General Information
Discover all the essential parent information at Bella Mente Montessori Academy, including contact details, important dates, staff contacts, meal schedules, dress code information, and more, ensuring you have everything you need to support your child's educational journey seamlessly.
School Information
Regular Office Hours:
Monday - Friday, 8am - 3pm
**Final child pick-up is scheduled for 2:30 pm to ensure a smooth transition as we approach dismissal time
School Staff- Frequently Called Numbers
All staff email addresses are @bellamentecharter.org.
| Position/Department | Name | Phone Extension | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Enrollment Questions | Cristian Chamu | 307 | enrollment@ |
| Front Office Coordinator/General Inquiry | Jessica Montes | 301 | info@ or jmontes@ |
| Attendance Clerk | Monica Lopez | 302 | attendance@ |
| Independent Study Clerk | Monica Lopez | 302 | IS@ |
| Health Technician | Betsy Cruz | 120 | health@ |
| Food Service | Ruben Gutierrez | 326 | bellacafe@ |
| Community Liaison | Maca Davis | 331 | resources@ |
| Community Outreach Director | Anthony Beaver | 310 | events@ |
| Front Office Coordinator/Enrollment Inquiry | Cristian Chamu | 307 | enrollment@ or cchamu@ |
| Primary & Lower El Montessori Coach | Amanda Schulz | 113 | aschulz@ |
| Upper El & Middle School Montessori Coach | Michelle Tsai | 113 | mtsai@ |
| School Counselor/Social Worker | Lacey Reese | 103 | lreese@ |
| Accounts Payable & Back Office Manager | Amélie Cheatham | 311 | invoices@ or acheatham@ |
| Assistant Principal | Adriana Hartwell | 301 | ahartwell@ |
| Principal | Natalie Braselton | 360 | nbraselton@ |
| Director of Special Education | Jocylinn Roberts | 315 | jroberts@ |
| Director of Compliance & Academic Accountability | Pat Broughton | 301 | pbroughton@ |
| Director of Support & Nutrition Services | Gladys Espino | 301 | gespino@ |
| Superintendent | Erin Feeley | 301 | efeeley@ |
Schedules and Dates
Bell Schedule
Start Times:
Monday:
- TK & Kinder: 9:30
- 1st-8th grade: 9:15
Tuesday-Friday:
- TK & Kinder: 8:30
- 1st-8th grade: 8:15
End Times:
Regular Day:
- TK & Kinder: 2:45
- 1st-8th grade: 3:10
Minimum Day:
- TK & Kinder: 11:45
- 1st-8th grade: 12:10
Meal Schedules
Breakfast:
FREE to all students
- 8:00 - 8:45
Lunch/Recess:
FREE to all students
- TK & K: 12 - 1:15pm
- 1st-3rd: 10:50 - 11:50am
- 4th-6th: 11:50 - 12:50pm
- 7th & 8th: 12:51 - 1:21pm
At Bella Mente Montessori Academies, we promote a healthy environment by allowing students and staff to bring and carry water bottles throughout the school, with the exception of specified locations. We ensure that everyone is aware of their rights regarding this policy through our handbooks, as well as our school website.
Important Dates
Student Start Date:
Thursday, August 15, 2024
Student End Date:
Wednesday, June 4, 2025
Breaks Include:
- Fall Break: November 25 – November 29, 2024
- Winter Break: December 20 – January 7, 2025
- Spring Break: March 31 – April 4, 2025
Additional Days off:
- 9/2 - Labor Day
- 10/18 - Staff Development
- 11/11 - Veteran's Day Observed
- 1/20 - MLK Jr. Day
- 2/14 - 2/17 - President's Day
- 5/26 - Memorial Day (Legal Holiday)
Minimum Days:
- 9/11 - Staff Development
- 9/25 - Staff Development
- 10/23- Staff Development
- 11/13 - 11/15 - Parent Teacher Conferences & Staff Development
- 12/11 - Staff Development
- 1/22 - Staff Development
- 2/26 - Staff Development
- 3/12 - 3/14 - Parent Teacher Conferences & Staff Development
- 3/19 - Staff Development
- 4/24-4/25 - Staff Development
- 5/21 - Staff Development
Before & After School Care
We are partnered with the Boys & Girls Club for the 2024/2025 school year to provide before and after-school care.
Nicki Bianchin
Website: www.bgcvista.org
Phone: 760-724-6606
Email: NBianchini@bgcvista.com
Dress Code Information
We're thrilled to announce our partnership with The Uniform Store, offering quality uniforms and services to our school community. While all tops and bottoms are encouraged to be purchased from The Uniform Store for color and style consistency, you have the flexibility to purchase polos from either us or The Uniform Store. Bottoms can be purchased from The Uniform Store or other retailers like Target or Costco.
The Uniform Store
Website: https://myschoolsuniform.com/BMA
Phone: 619.461.4112
Text: 844.560.6477
Bella Mente Cafe
Meal Ordering
- Meal ordering is open from Saturday through Wednesday for the following week.
- Cancel your scholar’s lunch if s/he is unable to pick it up by emailing bellacafe@bellamentecharter.org.
- Complete our Alternative Income Form Application. By completing this form, you may qualify for P-EBT and receive discounts on utilities among other things.
In accordance with federal civil rights law and U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) civil rights regulations and policies, this institution is prohibited from discriminating on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex (including gender identity and sexual orientation), disability, age, or reprisal or retaliation for prior civil rights activity.
Program information may be made available in languages other than English. Persons with disabilities who require alternative means of communication to obtain program information (e.g., Braille, large print, audiotape, American Sign Language), should contact the responsible state or local agency that administers the program or USDA’s TARGET Center at (202) 720-2600 (voice and TTY) or contact USDA through the Federal Relay Service at (800) 877-8339.
To file a program discrimination complaint, a Complainant should complete a Form AD-3027, USDA Program Discrimination Complaint Form which can be obtained by downloading it here, from any USDA office, by calling (866) 632-9992, or by writing a letter addressed to USDA. The letter must contain the complainant’s name, address, telephone number, and a written description of the alleged discriminatory action in sufficient detail to inform the Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights (ASCR) about the nature and date of an alleged civil rights violation. The completed AD-3027 form or letter must be submitted to USDA by:
1. mail:
U.S. Department of Agriculture
Office of the Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights
1400 Independence Avenue, SW
Washington, D.C. 20250-9410; or
2. fax: (833) 256-1665 or (202) 690-7442; or
3. email: program.intake@usda.gov
This institution is an equal opportunity provider.
Bella Mente Montessori Academy offers equal educational and employment opportunities, regardless of sex, race, color, religion, ancestry, age, marital status, sexual orientation, national origin, or disability.