Natalia Boyko and her husband, Max, along with family, teachers and students, celebrated the official grand opening of the Sunrise Montessori School. Photo by Thomas J. Sullivan

CITRUS HEIGHTS, CA (MPG) - The Sunrise Montessori School, a new preschool providing daycare, preschool, kindergarten and child development classes for students, ages 2 to 12, has opened behind the former Sears retail store at 7233 Sunrise Blvd. in Sunrise Mall.

Owner and director Natalia Boyko and her husband, Max, together with family, teachers and students, celebrated the school’s official grand opening with a ribbon cutting ceremony on Sept. 12, hosted by the Citrus Heights Chamber of Commerce.

Once home to a Sears Parts and Service Center, a bright multi-color mural sign now welcomes families and students to the Sunrise Montessori School’s front entrance. The parking lot in front of the center has also been fully refreshed.

Festive yellow, white and blue balloons framed the front entrance to the center before the start of the grand opening ceremony. 

Owner and director Natalia Boyko and her husband, Max, together with family, teachers and students, celebrated the official grand opening of the Sunrise Montessori School with a ribbon cutting ceremony on Sept. 12, hosted by the Citrus Heights Chamber of Commerce. Photo by Thomas J. Sullivan

Inside, the 9,500-square-foot building has been fully transformed into seven well-appointed school classrooms and office space. The center also features a secure outside student playground area.

Representatives of area elected officials presented certificates of recognition to the couple to commemorate the grand opening

Sheri Merrick, executive director of the Citrus Heights Chamber of Commerce, presented a certificate to the couple on behalf of the City Council with their good wishes.

The couple are part of the city’s Ukrainian community and work with refugees from Ukraine and Russia to try and provide daycare.

“We want to welcome all children to our center,” said Natalia Boyko. “Our center is for everyone and we are proud to now be a part of the Citrus Heights community.”

In each classroom, teachers at the Sunrise Montessori School seek to create a multi-lingual learning environment where children can learn and have fun. Photo by Thomas J. Sullivan

The Montessori-inspired center is looking to attract students from the surrounding areas of Orangevale and Fair Oaks by offering low-cost care at a convenient, central location within the city of Citrus Heights.

The couple sought to create a multi-lingual learning environment where children can learn and have fun.

The school has the capacity to enroll up to approximately 160 students in small group teaching settings, Boyko said. 

She has currently enrolled almost half that number since opening to the public earlier this month and expects that number to steadily grow.

“We also have a wonderful group of qualified teachers who enjoy working with all their students,” Boyko said.

Individual preschool classrooms can accommodate between 23 and 28 students. A larger school-aged classroom, at 1,300 square feet, can accommodate up to 39 children, while the smaller school-aged classroom can accommodate 16 children, according to original plan documents which were filed with the city in 2024 when the project was first under review.

The couple is leasing the building from Ethan Conrad Properties of Sacramento, which owns the former Sears retail store and a former auto repair center.

Boyko owns another childcare center, Advanced Early Childhood Education, a full-service, nonprofit preschool for Russian-speaking children.

Their overall program at Sunrise Montessori “provides children the opportunity to grow physically, mentally, socially and emotionally in a safe and comfortable environment,” according to a school brochure. Fresh, organic homemade meals are also provided.

Additional activities at the center include sports, gymnastics, theater, music, as well as art and crafts programs. After school homework help is also available.

The Sunrise Montessori School, license #343626279, is open from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. Mondays through Fridays. 

The school is enrolling new students and application assistance is available. For more information, visit www.sunrise-montessori.center or call 916-995-9060.