The Director’s Message

Judith Martins

Director, Montessori & Me

Thank you for taking the time to learn more about Montessori & Me. Each day at our school is an exciting new opportunity to enrich the minds of our students, and we hope your child will join us.

Montessori & Me is a child-centered community of two and a half, three, four and five year old children. We believe that children thrive in this mixed age grouping where they learn not only from their teachers, but from one another. In an ideal setting, students begin their Montessori education at 2.5 years and remain with the same friends and teachers for three to four years.

We provide an authentic Montessori environment, respecting the young child’s determination for autonomy. Freedom of movement, exploration and independence are always encouraged. Students work at their own pace with achievement motivating success. There is constant interaction, socialization and problem solving.

We view parents as the child’s first teacher. Ongoing communication between home and school is encouraged and maintained through notes to home, monthly newsletters and school emails. We are the only Montessori preschool in Edmonton with webcams in our facility. Parents may log on at any time using a restricted password to see their child at work and play.

There are no specific academic entrance requirements; however, we base admission decisions on many factors, especially your child’s age and suitability for our program.

Please contact us regarding availability for your child, and to schedule your personal tour of our school. We will be happy to answer your questions and provide additional information about our educational programs.

Kind regards,

Judith Martins
Director, Montessori & Me

Our Mission

We are a community of teachers and parents dedicated to developing the spirit of the child by encouraging independence, curiosity, responsibility and cooperation. We respect the child’s uniqueness, promoting tolerance, good sportsmanship and non-violence. In keeping with the true meaning of the word “discipline”, which is to teach, we choose to model appropriate behaviors by demonstrating kind and considerate ways to behave. We help the child understand that conflicts can be resolved. That everyone has the right to be heard and their feelings respected. We believe that manners are important and sadly lacking in our culture today. To support the child’s social development, we provide daily lessons in grace and courtesy. Our ultimate goal is to encourage self-discipline, respect for oneself, for others and for the planet we share.

Our Philosophy

At Montessori & Me, we believe in the celebration of the young child. Children are natural explorers, determined to discover their new world, so our role as teachers is to make learning an exciting and rewarding journey. We gently guide the development and competency of the child by supporting independence and encouraging responsibility. In teaching children specific skills, we seek not only to impart knowledge, but to also instill habits of learning, questioning and relating to others. We encourage each child to reason, to cooperate, to collaborate, to negotiate and to understand.

We are firmly committed to Dr. Maria Montessori’s method of learning. Our vision is not for the short term, but to prepare the child for a life-long love of learning. Our program, therefore, is for the holistic development of children and their future academic success.

Community

Respecting children. Encouraging thought. Reaching out to help others. These are the fundamental beliefs of Montessori & Me. It is the expressed desire of this school to create within each child a sense a community and a willingness to help others in need. Children learn to be of service by participating in various projects throughout the school year. Older students become leaders and role models by tutoring younger students and guiding new students during phase-in.

In partnership with parents, we strive to help each child become a responsible, contributing member of the community and to share what we can, with our global families.

Diversity and Non-Competitive Atmosphere

We value and celebrate a diverse population. We do not discriminate based on race, color, creed, ethnic origin, gender, income or disability. Multicultural education is an integral part of the Montessori curriculum, ranging from cultural studies in the classroom to community service projects.

We strive to create a stimulating, cooperative and non-competitive environment. It is important for children to develop a joy and enthusiasm for learning.