Our Primary Program is offered five days a week from 8:30 to 12:00. Parents of preschool children have the option of having their child stay for lunch, rest time, and a short work period until 3:00. For children who are younger than 3.5 on September 1st, we offer a three-day schedule. These spots are limited in nature, and given on a first come, first serve basis. The five-day schedule is preferred as it offers the children a more consistent schedule. A late pick-up time of 4:00 is also available. Arrangements can be made with the daycare, located in our building, for children who need to be dropped off before 8:15 am or picked-up after 4:00 pm.

Kindergarten students attend five days a week from 8:30 to 3:00 with an optional late pick-up of 4:00. During the morning hours all children, ages 3 to 6, work together in the classroom. After lunch, the kindergartners gather with the teacher to listen and discuss a chapter book. Afterwards, they either participate in a group lesson or work on materials of their own choosing. It is during this time that the Directress is able to give the longer, more advanced lessons, such as poetry writing or division with bows (long division with the Golden Beads.) On Friday afternoons, the kindergartners have the opportunity to cook, work on advanced art activities, or participate in a science project.

Three Year Curriculum

The Montessori primary classroom was specifically designed as a three year program. During the first two years, a child is building the skills and knowledge necessary for the advanced lessons. The younger students often receive lessons from the older children. Attending for the third year not only allows your child to complete the work cycle, but also to become a leader and teacher in the class. In a typical kindergarten/elementary school, children do not have the opportunity to be a leader in the school until much later, sometimes as long as six years after entering school. The peaceful and purposeful atmosphere of our classroom comes from the examples our third year students set for the younger children. It is also during this third year that the children are able to internalize their concrete experiences from the previous two years. They are also able to give lessons to younger students. Research has shown that in order to grasp a concept, you must first learn it, but to fully understand it, you must teach it, only then will it be imprinted in your mind.

Our aim is not only to make the child understand, and still less to force him to memorize, but so to touch his imagination as to enthuse him to his innermost core.

Maria Montessori