ABOUT LKC
About LKC
Lafayette Kids’ Cottage (“LKC”) began as the dream of a local Lafayette mother, Grace Dixon. While Grace was a Senior Executive Director for Macy’s, she experienced 12 years of different types of childcare, preschool, and after-school care environments with her own two children. She loved the simplicity and personal care of a nanny (especially during those cross-country business trips and 70-hour work weeks), the social and intellectual stimulation of a school, and the comfort and warmth of a home-based childcare. She soon realized that she could effectively combine all of these qualities in her very own preschool/daycare and provide the kind of care for others that she sought for her own children. After attending Health, Safety, CPR, First Aid, and childcare classes, Grace happily left her corporate career behind and opened Lafayette Kids’ Cottage.
Grace’s goal for LKC is to provide the positive benefits of all three preschool/childcare options: nanny, small family home, and academic-based center. She then designed the LKC program to reflect her belief that a care provider should respect the needs of both the child and the parents, simplify the family’s daily tasks, and decrease everyday stress. This belief is echoed in our key principles:
Respect the Needs of the Child
· Provide a comfortable, warm environment —“clean-but-kid-friendly”
· Provide healthy meals and snacks for children, this includes: whole grains, daily fresh fruits and fresh
vegetables, lean proteins and beans, milk and yogurt. Teach healthy snacking. Always offer a warm, nutritious
lunch. Feed children approximately every 2 hours.
· Ensure plenty of daily exercise on our playground, field trips, or neighborhood walks.
· Provide intellectually stimulating activities and toys for independent, small group, and large group play. When
possible, children at LKC “Learn by Doing” in real environments. Plant a garden to learn science and
conservation (worms, horse manure, bees, and rain are all GOOD things!). Set the table, cook, and build a
planter box to learn math and measuring skills. Put on a play to gain confidence, reading, dancing, and singing
skills. Visit Animal Hospitals, Convalescent Homes, and a local Ranch to learn the importance of caring for
others. Study World Art and Literature, try the style and media at LKC, then view the actual work at a local
museum. Visit working police stations and fire stations to inspire children by real local heroes in our community.
· Recognize that children need a lot of space to play, roam, and explore. Allow children access to all of the child-
proofed home and yards.
· Participate in weekly local kid-friendly activities (library, parks, outside enrichment programs).
· Maintain exceptional standards in consistency. Children find comfort in knowing the environment is safe,
nurturing, and free from bullying, inappropriate words, and any violent play whatsoever.
· Recognize that all children are unique; offer both standard and creative approaches to learning, play, and
development.
· Provide a separate “homework hangout” for quiet study and academic projects.
Respect the Needs of the Parents
· Parents, just bring your child! To decrease the complexity and expense of childcare, we provide all supplies,
food, drink, and linens. We combine these and other regular fees into one weekly or monthly payment. Parents
are not charged separately for registration, application, materials, art supplies, staff bonus, or many extra
summer activities.
· Allow parents to get more for their childcare dollar by awarding “rollover” days for family vacations and child’s
sick days.
· Offer a sibling discount to further economize childcare costs.
· Offer hourly enrollment for parents who require few childcare hours.
· Maximize the open days to ensure consistent coverage for working parents.
· Respect parent’s time—do not require volunteer hours, fundraisers, or outside projects.
· Provide delivery and pick up service for specific local schools and/or enrichment programs (dance, music,
Gymboree, library, theatre, outside art classes, etc). All are within walking distance.
· Provide childcare and optional sibling care during specified school closings and holidays.
· Provide extra childcare days as needed, based upon availability.
· Provide the parents with an opportunity for couple time by providing twice-monthly “date nights.”
· Maintain the highest standards in mutual and self respect. Teach children to be courteous, respectful, and
kind. Teachers model and reinforce these behaviors from teacher to child, child to child, and child to teacher.
· Television, video games, and movies are not a part of our program -- so the parents can use all those options
at home while they cook dinner : )
About Our Staff
Grace Dixon was born in Southern California, the youngest of 14 children. She graduated from Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo with a Business Administration degree. While attending Cal Poly, Grace took several Early Child Education courses, and also met her future husband, Steve Hall (who happened to work at the college daycare center!). Macy’s recruited Grace after her graduation. She then embarked on a successful and enjoyable 12 year career as a Senior Executive Staffing and Selling Services Director and an Advertising Broadcast Performance Specialist. Both were exciting positions, but they required extensive travel across the country. After the birth of her second child, Grace decided to start her own preschool/daycare, believing that her experience as both a mother and a business woman would benefit both children and parents. After spending 1½ years taking required childcare licensing courses and converting her home, Grace opened the doors to Lafayette Kids Cottage in 2003. Grace is married, with 3 children, Alex (born in 1989), Claire (born in 2002), and Eden Rose (born in 2006). Grace thoroughly enjoys providing a warm, intellectually stimulating, fun, and active program for her LKC families.
Hobbies: Music, Walking, Reading, Gardening, Poetry, Art, Sewing, and Crafts
Clubs: Lamorinda Moms Club, St. Perpetua Preschool Sunday School Teacher, Co-Op Girl Scout Leader, Lafayette Community Garden Member, Lafayette Elementary School Volunteer
Cassandra Montgomery was raised in a family involved in the technical, “behind the scenes” side of theater. Cassandra’s extensive dance career began with her first performance at the tender age of eighteen months in Denver, Colorado. Since then she has worked with Debbie Allen, Gregory Hines and many top choreographers such as Mia Michaels (So You Think you Can Dance), Brian Friedman and Wade Robson. While residing in Los Angeles, along with being an L.A. Laker Girl, Cassandra was hired to dance in various major motion pictures and popular TV shows with actors Wayne Brady, Eric Roberts and Pauly Shore as well as Entertainment Tonight, Jay Leno and The Academy Awards. Cassandra now performs nationally including a recent gig for Usher at the MTV Video Music Awards. Cassandra has choreographed many musicals in the area including school productions at Pleasant Hill, & Stanley Middles Schools. Miramonte High School Musical Program saw her in a variety of roles as Artist Director, Set & Lighting Designer as well as Choreographer 2004-2010. Her Shellie nomination in 2011 for Choreographer for a Musical brought her work to the professional stage here in the Bay Area. Creating a vision and bringing it to life has always been her philosophy. Cassandra started teaching dance at age 11, and started choreographing numbers for Children’s Theater at 12 years old. Based out of LA for most of her career, she had the opportunity to perform and travel around the globe. Some of her favorite jobs include Barbie for Mattel Toys, Jerry Lewis MDA telethons, and performing while traveling on various cruise lines. After being on the road for a few years she made the move to the Lamorinda area in 2000 to raise her own family, Messina (8), Dante (6). This gave her the opportunity to expand her teaching to the Bay Area. Cassandra has worked as a teacher for other companies in the area, including Kids N Dance and Oakwood Athletic Club. Her began her company in 2001, “All That Entertainment,” to focus on teaching children performing arts and movement, while having fun. Cassandra leads after-school dance programs at many Orinda, Lafayette and Menlo Park Elementary and Preschools, theme parties for toddlers thru teens, private dance training for kids and adults, “Dance Experience” kids camps for K-5th grade with public performances (Warriors Game, Orinda 4th of July Parade, Laf. Art & Wine Festival, DVC Football game, etc.), TEAM PINK Dance charity volunteering and performing group, private dance prep classes for professional dance team/cheerleading, and choreographs local shows. Cassandra stays current with popular music and movements as she continues her career today, working as a professional dancer and Entertainment Manager for a Las Vegas-based Production Company.
Alex Hall was born in San Luis Obispo, and is Grace Dixon’s oldest son. Alex is currently attending Diablo Valley College, and eager to seek his career in acting after completing his under graduate degree. Alex loves working and performing for Town Hall Theatre in Lafayette. He has assisted in numerous Town Hall Kids and Teen performances over the years. He has completed all First Aid, Health and Safety, and CPR annual certifications. In addition to acting, Alex loves volunteering with Sienna Ranch and Urban Farmers, because he gets to work outdoors, and build those muscles! Alex has a fresh and energetic approach to play at LKC, and is known for inventing silly new yard games like “Rocket Pig” that the children really enjoy. Alex is also able to teach the children to draw incredible pencil sketches, due to his calm pace, patience, step-by-step approach, and choosing subjects that inspire the children. Alex is also the Assistant Director for all of our Town Hall Theatre plays performed at LKC. Alex can really “bring on the drama” during storytime with the children! Alex’s quote about working at LKC is from the heart, “It’s like going back in time and being able to help myself.”
Hobbies: Acting/Directing, Horses (Care and Riding), Reading, Drawing
Clubs: Town Hall Theatre, Urban Farmers, Sienna Ranch
Lafayette Kids’ Cottage (“LKC”) began as the dream of a local Lafayette mother, Grace Dixon. While Grace was a Senior Executive Director for Macy’s, she experienced 12 years of different types of childcare, preschool, and after-school care environments with her own two children. She loved the simplicity and personal care of a nanny (especially during those cross-country business trips and 70-hour work weeks), the social and intellectual stimulation of a school, and the comfort and warmth of a home-based childcare. She soon realized that she could effectively combine all of these qualities in her very own preschool/daycare and provide the kind of care for others that she sought for her own children. After attending Health, Safety, CPR, First Aid, and childcare classes, Grace happily left her corporate career behind and opened Lafayette Kids’ Cottage.
Grace’s goal for LKC is to provide the positive benefits of all three preschool/childcare options: nanny, small family home, and academic-based center. She then designed the LKC program to reflect her belief that a care provider should respect the needs of both the child and the parents, simplify the family’s daily tasks, and decrease everyday stress. This belief is echoed in our key principles:
Respect the Needs of the Child
· Provide a comfortable, warm environment —“clean-but-kid-friendly”
· Provide healthy meals and snacks for children, this includes: whole grains, daily fresh fruits and fresh
vegetables, lean proteins and beans, milk and yogurt. Teach healthy snacking. Always offer a warm, nutritious
lunch. Feed children approximately every 2 hours.
· Ensure plenty of daily exercise on our playground, field trips, or neighborhood walks.
· Provide intellectually stimulating activities and toys for independent, small group, and large group play. When
possible, children at LKC “Learn by Doing” in real environments. Plant a garden to learn science and
conservation (worms, horse manure, bees, and rain are all GOOD things!). Set the table, cook, and build a
planter box to learn math and measuring skills. Put on a play to gain confidence, reading, dancing, and singing
skills. Visit Animal Hospitals, Convalescent Homes, and a local Ranch to learn the importance of caring for
others. Study World Art and Literature, try the style and media at LKC, then view the actual work at a local
museum. Visit working police stations and fire stations to inspire children by real local heroes in our community.
· Recognize that children need a lot of space to play, roam, and explore. Allow children access to all of the child-
proofed home and yards.
· Participate in weekly local kid-friendly activities (library, parks, outside enrichment programs).
· Maintain exceptional standards in consistency. Children find comfort in knowing the environment is safe,
nurturing, and free from bullying, inappropriate words, and any violent play whatsoever.
· Recognize that all children are unique; offer both standard and creative approaches to learning, play, and
development.
· Provide a separate “homework hangout” for quiet study and academic projects.
Respect the Needs of the Parents
· Parents, just bring your child! To decrease the complexity and expense of childcare, we provide all supplies,
food, drink, and linens. We combine these and other regular fees into one weekly or monthly payment. Parents
are not charged separately for registration, application, materials, art supplies, staff bonus, or many extra
summer activities.
· Allow parents to get more for their childcare dollar by awarding “rollover” days for family vacations and child’s
sick days.
· Offer a sibling discount to further economize childcare costs.
· Offer hourly enrollment for parents who require few childcare hours.
· Maximize the open days to ensure consistent coverage for working parents.
· Respect parent’s time—do not require volunteer hours, fundraisers, or outside projects.
· Provide delivery and pick up service for specific local schools and/or enrichment programs (dance, music,
Gymboree, library, theatre, outside art classes, etc). All are within walking distance.
· Provide childcare and optional sibling care during specified school closings and holidays.
· Provide extra childcare days as needed, based upon availability.
· Provide the parents with an opportunity for couple time by providing twice-monthly “date nights.”
· Maintain the highest standards in mutual and self respect. Teach children to be courteous, respectful, and
kind. Teachers model and reinforce these behaviors from teacher to child, child to child, and child to teacher.
· Television, video games, and movies are not a part of our program -- so the parents can use all those options
at home while they cook dinner : )
About Our Staff
Grace Dixon was born in Southern California, the youngest of 14 children. She graduated from Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo with a Business Administration degree. While attending Cal Poly, Grace took several Early Child Education courses, and also met her future husband, Steve Hall (who happened to work at the college daycare center!). Macy’s recruited Grace after her graduation. She then embarked on a successful and enjoyable 12 year career as a Senior Executive Staffing and Selling Services Director and an Advertising Broadcast Performance Specialist. Both were exciting positions, but they required extensive travel across the country. After the birth of her second child, Grace decided to start her own preschool/daycare, believing that her experience as both a mother and a business woman would benefit both children and parents. After spending 1½ years taking required childcare licensing courses and converting her home, Grace opened the doors to Lafayette Kids Cottage in 2003. Grace is married, with 3 children, Alex (born in 1989), Claire (born in 2002), and Eden Rose (born in 2006). Grace thoroughly enjoys providing a warm, intellectually stimulating, fun, and active program for her LKC families.
Hobbies: Music, Walking, Reading, Gardening, Poetry, Art, Sewing, and Crafts
Clubs: Lamorinda Moms Club, St. Perpetua Preschool Sunday School Teacher, Co-Op Girl Scout Leader, Lafayette Community Garden Member, Lafayette Elementary School Volunteer
Cassandra Montgomery was raised in a family involved in the technical, “behind the scenes” side of theater. Cassandra’s extensive dance career began with her first performance at the tender age of eighteen months in Denver, Colorado. Since then she has worked with Debbie Allen, Gregory Hines and many top choreographers such as Mia Michaels (So You Think you Can Dance), Brian Friedman and Wade Robson. While residing in Los Angeles, along with being an L.A. Laker Girl, Cassandra was hired to dance in various major motion pictures and popular TV shows with actors Wayne Brady, Eric Roberts and Pauly Shore as well as Entertainment Tonight, Jay Leno and The Academy Awards. Cassandra now performs nationally including a recent gig for Usher at the MTV Video Music Awards. Cassandra has choreographed many musicals in the area including school productions at Pleasant Hill, & Stanley Middles Schools. Miramonte High School Musical Program saw her in a variety of roles as Artist Director, Set & Lighting Designer as well as Choreographer 2004-2010. Her Shellie nomination in 2011 for Choreographer for a Musical brought her work to the professional stage here in the Bay Area. Creating a vision and bringing it to life has always been her philosophy. Cassandra started teaching dance at age 11, and started choreographing numbers for Children’s Theater at 12 years old. Based out of LA for most of her career, she had the opportunity to perform and travel around the globe. Some of her favorite jobs include Barbie for Mattel Toys, Jerry Lewis MDA telethons, and performing while traveling on various cruise lines. After being on the road for a few years she made the move to the Lamorinda area in 2000 to raise her own family, Messina (8), Dante (6). This gave her the opportunity to expand her teaching to the Bay Area. Cassandra has worked as a teacher for other companies in the area, including Kids N Dance and Oakwood Athletic Club. Her began her company in 2001, “All That Entertainment,” to focus on teaching children performing arts and movement, while having fun. Cassandra leads after-school dance programs at many Orinda, Lafayette and Menlo Park Elementary and Preschools, theme parties for toddlers thru teens, private dance training for kids and adults, “Dance Experience” kids camps for K-5th grade with public performances (Warriors Game, Orinda 4th of July Parade, Laf. Art & Wine Festival, DVC Football game, etc.), TEAM PINK Dance charity volunteering and performing group, private dance prep classes for professional dance team/cheerleading, and choreographs local shows. Cassandra stays current with popular music and movements as she continues her career today, working as a professional dancer and Entertainment Manager for a Las Vegas-based Production Company.
Alex Hall was born in San Luis Obispo, and is Grace Dixon’s oldest son. Alex is currently attending Diablo Valley College, and eager to seek his career in acting after completing his under graduate degree. Alex loves working and performing for Town Hall Theatre in Lafayette. He has assisted in numerous Town Hall Kids and Teen performances over the years. He has completed all First Aid, Health and Safety, and CPR annual certifications. In addition to acting, Alex loves volunteering with Sienna Ranch and Urban Farmers, because he gets to work outdoors, and build those muscles! Alex has a fresh and energetic approach to play at LKC, and is known for inventing silly new yard games like “Rocket Pig” that the children really enjoy. Alex is also able to teach the children to draw incredible pencil sketches, due to his calm pace, patience, step-by-step approach, and choosing subjects that inspire the children. Alex is also the Assistant Director for all of our Town Hall Theatre plays performed at LKC. Alex can really “bring on the drama” during storytime with the children! Alex’s quote about working at LKC is from the heart, “It’s like going back in time and being able to help myself.”
Hobbies: Acting/Directing, Horses (Care and Riding), Reading, Drawing
Clubs: Town Hall Theatre, Urban Farmers, Sienna Ranch
