I am also very proud of our nurturing staff at our preschool. They are very special people, many of whom have been here for ten, fifteen, and even twenty years. ( That's almost unheard of in the early childhood preschool field! ) The unique thing about our preschool staff is that they come into their work with open hearts, always wanting the best for children and families. Because of this, they are unusually responsive as children unfold and change. When a need comes up, they immediately move to respond to that need, whether it is through taking a class, talking with parents, or seeking outside services. T his is very different from many places that never change and seem to look exactly the same as they did 30 years ago. At Mandala, our basic values and foundations have remained the same, but we are constantly growing and expanding our knowledge. We have taken the Montessori philosophy and enhanced it. A s we learn what children need, we shift to meet that need. Our teachers so trust the integrity of the child's ability to learn. They support that and never manipulate it. That's what is so unique about Mandala as a preschool - it's our "responsiveness" and our always seeking the best for a child.