Immaculate Heart of Mary School

Our daughter attended a preschool in San Mateo that she absolutely LOVED. She wanted to go to school all the time, even if she didn’t fell well. She loved her teachers and was very sad to graduate and move onto Kindergarten. Needless to say, we were worried that she might not thrive as well as she did in her preschool. Thankfully we were wrong!
Our daughter has thrived at IHM!!! The Kindergarten teacher & her assistants have been WONDERFUL and my daughter was adjusted and happy immediately. She is also excelling academically, socially and absolutely loves going to school! The community is great, small and intimate where everyone knows everyone else. The office staff is VERY friendly and always ready to help guide new parents along. The principal is very involved with the day to day running of the school, and is always there if you need her.
We look forward to our next few years at IHM!

Ok, time for a rant…
Well IHM made the local news over a mom suing the school for its ban on trendy haircuts.
I’m proud of the school for sticking to its policy. The focus is on giving students a religious values based education and the policy on uniforms, shoes and haircuts are used to reinforce the no drama learning environment that IHM provides. Discipline and being disciples of Christ is IHM’s mission, not privilege and pettiness that is found in so many other private schools. Tuition is $ 6,900 (a bargain compared to other private schools in the area).
If you want rights without responsibilities go take your kids to the public schools and then wonder why California public schools are at the bottom in math, reading and science scores, but top in fashion trends.

Overall we loved the school, the community and the teachers. I served on the parent board and enjoyed playing an active role. I loved the religious foundation and my older son received his First Reconciliation and First Holy Communion at IHM. He especially enjoyed his 2^nd grade teacher, Mrs. Data. Father Howell performed the sacrament of Extreme Unction for my father and he resided over my father’s Celebration of Life in our home, amongst family and friends. My younger son thrived at IHM Preschool and he especially enjoyed Mr. Tom.
Unfortunately IHM School turns over teachers quickly and the teacher to class size ratio is steep. My older son received a first year kindergarten teacher. We liked her and she did as well as she could, but with 37 students and limited experience, it was no surprise when she left after a couple of years.
Our biggest concern had to do with IHM prompting children to start kindergarten regardless of kindergarten readiness as it pertains to pediatrician, therapist, preschool teacher and parent recommendation.
I had registered and paid for my 4 year old son’s final year at IHM preschool by the due date, only to be told he could not attend and must enroll in kindergarten despite the above recommendations. IHM reneged on our executed preschool contract (and returned my registration fee only after I requested in writing). In their defense my son made the cut-​off by a few weeks (he would have been the youngest in the class) however our pediatrician strongly recommended *in writing* not pushing our son and having him enjoy another year of preschool (just like my older son had and was thriving). At the time, my younger son could not count past 6. He recognized only a handful of letters and certainly could not recite the alphabet. Prior to entering kindergarten my older son could recite the Lord’s Prayer, the alphabet and count well.
I explained everything to the principal as well as the fact that my young son had experienced a major surgery and still encountered some specific needs. In addition, it was no secret that our family went through a transition that resulted in divorce the year prior. Still the principal insisted my 4 year old start kindergarten and be denied another year of preschool as recommended by numerous experts.
Sadly, we had no choice but to leave IHM and now both of my children are thriving in exceptionally high ranked district schools. My younger son is thriving in Transition Kindergarten, as recommended and supported by our pediatrician, his former IHM Preschool teachers, therapist and myself. His current teacher has over 35 years experience and consistently confirms I made the right choice and he’s exactly where he should be.
It’s important to note that I escalated my concerns in writing to the superintendent at the San Francisco Archdiocese but she deferred to the principal at IHM. I know our family is not alone in this experience and my older son’s class experienced approximately a quarter of the children leaving for other schools last Fall. Some of the other grades have also experienced strong attrition.
Aside from the principal, this school is fantastic. I pray that in the future IHM makes better policies with their students’ best interests at heart.

I think this church is so cute. I went here for Ash Wednesday lunch mass and I was quite impressed by the church community here.
It is a large church and the patrons to the church as well as the school children were very well behaved. I saw people waiting patiently for their neighbors to get out of their seats and people waited their turns and entered the correct lines. Just overall, a beautiful church with polite patrons.
I would definitely come back to the Church of the Immaculate Heart of Mary.

I really don’t understand how one can give a negative review about this school. IHM is a great school, my son started kindergarten there last year and was blessed to have such a wonderful k-​teacher. I felt the k-​class teacher was able to challenge each student and focused on math/​reading/​science. My son really enjoyed his k-​class year. He is now entering 1^st grade, and he is delighted to have a wonderful teacher and looking forward to this year. The front office always greets you with a warm smile, takes care of your every need, so polite.
If my son is happy and learning new things, then this is the school for him until 8^th grade.

Never rated a church before. Okay God please be humorous. This church is very pretty, the campus is beautiful, filled with trees. The inside is nice. But, my only complaint is that I feel that the majority crowd is older. The music is very old school Catholic. I’m used to flavor in the South Bay, going to church. However because I’m addicted to going to church this will be my place until I can find another one with flavor.

Directly from my 1^st grade son’s mouth, he «really likes his friends». Not a lot of diversity, but definitely a sense of community. The families are very nice and the curriculum appears to be above average. My son really loved both teachers that he has had thus far.

Some would say that SARCASM… does not belong at church… but I think it does…
God has a sense of humor… trust me… just take a walk around the local mall and look at all the «wierdos»… walking around…
As for IHM… I love Fr. Vito… Thanks to him for ministering the Memorial Mass for my Dad… it was a beautiful way to gather all our family and friends …
My Dad used to say «That’s as funny as a fart in church…» … I wonder if he ever did it himself…
If not… its definitely happening… just listen…
…
ptttttt
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enough said…