Prepare your child to become a global citizen of tomorrow
Our mission at CommuniKids is to prepare young children to become the global citizens of tomorrow by creating a joyful, playful, and nurturing environment that immerses students in a second language. Our program strives to instill the disposition, knowledge, and skills required to succeed in a highly interconnected world.
CommuniKids is a language immersion school offering high-quality educational programs for children: preschool, weekly classes, afterschool care, and summer camps. We offer Spanish language classes, as well as French and Mandarin classes.
Kindness
Being friendly, generous and considerate to those around us.
Tolerance
Celebrating and respecting the diversity in each and every one of us.
Solidarity
Understanding that collaboration leads to better learning and better social connections.
Responsibility
Understanding that actions have consequences that affect ourselves and others
Multiculturalism
Celebrating all the cultures and languages represented in our community.
Equity
Equity: Commitment to promoting fair access to high quality multilingual early education.
Experience why our children are HAPPY to learn!
What Makes Us Special?
Our students have the opportunity to find out just who they are, on their own timetable, in a child-centered environment where their individuality is cherished.
Experienced Faculty
A warm and nurturing environment with a professional and well-trained, experienced faculty.
Innovative Learning
An innovative learning environment that fosters deeper thought and stimulates questioning and student-led research.
Parent Involvement
Opportunities for parent involvement in the school’s culture.
Natural Play Areas
Natural play areas and gardens that the children assist in caring for, promoting responsibility and independence.
Love & Care
Home-like learning environments that the children assist in caring for, promoting responsibility and independence.
The Essentials
CommuniKids Language Immersion Preschool
Speaking two or more languages has obvious practical benefits in an increasingly globalized world. In recent years, however, research has shown that being bilingual helps us develop in other important ways. It has a profound effect on the improving cognitive skills not related to language, stimulating creativity, and even shielding against dementia in old age.
CommuniKids Spanish, French and Mandarin preschools provide language immersion in a joyful, nurturing environment. We’d love to meet you and show you around our school.
We partner with the Office of the State Superintendent of Education (OSSE) to provide Free Pre-K at our DC centers for 3 and 4 year old residents of the District of Columbia.
Our Story
Six families. Six toddlers. Two parents who understood that the “window of opportunity” for language learning was open!
Back in 2003, CommuniKids language immersion school got its start thanks to these three things. Founders Jeannine Piacenza and Raúl Echevarría, along with a few other like-minded families founded Caterpillar Cooperative Preschool, a small program that met three times a week. Coincidentally, most of the families were speaking another language at home to their children and wanted to support the development of their multilingual children. Within two years, the group grew to an organized immersion program with paid professional teachers and a full Spanish-immersion curriculum.
Astounded at how fast their own children picked up the language, Jeannine and Raúl founded CommuniKids in 2005, offering weekly classes in Spanish – with Raúl taking care of the teaching and Jeannine managing the administration.
In 2007, CommuniKids expanded to Falls Church and added languages in both locations: Mandarin, French, and Arabic. Recognizing that extended time immersed in another language translated to better fluency results, Jeannine and Raúl decided to establish two full-time preschool programs – one in DC and one in Falls Church – in 2009. With 20 students enrolled in DC and 25 in Falls Church, CommuniKids started small and quickly grew due to word of mouth.
From the beginning, the school founders were committed to a play-based, developmentally-appropriate approach to early childhood learning – so accreditation from the National Association for the Education of Young Children was the next natural step for the school. In 2012, both schools received NAEYC accreditation, putting them in the company of only about 8% of preschools in the U.S.
One of the best things about CommuniKids is our family feel. Several of our current preschool teachers have been a part of our company since we started in 2005. Some of our teachers were caregivers for the original Caterpillar Cooperative kids. Some are parents whose own children attended CommuniKids. And some started volunteering with us in high school and are now lead teachers!
As for the original CommuniKids in the picture above? They are in high school now, and all still fully bilingual or trilingual!
Admissions
We are currently accepting applications. We are so happy you are considering enrollment in our school and would love to show you around! Please schedule a tour of our facility.
Parent Testimonials
Our son is excited about learning and coming to school each day. It is comforting to know that our son is in a safe and loving environment that is helping him to be the best he can be. CommuniKids staff is part of our extended family! Thank you for all that you do.
I think good education requires two things: good teachers and good organization that lets the teachers do their work. CommuniKids has excellent teachers and the CommuniKids organization allows them to work wonders with our kids. We are very happy with the education and care our daughter is getting.