Frequently Asked Enrollment Questions

 

Q: How can SVCMS parents learn more about Montessori education?

A: We offer many opportunities for parents to learn about Montessori education. We offer classroom visiting four times a year (where children share their works with their parents and guardians), as well as parent/guardian education events four times per year. We strive to cultivate a true partnership between families and school in order to best support our students. 

 

Q: Are your Guides trained Montessorians?

A: Yes, all of our Guides are trained Montessorians who are credentialed to teach the years they are teaching. Some of our adults are AMS (American Montessori Society) trained and others are AMI (Association Montessori International) trained. All of our Lead Guides meet the criteria to be “Highly Qualified” in accordance with No Child Left Behind Act (NCLB).

 

Q: Where do students eat lunch? Do they bring their lunches?

A: Full-day students eat lunch in their classrooms. The school partners with the St. Vrain Valley School District (SVVSD) Nutrition Services, and families may choose to order school lunch. Many children also bring a lunch from home.

 

Q: Do children have recess?

A: Yes, students have recess every day for 30 minutes.

 

Q: What are the school hours

A: The school hours for full-day students are 8:30 a.m.-3:30 p.m. Morning only preschool students attend from 8:30 a.m.-12:00 p.m. Afternoon preschool meets from 12:30-3:30 p.m.  All programs meet 5 days a week.

 

Q: Do you offer physical education?

A: Elementary students participate in Movement (aka “Physical Education”) two times a week, and kindergarten students participate one time a week.  Preschool students do not participate in formal physical education, but all Guides have been trained by the Learning in Motion program to maximize opportunities for student movement in their classrooms and beyond. In Middle School, physical education occurs two times a week as student-led movement and a 3rd movement class is led by a Middle School Guide; students also engage in a lot of physical work during their Occupations.

 

Q: How many students are in the classroom? How many adults?

A: In the Children’s House, there is 1 adult per 10 children. Each classroom has 20 children and 2 adults. In Lower and Upper Elementary, we have two adults per classroom, and class sizes are typically around 28-30 students. Our Middle School has 32 students, 4 Lead (Occupation) Guides and one part-time math/seminar Guide. 

 

Q: Do you offer enrichment classes, such as art and music?

A. Because Montessori education prioritizes an uninterrupted work cycle, we try to minimize the disruptions during this time. Curriculum areas such as art and music are highly integrated in the classroom. In the Children’s House (preschool and kindergarten), works incorporate art (painting, color mixing, clay, etc.) and music (bells and tone bars). There is also a lot of singing during community time. At the Elementary Level, the same applies, with the addition of a weekly art class (years 1-8) and a music appreciation curriculum (years 1-3). Music is part of the curriculum in the middle school,  and. art is an Occupation option. 

 

Q: Do students have homework?

A: As Montessorians, we take a developmental view of homework and do not deem homework as developmentally appropriate or necessary for children in kindergarten and Lower Elementary. Homework starts formally in 4th year. 

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Q: How do children use technology in the classroom?

A: Technology is typically not used widely by SVCMS students. As a school, we are not anti-technology – rather, we approach technology with an awareness of what is developmentally appropriate for children. Montessorians believe that children need to spend as much time as possible with concrete materials and engaged in in-person social scenarios. Starting in 4th year, students use Chromebooks or iPads for some computerized assessments; this use is quite infrequent.

 

Q: Do SVCMS students take assessments and standardized tests?

A: Yes. As a public school, we are required to offer the following assessments: Readiness Assessment in kindergarten, READ Act literacy testing in years K-3, and CMAS testing in years 3-8. We also administer our own assessments to inform instruction by understanding what a child knows and what the child is ready to learn. We are mindful of not interrupting our Montessori work with excessive test preparation, and we never “teach to the test.” As a school, we are active in broader conversations about assessments. More information is available on the assessing progress page. 

 

Q: When does enrollment start?

A: Enrollment opens at 8:00 a.m. on the first business day each December. Intent to Enroll forms are available on our website. Enrollment is based on first come, first served (within priority groups) time-stamped applications. Read more about our enrollment process.
 

Q: Does SVCMS offer before care or aftercare?

A: Currently we are unable to offer before care or aftercare due to space limitations. 
 

Additional questions? Please contact Registrar Cindy Moran at registrar@svcmontessori.org.