1989
​
Founded in the
Julia Morgan Building
1989
Pacific Rim International School (PRINTS) opened its doors in 1989 as one of the first Mandarin - English bilingual Montessori schools at the Julia Morgan Center in Berkeley, California, with six children enrolled in the Children's House.
1991
​
Elementary Community established
1991
In 1991, eight children from the Children's House became the first students of a new Elementary Community. Enrollment continued to grow, and with it, the school expanded.
1993 - 1995
​
Construction of the Emeryville Campus
1993
In 1993, PRINTS began building new Montessori environments in a remodeled warehouse in Emeryville. These environments were specifically designed to be optimal Montessori learning spaces.
1995
​
Relocation to the Emeryville Campus
1995
PRINTS relocated to the new Emeryville campus in September 1995. This building continues to serve as PRINTS' East Bay campus to this day.
1995
​
Japanese - English program began
1995
In 1995, PRINTS launched its Japanese - English bilingual program.
1996
​
New Infant Community opened
1996
By 1996, PRINTS further expanded with an Infant Community, a Children's House, and an Elementary Community serving children ages eighteen months to twelve years.
1997
​
PRINTS opened a second campus in San Mateo
1997
In September 1997, PRINTS founded a second campus in San Mateo (the Japanese Program is currently only available at this campus).
1999
​
Second Children's House added in San Mateo
1999
PRINTS opened a second Children's House at the San Mateo campus.
2005
​
Upper School inaugurated
2005
In 2005, PRINTS inaugurated an Upper School, consisting of a Montessori Junior High School, or Erdkinder (German for 'earth children') Community, and High School program at the San Mateo campus. The High School gained an International Baccalaureate Accreditation in 2009.
2013
​
Hands-on-PRINTS established
2013
2013 saw the foundation of Hands-on-Prints, a publishing press dedicated to creating children's books that are imaginative extensions of the Montessori curriculum. With poetry, prose, fiction and nonfiction, reading levels from the youngest to the high-school, its aim is to take the Montessori vision to a new literacy level.
2015
​
New Nido
program opened
2014
In 2014, PRINTS inaugurated its Nido program, a center for infants that, like all other levels at PRINTS, features a dual-immersion Montessori environment. With this latest addition, the school can now offer children of all ages a nurturing place for developing fluency in several languages as well as foundational skills. Based on Montessori philosophy and informed by the latest findings in neuroscience, this environment gives children an optimal start by cultivating joy in learning and discovery.
2018 - 2019
​
Plans for the New
San Mateo Campus
2019
PRINTS proposes to renovate a former high-tech company’s campus into an environment for experiencing Montessori optimally. The school occupies only portions of the new site; in the remainder, learning environments dedicated to all ages are under planning (programs for the elderly, the culinary arts, fostering design-thinking, and more).
2020
​
COVID-19 Shelter-in-Place; PRINTS launches an
online learning platform
2020
COVID-19 caused a state-wide mandatory closing of all schools. PRINTS put in place a model for continuing to serve children through the Shelter-in-Place order. Thus began its online learning platform, consisting in both lessons and regular check-ins with parents to insure as much continuity as possible under the adverse conditions. The staff remedied some of the drawbacks of online learning with the creation of paper forms to encourage continuation of concrete experience.
​
In June 2020, PRINTS reopened under strict adherence to COVID regulations.
2020 - 2023
​
Construction of the
New San Mateo Campus
2020 - Present
Renovations of the building portions occupied by PRINTS begin. The new setting now offers the following environments: four Nidos, three Infant Communities, two Children’s Houses, one Elementary, and one Upper School. After some delays due to the pandemic, construction has resumed for outdoor environments, gardening beds, play structures, as well as Chinese and English gardens.
2021
​
PRINTS inaugurates its Spanish - English program
2021
PRINTS plans to launch its Spanish-English program, making it the first AMI Montessori school in the Bay Area to offer four languages.