Parents
The Montessori approach to learning is most successful when a child’s school and home life work in unison. We believe in maintaining an open line of communication and dialogue. We encourage both parents to become involved in our Parent Association and to take full advantage of our various parent workshops, classroom observations, parent conferences, parent communications and volunteer opportunities.
Parent Orientation and Education
A child’s experience at SSMS will reach its fullest potential when her/his work at school is combined with the family’s understanding of Montessori philosophy and parent’s cooperation at home. Therefore, parent education is considered a necessity.
Parent orientation is usually held the week prior to the beginning of school. Parents of both new and returning students are expected to attend the Parent Orientation Meeting.
Parent education meetings include guest speakers, discussion or study groups, classroom material exhibits or any format from which our parents may benefit. These types of meetings each year depend on the needs and interest of the parents. Several parent education meetings that occur on an annual basis include:
- Parent Orientation (August)
- Curriculum Night (October)
- The Importance of Montessori Kindergarten (February)
- The Importance of Montessori Elementary (January)
- Parent’s Night (Spring)
Parent Library & Recommended Reading
The school possesses a wide range of books and periodicals relating to the Montessori approach, parenting, education and child development. Some of the more highly recommended books include:
- Toddlers & Parents by T. Berry Brazelton
- Kids Can Cooperate by Elizabeth Crary
- Children: The Challenge by R. Dreikurs
- The New Approach to Discipline by Rudold Dreikurs
- Miseducation:Preschoolers at Risk by David Elkind
- The Hurried Child: Growing Up Too Fast Too Soon by David Elkind
- How to Talk so Kids Will Listen & Listen so Kids Will Talk by A. Faber
- The Magic Years by S. Fraiberg
- Between Parent and Child by Dr. Haim Ginott
- Your Child's Growing Mind by Jane Healy
- Montessori: The Science Behind the Genius by Dr. Angeline Lillard
- Montessori: A Modern Approach by Paula Lillard
- Montessori Today by Paula Lillard
- The Child in the Family by Maria Montessori
- The Absorbent Mind by Maria Montessori
- Positive Discipline by Jane Nelson
- The Friendly Classroom for a Small Planet by Priscilla Prutzman
- Maria Montessori: Her Life and Her Work by E. Mortimer Standing
Parent Volunteering
Parents are asked throughout the year to help the school with fund raising events, repairing classroom equipment, doing laundry, providing snacks, etc. All families are required to donate a minimum number of volunteer hours.
Fundraising
As a Not for Profit Organization, SSMS relies on a certain amount of fundraising to help defray expenses that would result in higher tuition costs. Although there is no prescribed monetary amount, each family is asked to participate at the level they feel they can afford. Families are also welcome to help secure fundraising dollars, auction items and/or sponsorships through outside sources such as grandparents, friends, colleagues, United Way and company matching donations, etc.
SSMS’s major annual fundraiser is the Hand in Hand Auction. All families are asked to actively participate in the auction.