Babies are enrolled in the Nursery Classroom at six weeks of age and generally will move out at approximately one year of age. The babies are on their own individual schedule. Parents are responsible for bringing their own formula or breast milk, baby food, diapers, and wipes. Each baby has his or her own crib. Sheets are changed daily and toys are disinfected daily as well. Parents should fill out the daily infant sheet when they arrive in the morning and pick up the sheet when they leave at night.

The Nursery curriculum centers around large motor skills, fine motor skills, music, language and sign language. There is a great deal of floor time spent with every baby every day and a baby is not left in his or her crib if they are awake. Weather permitting; the babies will go outside on a daily basis.

Children will enter Toddler 1 at the age of one and will remain until approximately 20 months. Toddler 1 is the classroom that the school uses to transition the children from the Nursery schedule to the school schedule. Toddler 1’s will go down for nap on mats at 12:30. Lunch is served at 11:30 AM. Toddler 1’s will eat a combination of parent food and center food. The parent is still responsible for formula or breast milk, baby food, diapers, and wipes. Toys in Toddler 1 are disinfected daily.

The Toddler 1 curriculum centers on introducing the basic Montessori philosophy. Music and story time are very important at this age. We continue sign language and begin to introduce Spanish as a second language. Weather permitting, the Toddler 1’s will go outside daily.

Children that are 20 months to approximately 30 months are in the Toddler 2 class. Toddlers 2’s are now on the center’s schedule and food. They receive breakfast and afternoon snack and a prepared nutritional lunch every day. Parents are still required to supply diapers and wipes. Nap time is from 12:30 PM to 2:30 PM and Toddler 2s’ sleep on mats.

In Toddler 2 the introduction to the Montessori curriculum continues. The philosophy of respect and work rugs is the focus as children begin early Montessori works. Simple words, letters of the alphabet, sihn language and numbers are incorporated daily. Spanish sentences are demonstrated and Spanish words are taught. Music is two days a week and Spanish is taught three days a week. Toddler 2’s will receive daily physical education classes.

Pre-Montessori is the class where the child is preparing to fully adjust to the Montessori environment.

Pre-Montessori children are generally 30 months old or older. Most potty training takes place in the Pre-Montessori class. Parents will find that pull-ups, rather than diapers, work best in this classroom. Parents are still responsible for supplying wipes. Class starts at 8:30 AM, and parents are encouraged to have their children in class at that time.

The Pre-Montessori curriculum is patterned after a Montessori Classroom. Children work together to learn as they choose Montessori works within the classroom. Classroom rules incorporate respect for themselves, respect for others and for their environment. Art is now a major part of learning and is taught daily. Spanish and sign language is taught 3 days a week.

To enter the Montessori class a child must be a minimum of three years of age and must be completely potty trained. All Montessori classrooms operate on a child mentoring system. The older children help to teach and mentor the younger children. This helps the younger children learn much faster and allows the older child to develop very important leadership and teaching skills, while at the same time solidifying what they have already learned.

The Montessori method is a true private school teaching curriculum. Spanish and sign language is taught three days a week. Music and art is taught daily. The works in the room are designed to develop a specific skill in each child. Montessori children have their own computers and computer time is unlimited once the child has proven that they can use them responsibly. Uniforms are required during the school year.

The Montessori Select class has children ages four and five. A child may be in the Montessori Select classroom for up to two years. The Montessori method is child centered which makes it very possible to teach different levels in the same classroom. The benefit for younger children is that they learn much faster because they are exposed to more advanced concepts and the older children have an opportunity to develop leadership and teaching skills in addition to new learning. Most children leaving Montessori Select after two years are reading at a second grade level. Uniforms are required in Montessori Select during the school year.

The Montessori Select curriculum develops a well rounded child. Reading, writing (both block and cursive), math, and language (both English and Spanish) are stressed. Spanish, art, and music are taught daily. Yoga is taught once a week. Montessori Select children have their own computers and computer time is available once the child has proven that they can use them responsibly. Learn more about Montessori Education.