Grace Montessori School Parent/Student Hand Book  - General Information

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Please be sure that you have thoroughly read and understand the Grace Montessori School handbook. Please let us know if you have any questions, comments, suggestions or concerns. When you have finished reading the handbook, please print out the Parent/Student handbook agreement form available at the end of this page, read and sign it and return it with your child's registration package. Signing the form indicates that you have read and fully understand the handbook and are prepared to work with the school on the guidelines we have put in place for our school.



Mission Statement:
The mission of Grace Montessori School is to create an environment for children in which they are encouraged to explore, create, socialize and celebrate their unique talents. The school is committed to developing within each child a sense of responsibility and interdependence with their community and the world.

Philosophy Of The School:
We are dedicated to providing quality education and care in a comfortable classroom setting with a focus on meaningful activities designed to complement the child's life. We believe that the process of lifelong learning is an exciting journey. The child learns through wonderful and broad experiences that are exposed to him/her at an early age. Children learn best when exposed to various choices. Inner discipline can only be achieved in an atmosphere of freedom where the child is trusted to make choices that are appropriate for their own level of readiness. The teacher is there to support, teach, encourage, redirect, and supervise.
 
The Montessori Method:
The Montessori approach is a system of education that encompasses both the philosophy on the child's growth and a rationale for guiding such growth. It is based on the child's developmental needs for freedom within limits. In addition, a carefully prepared environment guarantees exposure to material and experiences to develop intelligence as well as physical and psychological abilities. It is designed to take full advantage of the self-motivation process, the unique abilities of children and to allow them to develop their own capabilities and inner gifts.
 
Goal:
Grace Montessori strives to provide high-quality education and childcare programs consistent with the Montessori philosophy. this includes fostering self-confidence, caring, independence, and respecting the fact that children are different from adults and each other. We strive to meet the needs of working parents or children 18 months to six years, be as financially strong as it is educationally vibrant, provide a strong sense of community for children and their families. We seek to perpetuate and recognize the unique and special relationship we have with our neighbors.
 
Qualifications, Schedules, and Tuition:
Our rates are designed so that the longer your child is at school, the lower your hourly rate. We have designed various schedules to best suit your childcare needs. Our set schedules ensure that one adult will be present during class time when there are 12 children present and 2 adults will be present for any number of children between 12 and 24 in the Combo classes and more than 6 children in the Basic Trust class. This will increase individualized attention and instruction to each child. Please make an appointment with our Director to discuss tuition. We do offer a VERY LIMITED three day program from 8:30am to 12:30pm and 8:30am to 3:00pm.

Please be sure that when you register, you let us know which time slot and days you are seeking so that we can best suit the needs of you and your child. Three day programs will be given on a first come first served basis. Please make sure that the time slot you choose is the exact time slot you are in need of as changes are not easily made due to guidelines of the student teacher ratio. We need to know in advance how many teachers we will need to make sure the children are getting the best educational experience possible

If you choose to remove your child for a period of time to attend an outside program, you will be required to pay one half of the monthly tuition in order to hold a spot for your child at Grace Montessori. There will be no refunds for days your child might miss for reasons such as, but not limited to sickness and vacations.

Teachers are hired for a position at Grace Montessori School based on the number of children enrolled in each class. If a child is withdrawn from a classroom, this can affect the number of hours previously available to a teacher in that classroom if the number of children drops below the State mandated number of teachers per number of children in the classroom. Beginning in August of 2020: From August to May of each year, unless a child is removed due to a Military transfer or a transfer due to a job leading you out of Mtn Home, the $100.00 last month of school deposit will be applied to your last month's tuition. A 30-day notice MUST be given!
 
Multi-Age Grouping:
Multi-age grouping accommodates the child's inner development rather than relying on age as the primary indicator for readiness with instruction. Peer cooperation and peer tutoring increase achievement and self-esteem in both the older and younger child. There is the added advantage that students and teachers enjoy the experience of being together for more than one year. In a multi-age classroom there are also established models so that teachers spend less time teaching the classroom routines. Ultimately, multi-age grouping offers increased flexibility and learning to the child's individual needs.
 
Diversity:
The Montessori approach typically appeals to people from diverse and colorful backgrounds. We, as a school, wish to expose and educate our children about the exciting diversity that makes up our society. The children will learn to embrace and respect the differences within our population today. The children will learn and be exposed to different cultures and traditions from all over the world.
 
Preparing Your Child:
Most young infants, up to seven (7) months, adapt to caring adults and seldom have problems adjusting to childcare. Older infants may be upset when left with strangers. They will need extra time and your support to “get to know” the caregiver.

Some children show changes in behavior when they start childcare. Toddlers may cry, act out and refuse to go to childcare or act angry in other ways. Preschoolers may regress and behave like a younger child. They may be more wakeful at night. This behavior usually goes away after a few days or weeks in a high-quality childcare facility.

You can reduce your child's fears about starting childcare. Visit the program or family childcare home with your child before beginning care. Show your child that you like and trust the caregiver. Arrange a visit with in-home providers while you are at home or when you need childcare for a short time. Preparation and familiarity make any new experience easier for children. There are also storybooks about childcare that you can read together. Check with your local library for titles and availability.

After a child has been in childcare, a sudden change in caregivers may be upsetting. This can happen even if the new caregiver is kind and competent. If you are concerned about your child's feelings, you may want to arrange a meeting the caregiver or ask your Pediatrician for advice. Parents need to help the caregivers and the child deal with any changes in the child's routine at home or at childcare.

Good childcare helps children grow in every way and promotes their physical, social and mental development as well as offering support to working parents. Your Pediatrician wants your child to grow and develop with enjoyment in a setting that supports you as a parent, and so do we.
 
Community:
It is the expressed desire of the school to create a sense of community within the children through our work in the classrooms, education, and filed trips. In partnership with the parents, it is our goal to teach children to be good corporate citizens of our community. We want to create a sense of awareness and eagerness for children to be a contributing part of the community. If we create a sense of enthusiasm and desire in the child to make a difference in the world, then we have planted a seed for the future.
 
Non-Competitive Atmosphere:
The school has a goal to create a stimulating and cooperative environment rather than a competitive environment. It is important for the children to develop a joy and enthusiasm for learning. Allowing each child to learn and advance in their own time, without having to keep up with other students, allows for a calm, relaxed learning environment for everyone in the classroom. A non-competitive learning environment is a vital part of learning and a strong belief within our Grace Montessori School.

What Is A Montessori Toddler Program All About:
Rest and inactivity are foreign to the toddler's nature, something that every parent of a toddler knows firsthand. The prepared toddler environment is a place where the very young child is able to act upon his nature energies and curiosity. We all know the toddler is in constant motion and objects just seem to leap up into his or her hands. The toddler is encouraged to touch, handle and explore everything in his surroundings. His attention span is limited, so the prepared environment provides a wide variety of materials.

The child is given freedom in the indoor and the outdoor environments to select activities that satisfy his needs. We encourage this within appropriate limits. We also encourage independence. The toddler wants to do things by himself, unfortunately in today's hurry up pace, there is not always time or patience to allow the small child to complete the job at hand all by himself. The toddler prepared environment and program are designed to be convenient for the child. The prepare toddler environment is his place to feel at ease and at home. It is our aim, as the aware adult, to remove obstacles that frustrate the child by building furnishings to his size and having materials at his arms reach and at his eye level.
 
What is a Montessori Primary Program All about:
Entrance to the primary classroom varies in ages. A child usually enters the classroom between the ages of 2 1/2 and 3 years old, demanding on the child's readiness. The child will begin with the simplest exercises based on activities to which she or she is drawn. The materials and equipment used will help to develop concentration, coordination, independence and a sense of order.

The primary classroom is designed to take advantage of the child's sensitive years between the ages of 2 1/2 to 6, when the child best absorbs information from and enriched environment.

We will try to cultivate his/her own natural desire to learn. Our objective is to first allow the children to experience the excitement of learning by their own choice, rather than being forced.

Programs Offered For The Calendar Year:
Summer Camp: When Summer camp is over, we have two weeks of extended days before the fall session begins. If your child is not returning to Grace Montessori in the Fall, their last day will be during the last week of Summer school.

Parent Education:  Parent education programs may be scheduled throughout the year to share information about our school and the progress we are making. Your attendance is highly encouraged. Please refer to our school calendar for dates and times.

Newsletter:
Any information that is needing to be shared throughout the year will appear on our "News Letter" page and on our Bright Wheel page each month. Please make sure you read the News Letter page as well as our Bright Wheel pages as often as possible, these pages serve as our best form of communication that allows for immediate updates of any information we need to communicate to our parents, important dates, upcoming events, time changes, PTO information and at times, helpful information about the growth and health of children and more.

End Of The Year BBQ And Silent Auction:
We end our year with a BBQ and silent auction. Families are encouraged to come and enjoy good food and check out the items that the children have worked on all year long that are up for auction. This is a pot lock that we hold at the school and it allows our staff and families to socialize one last time before the Summer break. This event will be held on a Friday, the last day of school.

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