What is the school’s educational philosophy or approach?

At Mountain Laurel Montessori, we embrace the Montessori approach to early childhood education, which emphasizes fostering independence, curiosity, and a lifelong love of learning. Our classrooms are thoughtfully designed to be child-centered, featuring mixed-age groups where younger children learn from older peers, and older children develop leadership and mentoring skills.

 

Children engage in a three-hour work cycle each day, allowing them to explore materials, work on activities that interest them, and delve deeply into their natural curiosity without interruption. This uninterrupted time promotes focus, creativity, and a sense of accomplishment. Click to read more about what a day in the life of Mountain Laurel may look like.

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What does nature-based Montessori look like? What will time outdoors look like?

Mountain Laurel Montessori is innovatively reimagining nature-based education means. While the natural world is an integral part of our curriculum and daily experience, we are interested in working with families to explore nature in an urban setting. We will encourage children to explore their curiosity about nature through learning more about the ecology of our neighborhood (the birds, mammals, plant life, etc.) We will explore the local woods and neighborhood parks with unstructured time outdoors, where they can play, observe, and engage with the natural elements around them.

 

Inspired by David Sobel’s theory of place-based education, we will also focus on connecting children to the social and cultural aspects of their community. In addition to exploring nature, children will visit local businesses, community gardens, cultural centers, and organizations to understand how people contribute to and interact with their environment. For example:

• Visiting a local market to learn about sustainable food systems.

• Partnering with community artists or organizations to create nature-inspired art projects.

• Observing how local businesses adapt to and care for their environment.

 

Sustainability and ecological advocacy are embedded in our practices, teaching children to respect and care for their environment. We believe that connecting with nature nurtures a child’s emotional well-being, inspires creativity, and fosters a deep understanding of their place in the world. At Mountain Laurel Montessori, we live by the philosophy that children should be outside every day.

 

To see what this philosophy looks like in action, we invite you to explore the articles and resources on our blog.

 

Are you really outside everyday? 

Ideally! We believe that there is no such thing as bad weather, just bad clothes. Because we believe that nature play is so essential to the physical, social-emotional, and cognitive development of young children, we support in equipping families with the right shoes, outerwear, and accessories for year long play. We work with families to build a lending library of rainboots, snow gear, and more. Now, we also want to ensure the health and safety of our children and staff. Therefore, in extreme weather, we will consult with local officials to make decisions on when to stay in. 

 

What meals and snacks are provided?

Children will bring their own lunches to school. We will use a communal sharing basket in which families donate food supplies for children to prep, bake, and/or cook snacks for the community. Our goal is to source food and serve it for lunch in the future. 

 

Are there opportunities for family involvement?

Yes! We believe in the value of partnering with parents and caregivers. In our cooperative model, families can offer their talents and skills to the community in many ways (reading aloud, fixing or repairing materials, leading games or activities, sharing cultural experiences, etc.). We are also looking for families to join our School Board, Fundraising Committee, and Social Committee. If you are interested in joining any of these committees, share your interest to info@mtnlmontessori.org. 

 

What is the tuition, and what does it include? Are there scholarships or financial aid options? What is the process for enrollment?

At Mountain Laurel Montessori, we are committed to making high-quality, nature-based Montessori education accessible to as many families as possible. To support this mission, we offer a tiered tuition system based on a family’s income. This approach ensures that families from diverse financial backgrounds can join our community and that finances are not a barrier to accessing the unique educational experience we provide.

 

Our tiered tuition ranges from the Early Learning Resource Center (ELRC) co-pay for eligible families to a maximum tuition of $19,500 per year. This range allows us to work with families to determine a tuition amount that aligns with their financial situation while also supporting the sustainability of our program. By doing so, we create an equitable community where children from all walks of life can benefit from the Montessori philosophy and our nature-based approach to education.

 

Here’s how the process works:

1. Fill Out an Interest Form
   Start by filling out our interest form, which helps us learn about your family and your needs.

2. Meet With Us
   After completing the interest form, you’ll be invited to meet with our team. During this meeting, we’ll share more about our program and philosophy while working together to determine a tuition amount that works for your family. This process is designed to be open, transparent, and supportive.

3. Offer of Enrollment
   Once we’ve found the right fit for your family, we will extend an enrollment offer and finalize the tuition agreement.

 

We believe that education is a right, not a privilege, and our tiered tuition system is a reflection of that belief. By ensuring that children from a variety of economic backgrounds can access our program, we foster a diverse and inclusive community where every child can thrive. Additionally, this approach allows us to invest in equity-focused initiatives, such as providing high-quality Montessori materials and maintaining small class sizes that prioritize individualized learning.

 

Have other questions? Reach out!