents and students walking up to you and telling you how incredible their time was with you, if you are like me… You will be in tears by the time they finish telling you the depth of meaning their time was with you… Things they don’t even know now until they are exposed to the bigger world and then compare, from their experience, how unique and powerful their time with you was! It will last with them for life! (A fact)
Al Keys, M.A.
Montessori Teacher Trainer
Montessori School Director/Owner 20+years
Child Development Specialist
Marriage and Family Therapist
2012
Jenna Tico, MSS Alumna
Jenna Tico (21 years next month!)
Jenna has grown into a beautiful, aware, compassionate young woman. I’m so very proud of her as she attends Scripps College, majoring in Interdisciplinary Studies in Culture, and will also be receiving a Dance Degree. You go girl! ♥
August, 2011
Hi Alice,
In the past year since you took this photo, I graduated Summa Cum Laude from Scripps with degrees in Humanities and Dance. In SB, I spent the summer working at Aldo’s and teaching an improvisational dance class, and also participated in AXIS Dance Company’s physically integrated dance intensive in Oakland, CA. In September, I went to Bali to volunteer as an English teacher at Slukat Learning Center, a free after-school educational program for kids in the rural village of Keramas. After that, I worked on a farm in Thailand for 2 weeks before heading back to Bali, where I’ve been working ever since as a nanny.
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- Ubud, Bali
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- Keramas Village, Bali
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- Ayutthaya, Thailand
Good stuff! Hope to see you when I return!
Lots of love,
Jenna Tico, 22 1/2 yrs.
January 15, 2013
Colby Noakes, MSS Alumnus
My son Colby Noakes attended MSS from August 1995 to August 1998. Colby loved going to preschool. Alice would always welcome us each morning with a smile. Alice truly enjoyed seeing Colby every school day. Alice not only taught academics, she also made sure that there were animals around the school. Birds, cats, dogs and a tortoise named Yenta. Yenta is still there! Today Colby is a wonderful, kind and caring person. He always made friends easily and is not afraid to try new things. Colby loves the outdoors, the ocean and our local mountains being two of his favorites. Colby attended Hope School, La Colina Jr. High and Dos Pueblos High School, even giving a speech at graduation. He then moved to the big city of San Francisco to attend SFSU. Colby is now 20 years old and studying to get his degree in Business. Colby thrives in SF. SF is so different from SB. Way bigger and way colder. Colby had to learn the bus system, not only to get to school, but to the store, Laundromat and downtown. During the summer, Colby works at the SB Waterfront Department for our great city. Colby is a wonderful person and we are very proud of him!
Tom Noakes
December, 2012
Colby’s Graduation Speech
June, 2011
Student Testimonial: McKenzie “Tookie” Baker
Kids should go to My Special School because it is lots of fun and you get to play a lot, learn a lot about school and animals, and most of all I liked the friends I made and the Graduation Sleepover.
Mckenzie “Tookie” Baker, 9 yrs.
January, 2013
Parent Testimonial: Amy & Matt Zuchowicz
My Special School Preschool offered our daughter Alegra a safe environment to explore and grow due to the small group setting and the individual attention each child received due to their particular needs. Our daughter, who is shy by nature, learned to find a strong voice and to gain confidence in a group setting. As we are educators by trade (Teacher and Principal), we knew how imperative it was for Alegra to have a solid educational foundation in a Preschool. During the time Alegra was with Alice, we were always very pleased by the education she received. Alice was always very kind, loving, and caring, yet she also balanced this with consistent high expectations of the children. We would highly recommend Alice Tropper and My Special School for a strong educational foundation for your preschooler.
Amy and Matt Zuchowicz
August, 2005
Parent Testimonial: Susie & Ruben Lopez
Anna blossomed under your care and guidance and enjoyed every moment of her time with you and the other children in her class. You so firmly but gently ushered her (and us!) through those early years in a way that reassured us all, and made it so the experience and growing pains were as easy and pleasant as possible. Anna learned not only a very solid educational foundation, and had such wonderful tastes of Yoga, Dance, etc. but learned the more important skills of kindness, honesty, patience and to use and trust her voice and feelings. We are all so grateful for the wonderful experiences we had with you Alice, and know that you will always have a special place in our hearts!
Susie and Ruben Lopez
March, 2012
Dylan Bright, MSS Alumnus
Dylan attends Washington Elementary School and is now 9 yrs and in the 4th Grade. He loves school and his friends and is doing great! (as of last week’s teacher-parent conference). He hasn’t forgotten all his friends and special memories of Preschool! Dylan loves baseball, baseball, baseball, and piano. He is doing very well with music!