- Maria Montessori, The Secret of Childhood,   translated by M. Joseph Costelloe, S.J.

The greatness of the human personality begins at birth

Our Programs

The First Class (2-3.5 years)

Our teachers provide a caring and nurturing first school experience for your child, focusing on the unique needs of this age group. A smaller class size with personalized teacher/family interactions enables us to provide the individual attention each child needs to make a comfortable transition from the home to a social learning environment.

 

In the First Class, emphasis is placed on self-help skills and consistent routines in order to foster  the gradual establishment of independence, self-control and responsibility. Additionally, focus is placed on cultivating social graces, language development, as well as  gross and fine motor coordination.

 

These are skills essential as your child engages in social and academic situations throughout life.

 

Full day program: 9:00AM – 3:00PM  –  5 day per week or 3 day per week

Half day program: 9:00AM – 12:00PM  –  5 days per week or 3 days per week

 

Children's House (3-6years)

Our specialized environment responds to the needs of the children in the areas of personal, social, and intellectual growth. The mixed age range allows children on a variety of levels to interact and learn from one another. The classroom consists of several subject areas including Practical Life, Sensorial, Language, Math, Science, Geography/Cultural Studies, Music and Art. Each curriculum area contains a full range of beautifully designed high quality materials.

 

In the Practical Life area, your child learns care of self, care of environment, care of others, and further develops both
fine and gross motor skills. These skills  children learn in the Practical Life area  relate to all other areas of the classroom.
The Sensorial activities encourage refinement of the senses through work in sorting, grading, and classifying objects.
The approach to Language/Reading development is a multi-sensory one that allows your child to progress at his own rate. The Math sequence of materials and concepts relies on concrete manipulative objects to allow your child to “grasp” mathematical concepts and operations. All areas emphasize the development of concentration, coordination, order, independence and a love of learning.

 

5 Day Program:

Half Day 9:00-12:30 (including lunch hour )

Full Day 9:00-3:00 pm

 

Before and After School Program

(7:30 to 9:00 am & 3:00 to 5:55 pm) This program provides a fun, peaceful and caring environment that is consistent
with the Montessori philosophies. In this way, it becomes an extension of the classroom. Emphasis is placed on
extended art activities, cooking projects, storytelling, outdoor play and gardening.

Extracurricular Activities

During the after school hours 3:00-6:00 pm,  parents have the option to enroll their child in dance, tumbling and theatre classes. Other after school activities have included yoga, art class and a cooking club.

Fathers Pumpkin Carving Event

Since Fathers Day occurs when school is not in session, the students at Children’s House requested we begin a tradition
for fathers. Now, each year on or around Halloween we invite fathers to participate in our Annual Fathers Pumpkin carving Event. (If a dad is not available, another special loved one
may attend)

 

On this day, Dad’s are asked to create their own unique
carved pumpkin with their child. Following the pumpkin carving, everyone exits the community room and moves
into the classrooms. Here children present their guests with
a delightful tasty treat, a handcrafted gift and a chorus of
sweet songs.

(While this is happening, a few staff members swiftly and magically organize all the pumpkins in a huge circle, light the candle inside each pumpkin and turn out the lights.)

Families are invited to return to the room. All are asked to find their own pumpkin and stand behind it. The children sing “You are my Sunshine”  and then invite the dads (and special loved ones) to join in for the second verse of the song. When the song is finished, dads may blow out their candle and make a wish for their child.

This has been a favorite tradition at CHMS for over 15 years!

Annual International School Picnic

On the last day of school all our students, their families, siblings and friends are invited to our school year end picnic.

 

Each family provides a dish (representing their culture), for the sharing table.

 

We urge everyone to keep the dishes simple, fun and delicious (of course). We have enjoyed such treats as: homemade dumplings, sushi, hummus and pita, mac and cheese, tandoori, blintzes, vegan meals, chocolate chip cookies, salads etc.

We choose a picnic grove with a gazebo, a huge playground and bathrooms.  The children and parents enjoy non- stop fun, face painting and giant bubble making activities in the open field.

 

Kindergarten Enrichment Program

This program is the culmination of the primary classroom  experience. Following Montessori principles and practices,
the Kindergarten student experiences specially designed exercises and activities to refine their skills and to provide
social and academic readiness for successful transition to the next level.

Special Events

Mother’s Day Tea

Each year on the Friday just before Mothers Day we celebrate with a Mothers Day Tea. (If a mom is not available, another special person may attend) For several days preceding this event, children enjoy preparing gifts, special tasty treats, arranging flowers in tiny vases and setting tables for this event.

During the tea children are encouraged to pamper their moms by serving them tea and tasty treats.  Following the tea, our guests are presented with handcrafted gifts and a chorus of sweet love songs.

Mother’s Day Tea

Each year on the Friday just before Mothers Day we celebrate with a Mothers Day Tea. (If a mom is not available, another special person may attend) For several days preceding this event, children enjoy preparing gifts, special tasty treats, arranging flowers in tiny vases and setting tables for this event.

During the tea children are encouraged to pamper their moms by serving them tea and tasty treats.  Following the tea, our guests are presented with handcrafted gifts and a chorus of sweet love songs.

 

 

 

 

 

Annual International School Picnic

Each May, before the end of the school year, all students, their families, siblings and friends are invited to our end of the year school picnic at Donaldson Park located a few blocks away from the school.

 

Each family provides a dish (representing their culture), for the sharing table.

 

We urge everyone to keep the dishes simple, fun and delicious (of course). We have enjoyed such treats as: homemade dumplings, sushi, hummus and pita, mac and cheese, tandoori, blintzes, vegan meals, chocolate chip cookies, salads etc.

We choose a picnic grove with a gazebo, a huge playground and bathrooms.  The children and parents enjoy non- stop fun, face painting and giant bubble making activities in the open field.

© 2014 Children's House Montessori