Frequently Asked Questions
about The Montessori School
Q: Is lunch provided by the school?A: We provide morning and afternoon snack and families are responsible for their child’s lunches. All children staying for lunch need to bring lunch each day. Your child will also need to bring a water bottle daily.
Q: Does my preschool-aged child need to take a nap?A: All children under four are required to rest. Children who do not fall asleep will have a quiet rest time that may involve, but is not limited to, looking at books, listening to music, or other such quiet activities. Naps are available to all children if they need or want to rest during the day.
Q: How do we connect to other families?A: We have an app called Transparent Classroom that has a classroom family directory built within. We also have new family orientations and a coffee hour annually in August so you can meet other families in your classroom. Each classroom has a family ambassador, which works as a liaison between the school and caregivers. Additionally, in your annual student questionnaire, you have the option to be connected with a returning family if you are new in order to ease the transition into the school.
Q: How can we learn about the progress of our child?A: In our family app, Transparent Classroom, you can see the lessons your child is introduced to and monitor their progress. Family-teacher conferences are scheduled twice per year as well. Lead Guides are always available to discuss progress as often as it is needed.
Q: How many students are in a class?A: We have anywhere between 25-30 children in one class. We have a 1:10 teacher/child ratio in our primary classrooms, minimally, at all times and a 1:14 teacher/child ratio in our elementary classroom.
Q: Do you have cameras in classrooms?A: We do not have cameras inside our classroom. Our administrative staff monitors our outdoor cameras to ensure complete safety and security at our entrances, exits, parking lots, and outdoor areas.
Q: How do you discipline children?A: We ground our entire program in the relationship between adult and child. A positive, supportive and loving bond promotes the child’s self-esteem and sense of security. Some examples of positive methods of discipline we use include: Redirecting or distracting a child from the unacceptable activity to a constructive one, setting consistent clear rules, talking to the child about the feelings they are having, offering alternative solutions to the problem and involving children in solving the problem, ensuring a relationship between the behavior and the discipline method.
Q: What age does my child have to be in order to enroll?A: Our classrooms accepts children beginning at age two and nine months of age.
Q: Does my child need to be potty trained to start?A: Yes, children must be fully potty trained. This means that your child consistently spends at least three days without an accident and without the use of training pants. If your child is not potty-trained by July 15, please let us know and we can withdraw your enrollment. Your deposit will be held on account until your child is fully potty-trained and an opening exists.
Q: Why does The Montessori School Elementary program group children in grades first through sixth in the same classroom?A: An authentic Montessori classroom groups children of differing ages/grades/developmental levels to create a diverse environment. Children in our classroom will stay with the same staff for six years which allows us to develop deep, familial relationships. Younger children are inspired by watching older children work with advanced materials. Older children serve as mentors to the younger children, sharing their knowledge and reinforcing the concepts they have learned themselves.
Q: How can Montessori teachers (lead guides) meet the needs of so many different children?A: Montessori teachers go beyond presenting lessons by sparking the imaginations of students, inspiring their human potential, leading them to think for themselves through investigation and discovery. At TMS, teacher observations and conferences with the students allow us to check in with them to identify challenges or successes and help create an individualized learning plan.
Q: How does the enrollment deposit work?A: A deposit is due upon enrollment or re-enrollment. It is held on account until the tuition is paid in full. At this point the deposit may be held and applied to next year’s deposit for enrollment, applied to your account, or issued as a refund. In the event you withdraw your child from the school mid-year, the deposit is nonrefundable and the remaining tuition is due. Preschool, Extended Day, and Elementary aged children have a flat deposit rate of $1000. If a second child from the household is also enrolled, there is a 50% discount for the second child’s deposit. If a third child from the household is enrolled, their deposit is waived.
Q: What other fees are due with my signed contract?A: An annual materials fee is charged at the time of enrollment or re- enrollment. The materials fees vary between programs. At this time they are $75 for each primary student, $150 for each extended day student, and $250 for each elementary student. This fee is due during enrollment. Both the enrollment deposit and materials fee is paid by completing an ACH authorization form.
Q: How do we pay tuition?A: In your contract you will have two options for tuition payment: A single lump-sum prepayment in August, or monthly installments via ACH transfer. A service charge is associated with installment plans of $20.00/month.
Q: Do you have a sibling discount?A: Yes! In addition to the sibling enrollment deposit discount, new in 2022, we will be offering a 5% tuition discount to the youngest sibling enrolled.
Q: How does tuition assistance work?A: Tuition assistance applications are reviewed on a rolling basis beginning in January or February for the following school year. Eligible families can expect to receive anywhere from hundreds to thousands off tuition.
Q: Do you have an alumni discount?A: Yes! In addition to the sibling discount, new in 2023, we will be offering a 3% tuition discount to the children of alumni that graduated from The Montessori School.
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