Question 1

What ages do you accept?

Accepted Answer

We currently accept ages 1 to 6. We do require that 1 year old's are walking before their start date. Students that are introduced to the Montessori method early are often better prepared for their future education so we recommend starting as early as possible.

Question 2

Do you supply snacks and lunches?

Accepted Answer

We do not currently supply snacks and lunches. Depending on your time slot, we recommend bringing one snack for the morning period, a lunch to be eaten around 11:30am and one snack for the afternoon period.

Question 3

What classroom will my child be in?

Accepted Answer

The Montessori method focuses on mixed-age groups to help foster child led development. We currently have a large downstairs area sectioned off into different focus areas as well as a small upstairs area where we emphasize our most advanced curriculum. When children learn in a mixed age group setting, the youngest learn from the oldest and the oldest have the opportunity to learn leadership skills.

Question 4

When is pick-up time?

Accepted Answer

You can both drop-off and pickup at anytime until 12pm or 2:30pm, depending on which timeslot  you have selected, unless you have aftercare in which case we close at 6:00pm. We recommend that you drop-off before 8:30 and pickup no earlier than 11:45 or 2:15pm so your child can fully engage in the work cycles. If you are scheduled for aftercare, you are welcome to pick-up anytime between 2:30pm and 6pm. During this time we focus on open-ended STEM play.

Question 5

Are you open year-round?

Accepted Answer

Yes, we are open throughout the year with rolling admissions. We take off most major Holidays and some days between Christmas & New Year's Day depending on which days of the week those Holiday's fall for a specific year.

Question 6

Can I take the summer off?

Accepted Answer

We review summer enrollment on a case by case basis but we can usually work with you to take the summer off by having your child rejoin at the beginning of the school year when our oldest students graduate.

Question 7

What is your teacher-student ratio?

Accepted Answer

We pride ourselves in having one of the best teacher-student ratios in the Sanford area. We currently target a 1 to 8 ratio during our core hours for all ages except 1-year old's which is 1 to 5. Because of our mixed-age approach to education, we maintain the same ratio for all age groups two years old and up.

Question 8

Do you potty train?

Accepted Answer

Yes, we use the Montessori approach to potty training. We are happy to come along side you during the potty training process. If your child is ready to be potty trained, we will provide you details on our method and work with you to make sure your child is setup for success both at school and at home.

Question 9

What curriculum do you use for reading education?

Accepted Answer

We are strong proponents of the science of reading. The Montessori method for reading is built on a strong foundation of phonetic awareness and phonics. This method has been proven through research to be the most effective method for building a strong foundational skill-set for reading. When you combine this with Montessori techniques, our students often far exceed the expectations set forth by state standards while also developing a strong love for reading.

We use the Waseca Reading Program which is highly regarded as a top program for Montessori Schools and focuses on building a love for reading as well as applying a individually-paced approach. The curriculum starts after children have a solid grasp of the majority of letter sounds and continues through a 1st grade level of reading. We start students as early as 3-years old on the program if they show an interest and have progressed through their letter sounds quickly.

Question 10

What curriculum do you use for math education?

Accepted Answer

We use the classic Montessori curriculum for math. Our teachers are trained to teach up to a 2nd grade level of math based on child interest. Children progress at their own pace with some students doing long division by the time they finish Kindergarten. This is heavily dependent on your child's interest but unlike traditional public school approaches, we create an environment where the child can move ahead if they desire to progress at a fast pace and are grasping the material quickly.

Now Enrolling: Preschool & VPK