As we get ready to welcome students to school on Septmeber 8, 2014, we want to provide some insight on our admissions process and calendar for families still considering The Montessori House for school year 2014-15 and for those interested in enrolling for school year 2015-16.  (Most sessions  for September 2014 are full and have waiting lists of varying length.  See here for some observations on Waiting Lists.)

We currently have openings in the following sessions and can offer immediate placement:

• Pre-Primary Montessori (half-day, afternoon)

The following sessions currently have a waitlist:

• Pre-Primary Montessori plus Enrichment (full-day) (medium list)
• Montessori Kindergarten (full-day and half-day, afternoon) (short list)
• Pre-Primary Montessori (half-day, morning (short list))
• Montessori Stepping Stones (half-day, early session) (short list)
• Montessori Stepping Stones (half-day, later session) (short list)

To be considered for placement, families submit a paid application (download here).  While we only offer families placement after a school visit and tour, families are welcome to apply either before they visit, at the visit, or after visiting.  You may make an application now for 2014-15, and if we can’t offer you placement we’ll carry the application  over to 2015-16 with no additional fees.

The Montessori House is now starting school year 2014-15.  We will schedule tours for people starting the week of September 29, 2014.

For families considering a The Montessori House for September 2015 contact us at 201-816-8343 after September 8th to schedule a visit.  Or, we’ll contact you: please sign up on our Admissions Page for our free Schools Checklist (at the right under “How Does Our School Compare?”enter your name, zipcode and e-mail in the boxes) , and we’ll e-mail you in September about booking a tour.  Or if you call or e-mail your contact information, we’ll add you to our contact list.

Timing for Your 2015-16Application: For families who are confident (after researching and visiting the school, or based on the advice of friends already at the school) that they want a placement offer for 2015-16  from The Montessori House , we recommend submitting an application soon.  Some families delay: to finalize plans to move to the area, to look at other schools, or they assume they have more time.  The cost of an application is small, and delay in submitting an application may reduce a family’s options once we start placement in January, 2015.  We expect to finalize 2015-16 tuition rates in December 2014 and first offer September 2015  placement to families with children currently at The Montessori House  starting in January 2015.

By mid-January we will begin to  offer placement to new applicants, more or less in the order paid applications are received at the school.   By the end of January all new applicants will know  if we can place them in their preferred session, or if they are on a wait list.

Every year we have the greatest interest in our morning, half-day programs (Stepping Stones and Pre-Primary Montessori), and our full-day programs (Pre-Primary Montessori plus Enrichment and Kindergarten) — these session fill the fastest.

We  have rolling admissions and continue to offer placement in a session until that session is filled, at which point we start a session wait list.  A family may choose to enroll in an alternate session, but still join the wait list for their preferred session.

We urge families interested in 2015-16 to plan now, and establish a plan for research, a time for school visit, and a date to  submit an application .

For more information please contact us at admissions@themontessorihouse.com or call 201-816-8343.

Our Wednesday Piano lessons are canceled for this week (March 26th) and next week (April 2nd).  We have scheduled make-up classes for May 21st and June 4th.

Tuesday Piano lessons continue on the regular schedule.

The Montessori House is closed again  today, Friday, February 14th.  (Happy Valentine’s Day!)

The school is closed next week, and will reopen Monday, February 24th.   Enjoy the winter break!

If there is any change in our plans, we will provide an update on school closing as follows:

1. Here in NEWS on the website.
2. Via the phone message at 201-816-8343.
3. Via e-mail to our 2013-14 parents and teachers.

Generally, for the most up-to-date information,  PLEASE CALL 201-816-8343.

The Montessori House is closed today, Thursday, February 13th.

We expect the school will re-open on Friday February 14th.

If there is any change in our plans, we will provide an update on school closing as follows:

1. Here in NEWS on the website.
2. Via the phone message at 201-816-8343.
3. Via e-mail to our 2013-14 parents and teachers.

Generally, for the most up-to-date information,  PLEASE CALL 201-816-8343.

The Montessori House is closed today, Wednesday, February 5th.

We expect the school will re-open on Thursday, February 6th.

If there is any change in our plans, we will provide an update on school closing as follows:

1. Here in NEWS on the website.
2. Via the phone message at 201-816-8343.
3. Via e-mail to our 2013-14 parents and teachers.

Generally, for the most up-to-date information,  PLEASE CALL 201-816-8343.

The Montessori House is closed today, Monday, February 3rd.

We expect the school will re-open on Tuesday, February 4th.

If there is any change in our plans, we will provide an update on school closing as follows:

1. Here in NEWS on the website.
2. Via the phone message at 201-816-8343.
3. Via e-mail to our 2013-14 parents and teachers.

Generally, for the most up-to-date information,  PLEASE CALL 201-816-8343.

The Montessori House is closed today, Wednesday, January 22nd.

We expect the school will re-open on Thursday, January 23rd.

If there is any change in our plans, we will provide an update on school closing as follows:

1. Here in NEWS on the website.
2. Via the phone message at 201-816-8343.
3. Via e-mail to our 2013-14 parents and teachers.

Generally, for the most up-to-date information,  PLEASE CALL 201-816-8343.

If your family is interested in exploring a scholarship (a.k.a. financial aid) at The Montessori House for the school year starting September, 2014 (2014-15 school year), now is the time to start the process.

First, you apply to The Montessori House: please have a look at our Timing and Tips for 2014-15 Admissions.  If you haven’t visited the school, we suggest you call us to arrange a tour for yourself (we recommend you come for a tour during the school day without your child, if possible).  Please call us at 201-816-8343 to arrange a time.

Starting now you can prepare your scholarship application on-line through School and Student Services by NAIS.  Your application needs to be completed before February 12, 2014 (for scholarships for the school year starting September, 2014).

Scholarships are provided by The Friends of Montessori Foundation, and they consider your financial need as well as the depth of their own resources when making scholarship decisions.

Generally, The Montessori House, in January, 2014, will offer your child a place for enrollment, and ask you to commit with a $750 Reservation Deposit.  You’ll hear about your scholarship (if any), at the same time we ask you sign an Enrollment Agreement and complete your tuition deposit (about mid-March, 2014).  Note, the award may be subject to verification of information you submitted; for example receipt and evaluation of 2013 tax returns that you may not have sent to SSS/NAIS before March.

If Friends of Montessori Foundation cannot meet your calculated need, then you may choose to withdraw and receive a refund of your Reservation Deposit.  However, if the Foundation meets your need (or determines that you have not demonstrated a financial need), then you would not be eligible for a refund if you decide to withdraw.

Of course, before deciding to reserve a place for your child, you can wait to hear from the Foundation regarding your scholarship.  But, without a reservation in place, by mid-March we may have filled up your preferred sessions for 2014-15.

Feel free to contact us by e-mail (admissions@themontessorihouse.com) or by phone (201-816-8343) with questions.

The day after we announced the addition of Yoga to our after-school programs,  we read in the Bergen Record about “Yoga for kids in North Jersey”

(Our menu of  after-school instructional programs includes: Piano, Violin, Chess and Yoga.)

The article summarized some interesting studies:

* In a survey from 2004 to 2007 at a Boulder, Colo., school, 4th- and 5th-grade students reported fewer instances of bullying after two weeks of yoga instruction. After the yoga classes, students said incidents of being hit by a classmate dropped 55 percent. The students also reported a 57 percent increase in the ability to control their own anger.

* The journal School Psychology Review published an article in 2005 that found that a group of students with attention problems were able to focus more on their work after yoga instruction. Before yoga, the problem students were able to stay “on task” only 65 percent of the time, compared with their peers who could focus for 85 percent of the time. During the yoga instruction, the problem students were able to focus as much as their typical peers.

* A 1991 article in the Journal of Asthma found that yoga training was helpful in treating children with asthma, increasing pulmonary function and exercise capacity. A follow-up study two years later found that benefits remained, with the children having fewer symptoms and requiring less medication.

We continue to accept applications for Summer Camp 2013 from current, new and former  Montessori House students and their siblings.  This summer our camp themes may include, in no particular order:

• Biomes
• Beatrix Potter
• Bugs
• Spain
• Montessoriville
• Circus
• 20th Century Art: Rockwell and Picasso

Application in the Parents area, or call the office.