Friends Of Montessori Association

THE MISSION OF HIGHLAWN MONTESSORI SCHOOL IS TO PROVIDE A CHILD-CENTERED MONTESSORI COMMUNITY WHICH FACILITATES THE SOCIAL, EMOTIONAL, PHYSICAL AND COGNITIVE DEVELOPMENT OF EACH CHILD.

MONTESSORI SCHOOL WITH 184 STUDENTS: TRADITIONAL PROGRAM HOURS: 8:40 11:40 AM (AGES 3 TO 4 ) EXTENDED DAY HOURS: 8:40 AM 2:30 PM (AGES 4 TO 6)NEW STUDENTS ENROLLED IN TEH TRADITION CHILDREN'S HOUSE PROGRAM, STARTING AS YOUNG AS AGE 3, ATTEND OUR SCHOOL FROM 8:40 11:40 AM MONDAY THROUGH FRIDAY.AS CHILDREN SHOW ACADEMIC AND SOCIAL READINESS TO WORK INDEPENDENTLY, USUALLY BETWEEN AGES 4 AND 5, THE DIRECTRESS WILL INVITE THEM TO STAY FOR EXTENDED DAY UNTIL 2:30. THESE CHILDREN STAY FOR LUNCH BEGINNING ONE AFTERNOON A WEEK. THE CHILDREN'S WORKDAY THEN EXTENDS FROM MORNING INTO THE AFTERNOON WITH OPPORTUNITY FOR MORE IN-DEPTH EXPLORATION. THE CHILDREN'S HOUSE EXTENDED DAY PROGRAM IS OFFERED TO CHILDREN 4 AND OLDER. THIS SESSION RUNS FROM 8:40-2:30 P.M. MONDAY THROUGH FRIDAY. THE AFTERNOON EXTENDED DAY ALLOWS THE OLDER CHILDREN TO HAVE MORE ACADEMIC, SMALLER GROUP EXPERIENCE IN THEIR CLASSROOM. CHILDREN ARE INVITED TO START ONE AFTERNOON AND SLOWLY INCREASE THE NUMBER OF AFTERNOONS. THE DECISION CONCERNING THE CHILD'S READINESS FOR EXTENDED DAY IS MADE BY THE CLASSROOM TEACHER WITH INPUT FROM THE PARENTS. READINESS FOR EXTENDED DAY IS DETERMINED BY OBSERVING THE CHILD. GUIDELINES THE TEACHER WILL USE INCLUDE THE FOLLOWING.THE CHILD: HAS A DESIRE TO STAY FOR LUNCH AND THE EXTENDED DAY. HAS GIVEN UP TAKING NAPS OR NO LONGER NAPS EVERYDAY. CAN WORK INDEPENDENTLY FOR EXTENDED PERIODS OF TIME. CAN FOCUS DURING THE MORE DIFFICULT AND COMPLICATED LESSONS.FULL DAY CHILDREN'S HOUSE PROGRAM HOURS: 7:30 AM 5: 30 PM 3, 4, OR 5 DAYS PER WEEKTHE FULL DAY CHILDREN'S HOUSE PROGRAM, STARTING WITH CHILDREN AS YOUNG AS AGE 3, INCLUDES EXTENDED HOURS FROM AS EARLY AS 7:30AM TO 5:30PM. PARENTS HAVE THE OPTION TO ENROLL THEIR CHILD ON A FEE-BASED SCHEDULE FOR 3, 4, OR 5 FULL DAYS PER WEEK, WITH VARYING DISMISSAL TIMES UNTIL 5:30PM. THE FULL DAY PROGRAM IS AN EXTENSION OF THE TRADITIONAL CHILDREN'S HOUSE CLASS. CHILDREN ENJOY A RELAXED, COZY, HOME-LIKE ATMOSPHERE UNDER THE DIRECTION OF A TRAINED MONTESSORI TEACHER. THIS PROGRAM OFFERS THE BEST OF BOTH WORLDS; THE NURTURING AND COMFORT OF HOME AND THE CHALLENGING STIMULATION OF MONTESSORI. CHILDREN PARTICIPATE JOYFULLY IN MANY ACTIVITIES; CARE FOR THE ENVIRONMENT, SCIENCE, CULTURAL ACTIVITIES, ART, MUSIC, MOVEMENT, COOKING AND GAMES. THE CHILDREN MAY CHOOSE TO PARTICIPATE IN AN ORGANIZED ACTIVITY OR WORK FREELY IN A FULLY EQUIPPED MONTESSORI CLASSROOM TO ENHANCE THE CHILD'S SOCIAL, EMOTIONAL, SPIRITUAL AND COGNITIVE GROWTH.CHILDREN'S HOUSE MONTESSORI CLASSROOM CHILDREN AGES 3 TO 6 DIRECTLY LEARN THROUGH THEIR SENSES AND ABSORB INFORMATION EFFORTLESSLY THROUGH MOVEMENT AND HANDS-ON MATERIALS. THE FOCUS OF MONTESSORI EDUCATION IS NOT ACADEMIC READINESS OR THE MASTERY OF A SPECIFIC SKILL, BUT DEVELOPMENT OF THE WHOLE CHILD SOCIALLY, EMOTIONALLY, PHYSICALLY, AND INTELLECTUALLY.THE MIXED AGE CLASSES OFFER OPPORTUNITIES TO LEARN WHICH DO NOT EXIST IN SAME-AGE SETTINGS. THE OLDER, EXPERIENCED CHILDREN BECOME LEADERS AND ROLE MODELS TO THE YOUNGER CHILDREN, WHO ABSORB SOCIAL VALUES AND CULTURAL IMPRESSIONS FROM THE ACTIVITIES OF THE OLDER CHILDREN. THE CHILDREN LEARN DETAILS OF MATH, LANGUAGE AND GEOGRAPHY JUST FROM WALKING THROUGH THE CLASSROOM! THROUGH LEADERSHIP, THE OLDER CHILDREN GAIN SELF-CONFIDENCE AND RESPONSIBILITY. A NATURAL, FAMILY-LIKE ATMOSPHERE DEVELOPS SPONTANEOUSLY, RESULTING IN A BOND BETWEEN THE CHILDREN AND ALSO WITH THE GUIDE. FROM THIS COMES THE GREATEST LEVEL OF SOCIAL DEVELOPMENT MUTUAL CARE AND RESPECT.