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What is your teacher-child ratio at
MCH?
State Licensing requires all preschools to have a 12 to 1 adult
to child ratio, so that is the "right" answer you would get in an inquiry in
any licensed preschool or day care. At MCH our standards involve much more than
meeting minimum Licensing requirements, and we commonly do better than this
minimum ratio. Small group lessons and even one-on-one attention is available
to our students as needed.
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What are your staff's
qualifications?
Well beyond the six units in Early Childhood
Education that State Licensing requires to "qualify as a teacher," MCH
classroom teachers have advanced college degrees in addition to specialized
Montessori training and years of experience. They excel in patience and
kindness, which are prime requisites for working with children. All of the MCH
staff have ECE certification and, in addition to their specialties, such as
Music or ICPS, and all staff are kept current in CPR and First Aid.
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How frequent is Staff "turn-over"?
Staff turn-over at MCH is rare. Many of our staff have been with us from five
to as much as twenty years. This is a reflection of the Administrator's
commitment to high-quality Early Education, and her firm belief shared with MCH
Staff that helping children get the best possible start in life is not only a
privilege but also the most important job on the planet.
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How large is your school site and how many
classrooms does it have?
The MCH grounds [quietly off the main
thoroughfare] encompasses nearly a half-acre, which allows for a large fenced
and landscaped play area for running, climbing and other large motor and
creative activities. MCH is a two-classroom schoolhouse [with a shared Science
Room between the two main classrooms, small by comparison with larger
facilities — which leaves lots of room for the friendly, close-knit
community atmosphere that most of our families cherish. [Click here to see
pictures of the environment.]
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How long has MCH been in business in this
location?
MCH has been located on Gay Street since 1975, and the
same AMI-trained Administrator has been teaching Montessori in Southern
California for nearly 40 years.
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What is "Montessori," anyway?
Montessori itself is not a patented name or franchise of any kind. Montessori
is an internationally recognized educational method which will be 100 years old
in 2007. It refers to the last name of the woman physician, Dr. Maria
Montessori who established her first "Casa de Bambini" in Rome, Italy in 1907.
For a brief history of Montessori Education [click on History].
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How is the Montessori method implemented in your
school?
MCH is committed to the basic principles of Montessori
education. Our teachers are trained to observe your child's performance,
provide Montessori materials and give lessons in our child-centered, prepared
learning environment. A simple way to explain Montessori to a newcomer is to
say: believing all children to be born learners, innately intelligent and
capable, we help them to help themselves. All education should be "a help to
life."
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What is your approach to discipline?
Much of the "discipline" at MCH is actually built into the design of our
child-friendly environment. Such features as the ongoing grace and courtesy
lessons, the gentle flow of the school day, and the authentic respect for the
children's needs modeled by the staff, all serve to dissolve much of the need
for what tends to be called "discipline." When behavior is understood as
information about what has been learned and believed, it is quite natural to
respond to children's challenging behavior as opportunities for them to begin
learning alternative ways of handling conflict and developing more effective
communication skills. For more information on MCH's unique program that helps
children learn conflict resolution skills, [click on ICPS].
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*What is unique or special about your
school?
If you are interested in what MCH parents especially
appreciate about our school, you may want to read the posted [Letters of
Recommendation]. These particular letters are significant statements about the
value our families feel they have received at MCH: these families now have MCH
alumni who have successfully transitioned to other educational programs, and
their parents have made a decision informed by direct experience to enroll a
younger sibling with us.
Our over-arching focus on Science and the use
of thematic units that follow and extend the children's passionate interests,
clearly have their effect in our children loving whatever they do. When a child
is held capable, and honestly encouraged to question and explore ideas and make
connections, wonderful things happen!
For another example of a special
feature of our program that is quite unique, please take a look at the [ICPS]
section of this Website.
Children who complete the full cycle of MCH's
Montessori academic program, from the child's third year through six years of
age, with involved parents who positively support their children's progress by
modeling the value they place on learning, achieve results that are often quite
exemplary. We generally find these children to be self-motivated learners,
well-prepared with a sturdy foundation in academics and problem-solving skills,
young people who are a credit to their families and their community.
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How does your tuition compare with other local
Montessori schools?
MCH is a year round program; we charge a year's
tuition broken into ten equal monthly payments [or 12 equal monthly payments,
for those enrolled in Summer School.] MCH's tuition is mid-range compared to
other quality private schools, while providing – included in our
tuition – a number of features that other schools charge extra for, or
simply do not offer. MCH's curriculum is available to all students and includes
Music, Computers, FitKids (gymnastics), Spanish, Art, and an innovative program
that is unique to our school, ICPS [click on ICPS].
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the FAQ list...
What are your full-day hours and Extended Day
Care schedule?
The school day at MCH is Monday through Friday.
9:00AM to 3:00PM. Extended Day Care is available from 7:30AM to 6:00PM, as
needed. [For schedule, click on Calendars.]
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Do you take students part-time? [Why
not?]
We do not offer part time enrollment because children are not
"part-time" learners! Montessori Children's House is a place for parents who
are committed to providing their two to six year old children with an optimal
beginning for a lifetime love of learning. The Montessori approach to learning
is based on decades of scientific research to discover how children can best
learn, and it shows proven results when its principles are honored over time.
MCH is dedicated to honoring that legacy.
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Do you provide lunches? Snacks?
Parents send lunches with their children. We gladly heat (microwave) and/or
refrigerate them as needed, to support families in providing well-balanced,
nutritional midday meals for their children, while respecting individualized
needs and cultural preferences. Nutritious snacks (two or more food groups, not
empty calories) are made available both morning and afternoon, and food
preparation work in the "Practical Life" area of the classroom all serve to
assure that the children have ample opportunity to meet their nutritional
needs.
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How would you keep me informed of my child's
progress?
MCH provides several avenues of communication for keeping
abreast of your child's progress. Formal parent-teacher conferences are
scheduled twice per year. Weekend "Family Homework" and "Take-homes" are
designed to provide insights into what and how your child is doing at school.
Observation of your child's class is another option. Inquiry is welcomed, and
honored by a response from our Office or a teacher, as needed. Also,
informative Parenting Evenings are scheduled through the year [such as ICPS],
as interest is indicated.
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How do I determine that MCH is right for my
child?
We offer several guidelines: first of all, come for a visit
– with your child – to see for yourself what we
have to offer. Observe your child's response to the environment. Join him or
her in our Tree-house; have a chat together with Gus-Gus, our pet goose. Tour
the MCH classrooms and talk with our staff. Discuss with us what you are
looking for in a school for your child, in the long-term. Get your questions
and concerns answered, regarding your child's and your family's needs. Let us
help you make an informed decision about a very important commitment, one which
we believe – based on years of feedback from our alumni – is going to
have a lifelong effect on how your child feels about school, about learning,
about life.
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What are your enrollment procedures and
policies?
MCH's enrollment process is performed in several steps.
First, after having browsed our website, you can call and make an appointment
for both parents if possible to visit MCH with your child. [See previous
Question]. Most often Parents' Tours are scheduled between 3:30 and 4:30 PM
– we do not allow "strangers" into the classrooms during school. If, after
you have experienced an initial afternoon tour with a teacher, you feel that
MCH and your child and family are a good fit, you can arrange with us to have
your child spend a Child's Visiting Day, in class, as our guest.
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*How do I go about enrolling my
child?
At the end of your Child's Visiting Day (ideally, the next
day following the Parents' Tour), we will meet with you, to give you feedback
about your child's school day and to decide together the best course of action.
Your child may enroll any time during the year, as long as there is space
available. A child is not officially enrolled in MCH until after the Child's
Visiting Day and a meeting with the parents to go over required forms and
agreements. We also have the option to decline enrollment for a child, if it is
determined by our staff that our environment is unlikely to be able to meet
that child's needs.
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Would I be allowed to observe a class in
session?
Yes, you will be able to observe our classrooms in session,
once we have met with you for a Tour of our facility (This honors our "No
strangers in the classroom" Policy). Your observation will be scheduled on a
different day from your Child's Visiting Day.
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FAQ list...
What should I do if my child is still too young
to enroll in your program?
We welcome your inquiry in any case. You
may wish to get acquainted with us by attending some of our facility's programs
and meeting folks in our MCH community, thereby helping your child to prepare
for a comfortable transition into attending school when the time is right. This
allows the Office to save your child's space for your planned start date,
already a part of our growing MCH family.
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