Mountain Shadows Montessori School

Admission Process

Initial Contact

Since Montessori schools are not franchised institutions, every school operates independently. Each Montessori school interprets and implements the Montessori philosophy differently. For this reason, as Colorado’s only AMI-accredited Montessori school, Mountain Shadows Montessori School encourages parents to visit the school as part of the research and application process.

Parents may call the school, visit our website, or attend one of our Mornings of Montessori to obtain information.

Campus Tour and Classroom Observation

After reviewing our informational materials, parents are encouraged to schedule a tour of our 12-acre campus and a classroom observation to fully experience our Montessori programs. Children do not participate in this initial meeting. Prospective parents will meet with the Director of School Advancement, receive an additional information packet, and meet the Executive Director who will answer any additional questions about the Montessori philosophy.

Application

After visiting the school, parents seeking enrollment for their children may complete and submit an application for admission, along with a non-refundable application fee.

Enrollment Criteria

Primary-aged children must meet the following enrollment criteria in order for Mountain Shadows to fulfill our academic mission:

· must be at least 2 1/2 years old for enrollment consideration

· the child must be fully toilet-trained with the ability to independently go to and from the bathroom

· be able to take direction from an adult

· be able to communicate his/her needs and ideas.

Children that are five years old, or are enrolling into our Elementary programs, will need to have a brief meeting with a teacher. The purpose of this meeting is to get acquainted, and gather additional information about the child’s abilities. Elementary-age children may be asked to visit the classroom for a period of time prior to enrollment.

Enrollment Procedure

After the application is received, and based on space availability, a time will be set for the child and parent(s) to visit with the Director of School Advancement and/or the Executive Director, as well as receive a mini-tour of the campus.

Elementary-aged children may be asked to visit the classroom for a period of time during a school day before the completion of the current school year. This extended visit provides an opportunity for the older child to become familiar with the classroom and the school and paves the way for a smooth transition into the classroom.

The processing of applications for the next school year begins in January. Spaces are filled from applicants on the wait list with respect to the following data:

1. Siblings

2. Classroom balance

3. Children with prior Montessori experience

4. The date the application was received by Mountain Shadows

Contracts inviting new families to join our school community are offered as openings are available and/or occur. Each new family is scheduled for an appointment with the Director of School Advancement to review and sign the enrollment contract, briefly review the Parent Handbook, and submit the required non-refundable, non-transferable tuition deposit to reserve a space at Mountain Shadows Montessori School. Once the enrollment contract and tuition deposit are submitted, a tuition payment schedule is mailed. In June, families will also receive emergency information and health forms which must be completed before the first day of school. Other information, such as classroom schedules, a school calendar, parent opportunities, and expectations is sent in early August prior to the start of the school year.

Classroom Placement

Final decisions regarding classroom placement is determined by late summer for those starting in the fall. These decisions are made with respect to children's individual needs as well as overall classroom balance and our ability to provide a quality program for all of our students. After classroom placement has been determined, the family will have an opportunity to meet with the teacher and visit the classroom before the first day of school.

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