- School Motto: Guiding Growth, Inspiring Change
- Location: Fontana, CA
- School Leader: Viviana G. Lo Porto,M.A., Founder and Executive Director
- Year Established: 2020
- Grades Served: preschool-8th
- Current Enrollment: 40
- School Website: www.mlcschool.net
How does your school incorporate Islamic values into the daily lives of students?
We are proud to incorporate Islamic values. This happens throughout the day, from the moment the students walk in with a warm welcome to making dua together, dikr, reminders using examples from Islamic Historical figures, and the Sirah of our beloved Prophet pbuh. MLC is an Islamic environment filled with examples of being clean, maintaining a high level of Eman, and finishing work with the utmost level of Ihsan.
Can you share a recent achievement or milestone your school is proud of?
We recently hit our 5th anniversary as a school. Our attendance has grown every year. We were the first full-time Islamic School in San Bernadino County. We are proud of several students who were able to skip grades and graduate early. Given the Montessori method, small class sizes, mixed age groups, and learning materials, several students have been able to advance rapidly, skipping grades and graduating early.
What programs or initiatives does your school have to support student well-being and character development?
We partnered with a local nonprofit to provide free halal/zabiha meals to all of our students. Our school is also committed to providing a safe environment where students feel comfortable approaching teachers and counselors. We communicate directly with parents to solve any situation that arises and to be supportive. As for character development, our teachers emphasize respect, responsibility, trustworthiness, and other important qualities. We use real-life scenarios to help students understand and develop character traits. Role play, speech and debate, presentations, and drama classes help kids develop confidence and leadership skills, which foster a strong Muslim character.
What role do parents and families play in your school community?
Parents are essential in our school community. We involve them in important decisions and changes. Communication is key, and leadership conveys clear and concise messages on a daily to weekly basis. Parents are provided daily updates of activities at school through a chat group. We use surveys and direct messages to collect data, which helps us make improvements. This collaborative effort leads to an engaged school community.
Looking ahead, what are your school’s goals or aspirations for the future?
We hope to grow our team and add students to our current location, and expand to other areas with our unique model. We’d like to incorporate more practical STEM courses and hold more activities in nature, such as identifying plants, leaves, insects, and growing our own vegetable garden.
Voices from the Community:
“We love Montessori Learning Center because we learn in a very unique style. We like that we can work with kids of all ages. We also like the Montessori room a lot.”
– Musa Ali (Student)
How has your school positively impacted your child’s growth?
Our experience with MLC has been nothing short of amazing. The faculty and staff are truly dedicated to each student’s success, providing a nurturing environment that fosters both academic excellence and personal growth. Our son has been at MLC for 2 years. MLC’s curriculum is challenging yet engaging, ensuring students develop critical thinking skills while enjoying their learning journey. The small class sizes allow for individualized attention, and the extracurricular activities offer countless opportunities for students to explore their passions. Most importantly, the school’s values and commitment to character development make a lasting impact. We couldn’t be happier with our choice, and we highly recommend MLC to any family looking for a well-rounded education!
– Ola Milbes (Parent)
Want to learn how an ISLA membership can benefit your school?
ISLA school members have the exclusive opportunity to 1. Post job ads to our webpage, public to a network of over 8500+ educators, 2. Obtain discounts on PDs, PLCs, and Webinars 3. Showcase your school on an interactive map used by parents and the community to find nearby Islamic schools. Join today as a school member: theisla.org/membership/
Reach out to executive-assistant@theisla.org for any questions or assistance.
