Bienvenidos to Mi Second Casa!
Since 2007, we’ve helped infants, toddlers and preschoolers flourish in a safe, fun and nurturing Spanish immersion environment, right here in San Mateo.
A family-run school, right here in San Mateo
Teacher ratios above what the state requires
All meals included, with photo updates all day
Dos lugares, one big family.
Both schools are Spanish immersion, both are play-based, and both are run by our family. What changes is the setting, so you can choose the one that suits your child.
Mi Second Casa
Three age-based classrooms led by experienced, Spanish-speaking teachers, with ratios above state requirements, organic lunches, photo updates through the day, and a big private playground.
- Where
- 847 N San Mateo Dr
- Ages
- 3 months to 5 years
- Rooms
- Conejitos, Pajaritos, Ositos
A good fit for families who want same-age classmates, a steady daily rhythm and plenty of room to grow.
Explore the Center
Mi Second Casa In-Home
Where our family first opened its doors. A real home with twelve children at most and three teachers, where most of the day happens outside, in the garden, the sandbox and on the bike track.
- Where
- 601 Rand St
- Ages
- 3 months to 5 years
- Group
- 12 children, 3 teachers
A good fit for families who want a small, mixed-age group, familiar faces and lots of fresh air.
Explore In-HomeWhat families can count on.
The things parents tell us matter most when they are choosing care for the first time.
Licensed, screened and certified
Every teacher is screened under Title 22: fingerprint background checks, health examinations, mandated reporter training and early childhood coursework.
You'll know how the day went
Photos and notes on meals, naps and activities arrive through Brightwheel while the day is happening.
Ratios above state requirements
We follow NAEYC's recommended ratios: 1:3 for infants, 1:6 for toddlers, and 1:10 for preschoolers. In-Home holds 1:4 across every age.
Meals are included
Breakfast, lunch and snack every day, with vegetarian options and care taken around allergies.
Spanish, all day long.
Children hear and use Spanish at breakfast, outside on the climbing structure, during songs and while they play together. That is what makes it take hold.
What the research suggests
Studies of early bilingualism point to benefits beyond vocabulary, including attention, working memory and the ease of moving between tasks. The early years are when a second language is absorbed rather than studied.
What we see each day
A child who arrived with no Spanish answers a teacher in Spanish without thinking about it. Many children leave us with real proficiency, including those who hear no Spanish at home.
No Spanish at home? Todo bien.
Most of our families don't speak it. Teachers use gestures, pictures, songs and gentle repetition, so no child is left behind. Understanding comes first, and speaking follows in its own time.
Hear it from our experts.
We asked our kids what they think of their school. The answers are honest, funny and entirely their own.
What families say.
Our experience at Mi Second Casa has been outstanding, beyond what I ever could have hoped for in a childcare provider.
We couldn't be happier with our experience at Mi Second Casa, and wouldn't hesitate for a minute to recommend them.
It began in a house on Rand Street.
Graciela “Tía” Tejada opened her home to a few families with one idea: children thrive when they feel safe, loved and at home. Everything we do still comes from that.
Nearly twenty years later, our family runs two schools a few minutes apart, in much the same way.
Read our story
We'd love to meet you.
Come walk the rooms and meet the teachers. Tell us roughly when you'd like to start, and we'll find a time that works. Infant spaces are limited, so it helps to reach out early.