Every September we welcome over 100 children to The Montessori House.  For September 2015, we’ve already confirmed enrollment for over 100 children.  We have completed enrolling children returning to the school and are well along offering placement to new families.  We urge interested families to come visit the school and submit an application soon.  While our waiting lists are growing, you should know that last year everyone on our waiting list received an enrollment offer (though some families had made other school plans and decided to decline our offer).

Here’s an update on enrollment by program  for September 2015:

• Age 2-1/2: Montessori Stepping Stones (half-day) AM Session (full – wait list)
  
• Age 3-5: Pre-Primary Montessori (half-day) AM Session (full – wait list)
• Age 3-5: Pre-Primary Montessori (half-day) PM Session (full – wait list)
• Age 3-5: Pre-Primary Montessori plus Enrichment (full-day) (full – wait list)
• Age 5-6: Montessori Kindergarten (full-day and half-day) (full – wait list) 
• Age 2-1/2: Montessori Stepping Stones (half-day) PM Session (full – wait 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.

No Tours until October: Tours are most informative  when the classroom is filled with students and teachers.  Consequently we only conduct tours when classes are in session.  To allow our new students to settle in, our next tour available tour appointments are for October 2015.   Note, you may submit an application before you tour. 

Of course, if you apply and join a wait list for September 2015, and we offer you placement, we’ll be happy to have you tour the facility before your first tuition payment is due.

Please call to schedule a personal tour by calling us at 201-816-8343.  Or, we’ll contact you: e-mail us your contact information and we’ll reach out to schedule a visit.  Alternatively, on our Admissions Page , you can request 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  information about booking a tour.

Timing for Your 2015-16Application: For families who are confident they want a placement offer for September 2015 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 for the following September.

We have finalized our  2015-16 tuition rates.  We first offer September 2015  placement  more or less in the order paid applications are received at the school.   If a session is currently full, we place applicants on a waiting list.  Between now ans next September we often experience quite a few changes and movement on our waiting lists.  (Here’s a discussion on Waiting Lists.)

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

Starting at the end of January, 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 (e.g. afternoon rather than morning), but still join the waiting list for their preferred session.

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

For more information please contact us through our website or call 201-816-8343.

We had a wonderful Meet the Teachers event at The Montessori House last night.  Thanks to all the parents who attended and all the teachers who were met!

Our Director, Ms. Maria, spent a few minutes welcoming everyone to the school for 2014-15.

Ms. Maria asked parents to keep in this thought in mind: a happy parent makes a happy child.

With that in mind, Ms. Maria offered her Top 10 Tips for a Great School Year (expanded version here):

Top 10 Tips for a Great School Year

1.    Set a happy tone for your child’s day!  Stay calm, and make a happy, quick, quiet exit at the front door (or playground).
2.    Dress your child in easy-to-wear clothing and shoes.
3.    Be on time.
4.    Role model staying safe and following the rules.
5.    Find a friend.
6.    Be involved, and make a difference for your child.
7.    Let school be school and home be home.
8.    Raise the bar, and be happy about your child’s emerging independence.
9.    Don’t ask your child what he/she did at school today.
10. Questions?  Please ask, but be aware of when and where you ask.

* Detailed explanations available here.

So, follow these 10 Tips and we’re sure to have a great school year!

Finally, a thought from Maria Montessori on why we want a happy child in the classroom:

” A child who has become master of his acts through long, pleasant and interesting activities in which he has engaged, is a child filled with health and joy and remarkable for his calmness and discipline. “

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.

You can find our Preliminary 2014-15  School Calendar here.

Here are the days students are not at school from September 2014 to June 2015:

Sept 1 – 5
Sept 8 – 11 (see individual student phase-in schedule)
Returning students come to school Sept 12 only
New students come partial days this week
Sept 25 – 26
November 6 – 7
November 26 – 28
December 11—12 (Kindergarten/1st Grade half-day on December 11 &12)
December 21 – 31
January 1—5
January 19
February 13 – 20
April 2 – 12
May 25
June 4 – 5 (Kindergarten/1st Grade half-day on June 4 & 5)
June 11 Teacher Work day
June 12 (special Graduation Day schedule)

With more than 50 programs and services available for New Jersey residents living with epilepsy, autism, developmental disabilities and chronic illness, The Family Resource Network (FRN) and its affiliates have been affecting lives of thousands of families across New Jersey for the past 41 years.

We thought parents might be interested in this public campaign on child development.

• See milestones that children should reach from 2 months to 5 years of age, plus interactive tools to help keep track of the milestones.
• Here’s the Families page (there are also pages for educators, health provider, etc.)

Here’s the program announcement we received:

As many as one in four children from birth to age 5 is at risk of developmental delay or behavioral challenges. To promote healthy development and early identification of these issues, several federal have partnered to launch a public outreach campaign highlighting the importance of universal developmental and behavioral screening, and support for young children.

The campaign’s mission is to:

• Promote universal screening.
• Identify possible delays and behavioral issues in any child setting.
• Enhance developmental supports for children.
• Offer resources for professionals working with children.

These resources include screening tools, user guides for different audiences (including behavioral health providers), and an array of online resources for providers and parents.

Learn More About Birth to 5: Watch Me Thrive!

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.

A selection of art created by The Montessori House children is now on display at the Cresskill Public Library.  The children created the art using traditional Montessori “metal insets.”  These beautiful pictures exemplify the children’s wonderful creativity and skills, and we are thrilled to have them displayed for all – especially you and your children — to enjoy!  We hope you’ll visit soon (a great snowy-day activity).  

Cresskill Public Library
53 Union Ave, Cresskill, NJ 07626
201-567-3521

Hours
Mon., Wed,., and Thurs.:  10:00 a.m. – 9:00 p.m.
Tues., Fri., and Sat.: 10:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.   

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.