Family Handbook
2016-2017
“Follow the Child.”
-Maria Montessori
August/2016
Parkside Montessori Family Handbook
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Mission Statement (2)
What is Montessori?
What is Montessori? (3)
Social Development (4)
Montessori at a Glance (3)
Freedom and Responsibility (5)
Parkside Montessori Outcomes (6)
Montessori Vocabulary (7)
General Information
Program Description (8)
Casa dei Bambini (8/9)
Elementary Montessori (9)
The School Day (9)
Arrival and Dismissal (10)
Fine Arts and French as a Second Language (10)
Evaluation/Assessment (10)
Parental Involvement (Volunteers) (10/11)
Field Trips (11)
School Newsletters (11)
Lunch/Snack (12)
Extra Clothes (12)
Library (12)
Illness/Medical Conditions (12)
Bicycles/Rollerblades/Scooters/Skateboards (13)
Technology Use (13)
Internet Use (13)
Transfers In/Out (14)
PLC/SIP Fridays (14)
Outside Recess Breaks (14)
Student Dress Code (15)
Footwear (15)
Personal Property (16)
Emergency Protocols (16)
VTRA (17)
Casa dei Bambini Enrolment, Admission and Fees (18)
Casa dei Bamibini Program Hours (19)
Elementary Enrolment, Admission and Fees (20)
Elementary Program Hours (21)
FAQ’s (Frequently Asked Questions) (22/23/24)
District Calendar K-8 (25)
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Parkside Montessori Family Handbook
MISSION STATEMENT
At Parkside Montessori our mission is to provide a complete Montessori program
that is child directed, individualized, hands-on learning. The emotional, intellectual,
physical and social development of the child is met through a process of
individualized exploration of a natural curiosity for the love of learning
Within the Parkside Montessori Program, all religions, races, and cultures are
respected. We aim to include a variety of cultural experiences within our program.
Our environment maintains a neutral perspective, however, religion and spirituality
are discussed.
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What is Montessori?
MONTESSORI PHILOSOPHY
In the early 1900’s, Dr. Maria Montessori, Italy’s first woman physician,
developed educational materials and methods based on her belief that children learn
best by doing, not by passively accepting other people’s ideas and pre-existing
knowledge.
PROGRAM STRUCTURE
“Beyond the more obvious reasons why it is sensible to group the ages three by three, such as the little
ones learn from the older children and the older ones learn by teaching the younger, every child can
work at his own pace and rhythm, eliminating the bane of competition, there is the matter of order
and discipline easily maintained even in very large classes with only one adult in charge. This is due
to the sophisticated balance between liberty and discipline prevalent in Montessori classrooms,
established at the very inception of a class. Children, who have acquired the fine art of working freely
in a structured environment, joyfully assume responsibility for upholding this structure, contributing to
the cohesion of their social unit.”
-Dr. Maria Montessori
Parkside Montessori Family Handbook
Social Development
The task of the first Plane child (ages 0-6) is to construct herself/himself as an
individual with functional independence: the ability to take care of one’s own personal
needs. The task of the Second Plane child (ages 6-12) is to construct herself/himself
as a social being with the intellectual independence; the ability to think for oneself.
To aid in this self-construction the elementary age child exhibits particular
psychological characteristics: a reasoning mind, imagination, conscience, a sense of
justice and a sensitivity to the group or the “herd instinct”.
The teacher recognizes these characteristics and works with the students to
establish classroom rules, procedures and guidelines for conflict resolution. The
students are prepared to enter into the larger society with the ability to follow its laws
because of their experience in the smaller “practice society” of the classroom.
Montessori at a Glance…
All teachers, Montessori included, draw from a common source: the child and our
“best practices” for teaching and learning. There are, however, unique aspects to a
Montessori environment.
●
●
●
●
●
Multi-year age span – (3-6 years, 6-9 years, 9-12 years)
Individually prepared lessons – small group lessons (2-6 children)
Uninterrupted work periods (2-3 hours) – child schedules work
Hands on materials for self-teaching
‘Cosmic Education’ – term used to describe the unique curriculum, materials,
and methods developed by Dr. Maria Montessori
● Student Assessment – assessment based on observation, student work
journals, portfolios, and meetings with teacher
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Freedom and Responsibility: A Montessori Approach
Freedom
Responsibility
Choice of Daily Work
Making appropriate and varied work
choices
Amount of time on an activity
Staying on task and focused
Use of practical, real life materials
Proper care and handling
Eating snack when hungry
Proper food handling
Using the bathroom
Good hygiene and proper use of facility
Resolving own conflicts
Stating needs, no physical contact,
seeking adult help when necessary
Teaching other children
Appropriate interaction, key points
Movement in the classroom
Walking, maneuvering between student
work areas
Choosing place to work
Finding appropriate space for activity
without interfering with another’s work
space
Travelling throughout building
Walking in hallways, knowing how to
get to a destination
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Parkside Montessori Outcomes
Parkside Montessori combines three outcomes; social, personal, and work habits
along with the curricular outcomes as set out by the Alberta government. For more
information visit: http://education.alberta.ca/parents.
Social
Shows respect for others.
Respects materials and environment.
Uses good manners and shows courtesy.
Participates and works appropriately in a group.
Displays leadership.
Personal
Expresses needs and feelings appropriately.
Copes with transitions and challenges.
Exhibits self-control.
Shows responsibility for own actions.
Displays self-confidence.
Work Habits
Chooses appropriate and challenging work.
Works independently.
Listens to and follows directions.
Organizes work and materials.
Works with concentration.
Completes work with care and pride.
Demonstrates persistence.
Displays a strong interest in learning and working.
Demonstrates responsibility for own learning.
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Montessori Vocabulary
Absorbent Mind – The ability and ease with which the young child ages 0-6 learns to
unconsciously take information from their environment with little effort.
Reasoning Mind – The emerging ability of the child in the elementary years to learn
through abstraction and imagination.
The Control of Error – The possibility inherent in the Montessori materials of
making apparent the mistakes made by the child, thereby allowing him to see his
errors and to correct them. This ‘friendliness with error’ promotes self-discipline and
increased motivation for learning.
Cosmic Education – Dr. Montessori’s plan for education appropriate to the
developmental needs of the elementary age child. It is characterized by a multicultural, interdisciplinary, and interdependent approach.
Cycle of Activity – Those periods of concentration on a particular task that should
be worked to completion.
Deviated Child – The child who has not yet found himself and thus is restless and
difficult to control. He finds adjustment difficult and often escapes into a fantasy
world.
Didactic materials – The instructive materials which allow for auto-education.
Discovery of the child - Dr. Montessori’s awareness and realization of the young
child’s abilities and his spontaneous love of work and learning.
Freedom – The child’s free movements and experiences in an environment that
provides a discipline through liberty and respects for his rights.
Normalized Child – The child who adapts easily and has acquired the self-discipline
and control necessary to a healthy life.
Prepared Environment – An atmosphere created to enable the child to be free to
learn through activity in peaceful and orderly surroundings adapted to the child’s size
and interests.
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General Information
Program Description-Casa dei Bambini
The Parkside Casa dei Bambini is for children aged three to six, Preschool and Kindergarten.
The Casa dei Bambini program components include the following:
Practical Life Exercises
These exercises are designed to teach children life skills such as care of self, the
environment and courtesy. These exercises improve children’s fine and gross motor
skills as well as hand-eye coordination and spatial awareness. In addition, these
exercises also help children’s self-confidence, concentration and fulfill their search for
independence. Some examples of activities include: zipping, washing fruits and
vegetables, sorting materials, pouring liquids and cleaning.
Sensorial Exercises
These exercises are designed to enhance the child’s five senses. The materials used
consist of several wooden apparatus which are used by the children to explore.
Through the use of various materials, the children develop their comparing and
discriminating power through the five senses. Hands-on activities enhance a child’s
concentration, finger dexterity, beginning geometry skills and visual discrimination.
This approach helps to prepare children for future writing. Examples include: shape,
size, color and number, as well as smell, taste and sound.
Math
The material used in the Montessori approach to Math helps to teach children
number concepts. Concrete materials provide the foundation upon which abstract
numbers are learned and internalized for future Math concepts.
Language Arts
The “Phonetic Method” of language instruction is used in the Montessori program.
Phonetic means “by sound”: learning to read entails learning the sound that each
letter makes then build on that with phonograms, groups of two or more letters that
make a sound (i.e. sh).
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Cultural
The Cultural component includes: Science, History, Geography, Music, Art, and
Physical Education or any subject that may enrich the mind of the child. These areas
enhance the child’s understanding of the world in which s/he lives.
Elementary Montessori (ELMO)
The Parkside Elementary Program is for children aged six through eleven, grades one
through five. Our program brings together the Alberta curriculum along with the
Montessori philosophy and outcomes.
The Elementary Montessori program includes the following subject areas: Advanced
Practical Life, Art, Botany, Cultural Geography, Health Sciences, History, Language
Arts, Math, Matter and Astronomy, Music, Peace & Cosmic Education, Physical
Geography, and Zoology.
The School Day
The main school doors will open at 8:15 am. Early access to classrooms to complete
homework or to work on projects has to be arranged with the homeroom teacher. At
specific times throughout the year school sports' practices may be scheduled before and after
school. Both students and teachers are responsible for informing parents if and when a
student will be staying longer than 3:05 pm at Parkside Montessori.
Important note: Please note that there is no before-school teacher supervision. A
Montessori staff member will be at the door when it is unlocked at 8:30 to greet the children
each morning and welcome the children into the school. This same routine will occur for
afternoon dismissal. Students are to go directly home after school.
All doors except the main doors by the office are locked during the school day. All
other doors at Parkside Montessori are opened by supervisors when needed for
student entrance. This is for the safety of our students.
Parents and guardians are welcome to visit the school at any time during the school
day. We do ask that you check in at the office before proceeding to any part of
the school building especially classrooms. If you are visiting a classroom you
must make arrangements in advance with the teacher and administration. Also, please
know that we will not give access to students to people we do not know. Please
arrange any “visits” to happen before or after school and try to make sure your child
is aware of who is picking them up at the end of the school day so that the
disruptions to learning are minimized.
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Arrival and Dismissal
Students are to arrive promptly at the start of their program and be picked up on time.
Morning and afternoon programs are scheduled back to back so we appreciate your
cooperation in this matter. We do however understand that sometimes situations
arise where a parent/guardian may be late. We would appreciate a call to Parkside
Montessori advising of absences & late pick-ups. It is also important to note that
being late at the beginning of a program is disruptive to the child as they will have
missed critical learning time.
Fine Arts and French as a Second Language
Parkside Montessori students receive specialized instruction in both music and French
as a Second language. Elementary students experience designated music blocks
throughout the week with instruction by a music specialist. French as a Second
Language (FSL) instruction formally begins at the upper elementary level.
Evaluation /Assessment
Observations and student work sampling are the most prevalent methods of
evaluating and assessing student progress in a Montessori program. As well the
students are assessed through school, district, and provincial tools. After each report
card term, we will host Celebrations of Learning. This is an opportunity for you to
meet with your child and their teacher to take a firsthand look at the learning your
child is completing in their classroom. These are student lead celebrations and it is
important that you bring your child with you.
Family Involvement
The Montessori program is based on the notion that family, working with the school,
will provide the optimal success for each child. Parent involvement in the school life
ensures the development of this partnership. Involvement is defined at multiple
levels and begins when a child is registered into our program. Our program has
developed a list of suggestions for family involvement to clearly identify specific ways
families can support their child in school.
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Volunteers (Family Involvement)
Volunteers are utilized in the classroom for student and teacher support, special
events, field trips, cultural presentations and guest speakers. Volunteers are often
needed for help within the classroom; The observer – parent can sit in a designated
area to observe; the Interactive Volunteer – parents may choose to work beside
their child for shelf time and then be given a task such as helping with snack or a craft
for the remainder of class; or from home – volunteering with coloring, cutting or
other activities that may need to be completed. Please be advised that a current
Vulnerable Sector check is required for parents to work with students. A letter is
available at the office to request the check at the RCMP with no cost to the volunteer.
Field Trips
Dr. Montessori said that primary age children explore with their hands, elementary
age children explore with their feet. She was referring to the need of this age child to
‘go out’ and explore the larger world. Students extend classroom learning through
community resources, such as a trip to the museum, business, hospital, natural
environment, etc. These experiences are a vital component of the program and will
be arranged at various time throughout the year (usually when we have nice weather)
as a complement to our program. Permission slips are always sent home in advance
of field trips. The student’s permission slips must be returned in order for the child
to participate.
School Newsletters
We produce a Parkside Montessori Newsletter each month. This newsletter contains
general information pertaining to the school, calendars, classroom updates and more.
Please subscribe on our school webpage to receive the monthly newsletter. During
the month each classroom teacher provides classroom notices via email updates. Our
newsletters are also posted on our school web pages.
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Lunch/ Snack
Montessori philosophy encourages children to eat healthy foods. The Parkside
Montessori promotes a juice-free, low-sugar environment. If your child is staying for
the whole day they will require two snacks in addition to lunch. Parkside has a milk
program and milk cards may be purchased at a minimal cost in the library. We would
also like to maintain a ‘garbage free’ snack and lunch time, i.e. using reusable
containers for fruits, veggies and sandwiches instead of baggies and plastic wrap.
Extra Clothes
Your child will require a change of clothing (in a large Ziploc bag with your child’s
name) and a pair of non-marking running shoes to be left at school. The child’s name
must be clearly printed on all items.
Library
Once a week the children will have the opportunity to visit school library. During our
first few visits we will be learning about how to use the library properly. After
successful practice the children will begin to take a book home for the week to share
with his/her family. Please take care of the book as it is property of the school
library. Should a book go missing or is damaged, you will be responsible for paying
the value of the book. Each student is provided with a book bag, this bag should
return each week with the library book.
Illness/ Medical Conditions
Should your child have a communicable disease please do not send your child to
school. Please keep in mind that this is for the health of your child as well as others.
Any child who needs medication or has allergies must have a ‘Permission to
Administer Medication’ form filled out in order for medication to be provided to
the child at school. Medication will be administered at the school office. This form
requires a doctor’s signature and explanation of the medication to be administered.
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Bicycle/Rollerblades/Scooters and Skateboards
Students who bring their bicycles to school must wear a helmet (it’s the law). All
bikes must be parked in the racks provided. Each child is responsible for his/her
bicycle and should lock it. The school cannot accept responsibility for bicycles on the
school grounds. Students using rollerblades and/or scooters are expected to wear
proper headgear/safety gear as well. Bicycles and scooters are to be walked on school
property NOT ridden. No rollerblades or scooters are permitted inside the school
building.
Technology Use
Parkside Montessori supports the use of technology to enhance learning opportunities
for students. Items such as cell phones, MP3 players and electronic games however,
are subject to getting lost, stolen or broken. The school cannot be held responsible
for any items that may be lost stolen or broken. If these items are brought to school
and it is interfering with the learning environment, they will be confiscated and given
back to the student at the end of the day. If you do need to make contact with your
child during the school day, please call the main school office. With the growth and
implementation of technology in the classrooms, teachers may, from time to time,
invite students to bring devices for specific projects or days. Should this occur,
parents will be notified in advance and we request that all devices are labelled with the
student’s name.
Internet Use
Parkside Montessori students will have School District access to the Internet to
conduct research and to communicate with others. The network services will be
given to students who agree to act in a considerate and responsible manner. Students
who do not use their access to the Internet appropriately will lose their
privileges. The district requires a “Network Resources Acceptable Use
Protocol” to be read and signed by students and parents of students in grades
4-6.
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Transfers In/Out
Parents should inform the school as soon as possible if their child is transferring out
in order to facilitate completion of the necessary forms and referrals to the new
school. Please check with the library to make sure there are no outstanding loans.
Midyear transfers into the program, at the elementary level will only occur from
Montessori program to Montessori program. We are unable to accommodate
transfers in from other programs.
PLC/SIP Fridays
On Fridays that there are PLC/SIP learning sessions in the afternoon students will be
dismissed at 11:40. Please make a note of these dates on your family calendar so that
alternate childcare arrangements can be made. These are on most Fridays.
PLC stands for Professional Learning Communities and SIP stands for School
Improvement Planning. During PLC time, our staff meet as teams to discuss student
learning and develop strategies to further impact student success. This is a systematic
look at what needs to be taught to meet the Alberta Education goals, how we are
teaching it, how we will assess if it has been taught and what are we going to do if it has
not been learned.
SIP is a critical time for our staff to have professional conversations, engage in learning
opportunities and further develop our practice to create the best schooling experience
for your child at Parkside Montessori!
OUTSIDE RECESS BREAKS
There are two recess breaks in the school day – one at lunch time and one in the
afternoon. We believe that these breaks are important for students. Students are
expected to go outside during recess breaks unless they have an injury that prohibits
outdoor activities. There are teacher supervisors on each playground during these two
recess breaks. In the case of inclement weather, recess breaks will occur indoors,
again with teacher supervision. The temperature and wind chill are checked regularly
in winter to ensure that the prevailing conditions are suitable for outdoor play. If the
combined temperature and wind chill is -25 degrees or lower students will be kept
inside.
Parents are asked to please ensure that your child is dressed
appropriately for the day’s weather conditions before they leave for school.
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Student Dress Code
Students are expected to dress in a positive manner, conductive to the elementary
learning environment. Student clothing shall not distract from the learning
environment. Parkside Montessori staff will speak with students whose
appearance/clothing is considered inappropriate. Students will be required to
change any clothing found inappropriate. The following are guidelines:
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
Outside clothing shall be stored in lockers during the school day.
Appropriate clothing, as directed by the teacher is required in physical education.
Student clothing shall be neat and tidy.
Clothing is expected to cover bra straps, back, and midriff.
Strapless or spaghetti strap tops and miniskirts make it difficult to participate in
our daily Physical Education program and should not be worn to school.
6. Shorts, skirts and dresses should be no shorter than two hand widths from the
knee.
7. Pajama bottoms are not considered appropriate for school wear unless it is a
designated pajama day at school.
8. Hats and bandannas are not to be worn in school by males or females.
As you visit the school, we ask that you set a positive example for all students
by following these guidelines.
Clothing which has inappropriate pictures or sayings, and/or references to drug or
alcohol use is not acceptable at Parkside Montessori. This clothing does not lend
itself to an elementary setting that fosters a safe and caring environment for children.
Footwear
To assist with keeping the school clean, students must have properly fitting shoes
worn ONLY indoors and in gym. Please avoid the purchase of BLACK SOLED
running shoes as these can mark the floors. All people entering the school are
asked to remove outdoor footwear.
Students will require socks for PE class as wearing runners without socks can
cause blisters and strong foot odor.
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Personal Property
The school cannot be held responsible for personal property of students. We request
that all items of clothing be identified with your child's first and last name. Toy guns,
matches, lighters or sharp knives are examples of items not allowed at our school for
safety reasons. Electronic games, i-pods, MP3 players, trading cards are not allowed
because of the distraction to learning and the lack of secure storage. Teachers may,
from time to time, invite students to bring items for specific projects or days. Should
this occur, parents will be notified in advance and we request that all items are labelled
with the student’s name.
Emergency Protocols
At Parkside Montessori we are committed to the safety and wellbeing of your children.
On a regular basis we will practice Emergency Evacuation, Lock-Down, Hold and
Secure and Shelter-In-Place drills. To ensure the safety of all students and staff all doors
are locked except our northeast entrance. These doors are visible from the office area.
Visitors are to use these doors and report to the office upon entrance to the
building and receive a visitor’s badge.
EMERGENCY EVACUATION: Used when it is safer to be outside the building
than inside. e.g. fire drill.
HOLD AND SECURE: Used when a security threat or criminal activity is outside
and/or unrelated to school. All exterior doors locked; interior doors remain in
normal state. Movement is permitted within building, inside activities can continue.
No one is allowed in or out of the building.
SHELTER-IN-PLACE: Used to direct and control movement inside the school
building when it is safer to remain inside and there is no threat of violence. Typically
associated with severe weather.
LOCK-DOWN: Used for threat of violence inside the school. During LOCKDOWN our student population will move to lockable rooms and lock doors.
In the case of a real emergency protocol being used, we remain in that state of awareness
until we have confirmation from the authorities that it is safe to proceed as usual.
These drills are practiced regularly so the students are comfortable with the procedures
and not overly alarmed in the event of a real situation developing.
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VTRA: Grande Prairie Public School District is committed to providing school
environments that are safe and caring places for students, staff, school visitors, and
community members. We also work with families and community partners to provide
the kinds of supports the young people in our schools require to be healthy and happy
at school. The safety of our children is a top priority for all of us.
We are very proud to say that we have worked with a number of community
organizations to develop the School and Community Threat Assessment Protocol.
This document enables community partners to proactively share information and
advice and to use their broad range of expertise to provide the appropriate supports
to our youth and their families. All of our school administrators have been certified in
Violence/Threat Risk Assessment training through the Canadian Centre for Threat
Assessment and Trauma Response. Every school in our District has a VTRA team
consisting of a principal/vice principal, counselor/ psychologist, and RCMP School
Resource Officer to work with the protocol. For information on the protocol, please
visit our public website at www.gppsd.ab.ca .
You will also find a brochure on the same page of our website that outlines the steps
we will take when working with this protocol. If for some reason there is a reluctance
to support or participate in the protocol, the appropriate steps may continue in order
to ensure a safe and caring learning environment for all. Your school principal will be
happy to answer any questions you may have about this process.
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Casa Dei Bambini Enrolment, Admission, and Fees
*Each program has a non-refundable fee that is paid at the time of registration.
Casa dei Bambini:
*A school day is a three hour block of time. Fees are in the form of monthly tuition fee.
Preschool Entrance Requirements:
 Child must have efficient toileting skills.
 Must be at least 3 years old by September 1st of the enrolment year.
 3 Year Olds will start with 2 sessions per week and in consult with teacher can
increase their sessions in January
Preschool Fees:
 $32.00 per session (a minimum of 2 sessions per week)
 Fees can be paid in full or monthly by direct debit; no cash or cheques.
Kindergarten Entrance Requirements:
 Children entering Montessori Kindergarten are not required to have previous
Montessori experience.
Kindergarten Fees:
 $50.00 school fee
 $125.00 program fee (due by the end of May-Total $175)
Procedure for admission into our Casa dei Bambini program will typically involve:
a) Parents filling out application/registration
b) Parents will receive a letter verifying child’s placement
Trial Period- Consists of a MAXIMUM of 12 sessions to determine if this program is a
good fit for each child. If it is felt that there are areas of concern, a school conference
will be called with the family. Final decision on program placement will be made by the
school.
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Casa Dei Bambini Program Hours
Preschool and Kindergarten children attend the Casa dei Bambini program which
has our 3, 4 and 5 year olds learning together.
Sessions are 3 hours long and run in the Mornings and Afternoons, Monday to
Thursday.
Preschool 3 year olds:
 can register for 2 sessions
Preschool 4 or 5 year olds:
 can register for 2, 4 or full day sessions
Kindergarten:
 We offer 4 mornings or 4 afternoons (additional tuition sessions can
be added)
*Times may alter slightly from school year to school year*
*Kindergarten students will also have some additional Fridays added to ensure they
receive their 475 hours of instruction as required by Alberta Education.
Morning Casa
8:40-11:40
Afternoon Casa
12:05-3:05
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Elementary (ELMO) Enrolment, Admission, and Fees
Elementary Montessori Requirements (ELMO):
 Children entering the Montessori program must have previous experience in a
Montessori program. The minimum prerequisite in order to enter elementary
Montessori is six months Montessori experience. Confirmed registration will be
determined through an interview process with school administration.
 Mid-year transfers may only occur from one Montessori program to another.
Elementary Fees:
 $70.00 school fee (due with intent form in spring)
 $250.00 program fee (due by end of May-Total $320)
Program Staff
All staff are trained through the North American Montessori Centre with teachers
holding a valid Alberta Teacher’s Certificate.
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Elementary Program Hours
Elementary Montessori (ELMO):
Bell Schedule
First Bell Rings
8:35
Block 1
8:40 - 9:10
Block 2
9:10 - 9:40
Block 3
9:40 - 10:10
Block 4
10:10 - 10:40
Block 5
10:40 - 11:10
Block 6
11:10 - 11:40
Recess
11:40 - 11:58
Lunch
11:58 - 12:16
Block 7
12:20 – 12:50
Block 8
12:50 - 1:20
Block 9
1:20 – 1:50
Recess
1:50 - 2:05
Block 10
2:05 - 2:35
Block 11
2:35 - 3:05
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FAQ’s (Frequently Asked Questions) Casa Dei Bambini
My child is new to the Montessori Program; can I bring him/her to school to
meet his/her teacher before school starts in the fall?
Yes, we have an Open House for new students to meet the teacher and see the
classroom in August.
What happens on my child’s first day in Casa dei Bambini?
Parents need to bring their children in through the designated entrance. Once outside
shoes are removed please say goodbye to your child and the staff will then greet and
guide your child through preparing for class. Casa dei Bambini students will be
scheduled for staggered entry during the first week of school. This means that all
Casa dei Bambini students will be scheduled for one full 3-hour session to help them
settle into the program. Details regarding what to bring, pick up times, etc. will be
emailed one week before school begins in the fall.
What does a typical day look like in the Casa dei Bambini?
Children are greeted in the boot room by a staff member. The children take off
outside clothes and put on indoor shoes. They then gather around the carpet for
opening activities (attendance, O’ Canada, calendar, theme discussion, story reading,
etc.) The children then work on self-chosen activities. This includes snack and getting
presentations from a staff member on material that is new to them. Children staying
all day are having lunch during the repeat of opening activities and continue with
personal work choices.
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How do you help the children become independent?
We teach the children how to be independent with everyday tasks through modeling,
role-play and demonstrations. The children learn how to interact in their classroom
independently.
How will I know how my child is doing in the Casa dei Bambini?
A Montessori Report will be sent home three times during the school year for
Kindergarten and Elementary children and twice per year for preschoolers. This
report will have a selection of activities listed from each area that have been presented
in class. Not all activities will be listed as we cover more than 100 practical life
activities alone throughout the year. Twice during the year we also have Celebration of
Learning evenings. This is a time when your Montessori child gets to share with you
some of the activities they have enjoyed in class. This will allow you to see how your
child interacts with his/her environment rather than just hearing him/her talk about
it. You may also talk to your child’s teacher about any questions you may have.
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FAQ’s (Frequently Asked Questions) Elementary
Will my child have the chance to meet the staff before school begins in the fall?
Yes, all new students are invited to join the Elementary Montessori classroom for a
morning in June. This is a chance for them to meet both the students and staff within
the environment and get a feel for how things will work in the fall. Students in the
Montessori program have the chance to meet all of the staff throughout the year.
Those entering the Elementary Montessori program will have already met the
Elementary Montessori staff and have had interactions with them during their time in
Kindergarten.
What does a typical day look like in Elementary Montessori?
Students are greeted as they enter the school & classroom. We meet around our
carpet for any opening activities (special instructions &/or presentation for the day),
with the whole school, we sing O Canada. Next students head into their Morning
Work Block. This is an uninterrupted work period where students work on a variety
of self-chosen activities. In the morning we work in our guided reading groups, new
lessons and activities. These are usually done in small groups. The day also includes
time for snack, physical education, music, reading time (read aloud and as well as
personal silent reading) and other activities in the various Montessori areas. We use
our classroom laptops to work on keyboarding skills, research, and other activities as
needed. At the end of the day, students exit with a handshake, high-five or hug from
their teachers.
Will Montessori prepare my child for regular school?
Research proves that your child's highest level of learning takes place from birth
through age 9. This period of development is when your child will absorb and learn
more than any other time in his/her life. This is also the time your child will learn the
joy of knowledge and the excitement of learning new skills. The gift of learning
independent study skills in our carefully prepared class environment is an advantage
when it is time for your child to move on to a regular class.
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