About Us

It is widely recognized that young children thrive on routine, predictability and continuity.  They need to bond strongly with caregivers and teachers so continuity of care and the fewer individuals providing the care, the better.  Consistency of expectations for behaviours helps children feel secure and feeling secure and belonging is necessary before higher level learning can occur.  With programs for Toddlers and Preschool/JK/SK, your child can begin as early as 18 months and stay until he/she is ready to begin Grade one.  Note:  JK and SK are optional in the public school system.  Mandatory school age is 6 by the first of September.

The Montessori Child

The children’s innate love of learning and desire to explore are encouraged by opportunities to spontaneously choose and engage in meaningful activities. Through their own efforts the children develop concentration and experience joyful self-discipline.  Active and curious, they excel in the Montessori hands-on curriculum, progressing at their own pace.  The teacher is a role model and facilitator who links a child with carefully designed learning materials and activities.  She guides him or her during a three-year cycle of learning in a class environment that cultivates independence and self-motivation.

Unique 3-year Cycle of Learning

Children enter MSC as Toddlers and depending on their age, may attend for one or two years in the Toddler community.  At age 2.5 to 3.5 children enter the mixed-age grouping of the Montessori “Casa del Bambini” (Children’s House) or in the terms of the public schools:  a mixed-age grouping for pre-kindergarten, junior kindergarten and senior kindergarten.  Children can remain for the three years generally with many of their friends and often with the same teachers.  Younger siblings are frequently enrolled into the same class as their older brothers and sisters since parent and child satisfaction is high.  Children enter the class as a 1st year student, one of the youngest; in 2nd year they are like a middle child – some of their friends will be younger and some will be older; and in a child’s 3rd year, he or she will be recognized as a leader and helper who is able to assist other children with their activities.  Each child is guided to experience the learning materials over the three-year cycle.  Teachers are able to follow the child’s interests and enthusiasm since the child will have three years to explore the curriculum – which consists of hands-on materials that appeal to a child’s senses.  Children are encouraged to make choices of what they will do and when, however the materials are generally sequential in nature and so one ground rule is that you need to have a “lesson with the teacher” before choosing any given activity.  Children are able to observe the activities of others to preview lessons to come and later they may assist other children with a lesson and so, review their learning.

Wealth of Learning Materials

Dr. Maria Montessori and her son designed materials which they called “motives to activity”.  Being a scientist, Montessori observed children to see how they reacted to the materials she would try out in the classroom.  Only the ones that were consistently appealed were retained over time.  The Montessori learning materials have helped children to educate themselves — the only real education! —since 1907.  The activities-based materials have proven to be universally appealing and effective across cultures.  The multi-sensory activities are designed to assist children in;  refining their sense discrimination;  in developing hand-eye co-ordination and self-help skills; vocabulary, writing and reading; learning numbers and math concepts and building an awareness of the world – knowledge of plants, animals, geography and science.

Low Pupil to Teacher Ratio

MSC is licensed under the Day Nursery Act and therefore the adult/child ratios are mandated:  8 : 1 for 2 1/2 to 6 year olds and 5 : 1 for the 18 month to 3 year olds.  The preschool/JK/SK multi-aged groupings usually has 24 children with 3 teachers or 16 children with two teachers.  Each child has an individualized learning plan and is guided with 1 to 1 lessons.  Once a child is introduced to an activity, he/she may choose it as interest dictates.