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To paraphrase Maria
Montessori,
A
child should love everything that they learn for their mental
and emotional growths are linked. Whatever is presented to
them must be made beautiful and clear.
The school is based on the instructional
philosophy of Dr. Maria Montessori, a physician and educator
from Italy. Dr. Montessori's pedagogy blossomed in the United
States in the early 1900's. At the heart of its philosophy
is the premise that children naturally learn through specific
materials presented by the teacher, student choice and a careful
development of concrete to abstract concepts in the academic
and social areas.
Children are grouped in 3-year
age spans. Our primary students range in age from 3 to 6 years
old. Our elementary program has two groupings; ages 6 - 9
year olds, which is known as lower elementary and upper elementary
being comprised of students ages 9 - 12 years old.
Students work within the same
classroom for a 3-year cycle. Students are enrolled at the
Montessori Magnet School through an application and lottery
process. Children turning 3 prior to February 12 of a school
year must apply by the end of March in the previous year.
The lottery is held in April and only those students selected
can enter in the Fall. Transfer applications are only accepted
from students currently attending a Montessori program elsewhere.
Our school is accredited by
the Association Montessori International (AMI). All of our
classroom teachers have an AMI diploma and also must be certified
as a teacher by the State of Connecticut.
To serve the needs of families,
Montessori Magnet School offers both before and after school
care programs. The school also features a beautiful outdoor
learning environment, library media center, and a variety
of art, music and physical education programs.
Multi-Age
Groupings
Montessori classrooms include children in three-year age groupings.
Knowledge and social skills are passed on from one level to
the next. The younger children imitate and internalize skills,
the older children reinforce their knowledge by sharing it
with their younger classmates. Friendships in this setting
are meaningful and enduring. Supported by teachers trained
to enhance social interaction, children are encouraged to
build strong relationships. Remaining with the children for
three years allows our teachers to get to know each child
intimately, discovering their strengths and weaknesses and
creating better opportunities for teaching and learning.
The
Montessori Educator
The child is the center of the Montessori community. The teacher
is the guide. A Montessori teacher is trained to recognize
the developmental needs of children and to present materials
to each child at an appropriate time in his or her development.
All teachers at the Montessori Magnet School have American
Montessori International certification and are required to
obtain State of Connecticut certification.
Parental
Involvement
Maria Montessori believed strongly that parents play a critical
role in their children's education. At the Montessori Magnet
School, parents are involved in all aspects of the school
community. The Parent/Teacher Organization plans many activities
throughout the year including fund-raising, potluck dinners,
cultural celebrations, book fairs and school outings.
Admissions
Applications for the primary level are accepted for children
between the ages of 2 years and 8 months and 3 years and eight
months by October 12th. Transfer students are accepted on
a first come, first serve basis and only when space is availale.
A lottery is held for first time students. The Montessori
Magnet School is a public school and there are no tuition
charges for any age group.
Before
and After School Programs
Before school care is available free of charge from 7:30 a.m.
until school begins. The after school enrichment program is
available from the end of the school day to 5:30 p.m. Please
contact the school for the cost of after school program.
Is
Montessori For Your Child?
Children of varied backgrounds and cultures around the world
have benefited from a Montessori education. Your child will,
too. The teacher is interested in the whole child and in his
or her willingness to accept and master new experiences. If
your child is ready for new experiences, challenges and friends,
the Montessori Magnet School will provide a caring community
in which he or she will grow.
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