Morning Program Schedules and Tuitions

Garden Gate Montessori School

Morning Program Schedules and Tuitions

Music: “Joy” By George Winston

Photos: Thank you to our Garden Gate parent, Caroline Somary, for the many lovely photos (all the really great ones) of our Garden Gate environment.

Morning Programs

2010 - 2011

At Garden Gate Montessori School we offer one beautiful Pre-primary Classroom space with adjoining outdoor work spaces, and outdoor garden/play areas, enjoyed by all our students with schedules depending upon their ages.

Our peaceful morning begins in the garden under the trees, in full view of our pond and flower gardens, and continues indoors in our homey well-lit, well equipped classroom space, under the guidance of specially trained Montessori teachers.

Two Day “Transitional” Students

3- 4 of our youngest students blended with our older 4 and 5 day students

Ages in September: 2 yrs. + 9 mos. - 3 yrs.

Child is turning 3 between September 15 and December 2. Child must turn 3 years by Dec. 2 to be age eligible.

Class Size: Mixed Age Group of: 20 students with 3 teachers

     For our youngest students we form a cozy two morning “Transitional” group of children that start together with a few older students in the garden on Monday and Friday mornings, providing a gentle transition into the day for the child who is ready to step out into the world, but for whom the Montessori Pre-primary Class might otherwise be overwhelming first thing in the morning.

     For these younger students, this class offers a secure circle of first time friends in a home and garden environment, joined during inside time by their older friends, where the younger preschooler’s natural sense of order and beauty, concentration, coordination, and independence unfold under the nurturing guidance of a experienced Montessori teachers.

     Practical Life, Sensorial activities, music, and movement are the appropriate emphases at this age level. But this class also offers the children any learning material from which they are ready to benefit. A few of our older four and five morning students round out our desirable mixed age grouping for these students. In this way we are able to offer our younger children the older mentors and role models provided by the more experienced students.

Monday/Friday Class Configuration

v   We have 1 group of about 12 children (4 Transitional and 8 other students) that start the morning in the garden with 2 teachers, and another group of about 8 older students that start their morning inside with 1 teacher. The two groups join as one class of twenty children with three teachers later in the morning. Inside the classroom children have access to any part of the classroom for which they are ready, with the youngest children working mostly at the back garden end of the classroom, with introductions to the other areas as their teachers notice their readiness.

      Our other small group of six to eight older students comes directly into the classroom and begins the indoor work period. A child’s program on Monday and Friday mornings depends on the over-all developmental needs of the child.

Four and Five Day Students

Ages in September: 3.0 yrs.(by Sept. 15) to 5yrs.+ 9 mos.

Children in this age range are ready to benefit from the full range of Montessori Pre-primary materials and experiences in Practical Life, Sensorial and Art, Math, Reading and Writing, Science, and Geography. The Montessori Method offers the child a very rich and well rounded educational experience.

Class Size: Mixed Age Group of: 20 students with 3 teachers

Schedule: 9:00 A.M. – 12:00 Minimum days per week depend on Child’s age. See "Ages and Schedules"

Note: With rare exception, children must be fully toilet trained to attend class 4 and 5 days per week.

A Note about the Kindergarten Year

The Montessori Pre-primary class includes the culminating Kindergarten year of the Montessori early childhood level. Children who remain in their class through their kindergartenyear enjoy the benefit of making full use of the beautifully designed Montessori academic materials for which they have prepared themselves in the preschool years. This is the child's leadership year when advanced work within the child's well loved environment and community takes place. The child's Kindergarten year is the crowning year that solidifies thechild's confidence, love of learning, inner motivation, and conceptual and skill development.

Morning Program Tuitions

Monthly Tuitions: These monthly tuitions are based on the full annual tuition divided into 10 monthly installments, for children starting school in September. When children begin in mid-year, the annual tuition is prorated according to the number of remaining school days, and distributed over the remaining number of installments. The resulting monthly tuition amounts vary from the amounts shown.

9:00 A.M. – 12:00 P.M

$360 Two Mornings - Monday and Friday

$540 Four Mornings

Weekly schedule depends on child's age.

Mon., Tues., Wed, Thur. Younger 3 year olds

Tues.,Wed.,Thur., Fri. Older 3 year olds

$650 Five Mornings 4 and 5 year olds

Please Note: Through February of the school year preceding the year of this schedule, the programs and rates listed here are the projected programs and rates for the upcoming school year and are subject to modification if needed.