In The News

Highlights, achievements, and community stories from across our Parkside campus.

		Multipurpose (MPR) Ribbon-Cutting February 24, 2026 “I remember two years ago when the fences went up around our old playground. I stood there in fifth grade with my seventh-grade friends, thinking, what? Maybe this building will be bigger and more modern, but will it take away from the feeling of Parkside? No, because here at Parkside, anything can be special, even things you least expect,” shares Lydia, a student at Parkside Montessori. Lydia’s reflection captures something powerful about school construction. Buildings may change, grow, and modernize, but what truly makes a school special is the community inside it. On February 24, 2026, Parkside marked the ribbon-cutting of its new Multi-Purpose Room. A central gathering space designed to support learning, creativity, and community connection. “As a board, our role is stewardship, including following up on our commitment to modernize schools,” shares Board President Maggie Trinh. We are proud to celebrate this moment with you and proud to keep building forward together. Thanks to the support of Measure T, this $17 million investment includes a stage, kitchen and servery, restrooms, a turf field, repaved blacktop, a new parking lot, an adolescent courtyard, and a refreshed primary play yard. The new MPR will serve as the home for cultural and community gatherings led by adolescent students, student performances, PTA meetings, and school-wide assemblies featuring guests ranging from Music at Kohl’s to the Marine Science Institute. It is a space designed not only for instruction, but for celebration, leadership, and shared experiences that strengthen the school community. This milestone builds on several recent campus improvements at Parkside, including HVAC replacement and added air conditioning completed in Fall 2024, turf field upgrades completed in Fall 2024, paving and infrastructure improvements completed in 2025, and restroom modernization currently under design. These upgrades reflect a long-term approach to ensuring campuses remain modern, safe, and welcoming for students and families. See the original post on the SMFCSD website, https://www.smfcsd.net/our-district/communication/news/default-board-post-page/~board/smfcsd-news/post/spaces-that-bring-us-together-new-learning-spaces-at-bowditch-and-parkside

		Parkside Montessori has been Nominated to the Canopy Project February 12, 2026 In an age of advanced technology and schools opening with no teachers and just AI, Parkside is innovating with a quality brand of education that was created over 100 years ago. Parkside Montessori has been nominated by Transcend and CRPE to participate in the Canopy Project, a national initiative dedicated to highlighting schools that are reimagining the purpose, structure, and student experience of education. Learn more at https://canopyschools.org/school/parkside-montessori/.

		Parkside is #1 in the 2026 Readathon Fundraising February 10, 2026 We’ve turned the last page on our 10th Annual Readathon - what an incredible journey of exploration! By grabbing their books and exploring together, our students read more than 2.5 million minutes and raised over $125,000. We reached both goals. Parkside read 152,293 minutes and raised $10,538. What a race! Congratulations are in order! - Parkside achieved the highest % of fundraising participation and earned author assemblies (TK-2nd and 3rd-8th) featuring Meera Sriram. - Teacher Bayer’s classroom achieved Parkside’s Highest Average Reading Minutes and earned a popsicle party. - Amelia L. in Teacher Matsuda’s class is the Top Parkside Reader. - Zachary W. in Teacher Escobar’s class is the Top Parkside Fundraiser. Check out the Final Leaderboards. We are so grateful to every single person on your team: teachers, librarian, L&L ToSA, office staff and principal for embracing our 10th Readathon. We also would like to thank the parent volunteers who helped make this Readathon successful, including school liaisons and PTA presidents. Thank you for your amazing support of the Readathon! SMFCEF 2026 Readathon Team https://www.smfcedfund.org/readathon

		Parkside Boys' 7B Basketball Team is the League Champion January 26, 2026 Parkside's 7B boys' basketball team is the North League Champion, winning 10 out of 10 games and ranking #1 in the regular season. In the postseason, they sailed through the quarterfinals and semifinals. They went up against the #1-ranked South League Champion San Carlos EP in the finals and won, achieving a perfect season. Go, Tigers! Visit the ADAL site at teamsideline.com/sites/adal/home.

		Parkside Hosts SMFCSD Middle School Students October 30, 2025 Principal Tahai and Parkside Montessori adolescent students welcomed SMFCSD staff and 40 visiting students from Abbott, Bayside, Borel, Bowditch, and North Shoreview for a special opportunity to experience Montessori education in action. After a shared lunch in the amphitheater, Principal Tahai facilitated a lively discussion where visiting students asked thoughtful questions to student panelists Caleb, Brisen, Charlotte, Nathan, Paige, and Amelia. During the Community Vision Activity, guests toured the adolescent classroom in small groups, gaining a closer look at the collaborative and self-directed learning that defines the Montessori approach. This visit was part of the district’s broader visioning process, which aims to include student voices in shaping SMFCSD’s next strategic direction. Welcoming students from across the district to explore our Montessori model marks an exciting milestone for Parkside, one that reflects our school's commitment to innovation and sharing the Montessori philosophy beyond our campus. We’re incredibly proud of our adolescent students for representing Parkside with confidence and heart. And we are especially thankful to the San Mateo Foster City School District leadership for the opportunity to share what makes Parkside special. To learn more about SMFCSD, visit smfcsd.net.

		Parkside Receives Music at Kohl Mansion Award May 27, 2025 Music at Kohl Mansion Education & Outreach Committee Co-Chairs Katie Riggs and Ling-yee Gibney attended the PTA meeting and presented Parkside with the 2025 Anneke Gaenslen Platinum Partner Award. Learn more about the program at musicatkohl.org/kohl-for-kids.

		Parkside Boys' 6B Basketball Team is the League Champion March 18, 2025 Parkside's 6B boys' basketball team is the North League champion in its first season, after winning 10 out of 10 season games in the Art David Athletic League. Congratulations to our Tigers! Visit the ADAL site at teamsideline.com/sites/adal/home.

		Parkside is #1 in the 2025 Readathon Standings February 7, 2025 This is the 9th annual Readathon! All SMFCSD preschool to 8th-grade students are encouraged to participate from Friday, January 24th to Friday, February 7th. Funds from the Readathon will support essential staff and programs like LEGO Education Labs and middle school clubs. Visit the SMFCEF website for more information. Parkside comes in first place in average reading minutes and fundraising participation in this year's Readathon. See the results on smfcedfund.org/copy-of-readathon-schoolrankings.