WELCOME TO MANZANITA MONTESSORI
Manzanita Montessori School is an authentic Montessori program, serving children ages three through twelve years old.
The Montessori method is committed to the fact that education from birth is the inheritance of every child and that the environment is the foundation of development.
MISSION
Our mission is to provide the highest quality Montessori environments and classroom guides in order to support the unique development of each child in our school. Our hope is that these children continue to make positive contributions to society and ultimately help the world to be more peaceful, innovative and sustainable.
TENETS
Each child’s individual level of achievement, ability, interest and needs are respected, while exploration and growth are encouraged, inevitably resulting in true self-esteem and independence.
We believe that the education of children is a collaborative responsibility between teachers, staff, families, and the community.
Our school upholds an intentional relationship with and for the world’s environment. We strive to educate about the importance of individual impact and model choices that contribute to sustainability for all.
We believe that creativity and inspiration are human tendencies and that the arts are a way for us all to express our unique personalities, feel fulfilled and that this will positively impact our world.
ASSOCIATION MONTESSORI INTERNATIONAL
AMI was founded in 1929 by Dr. Maria Montessori in order to protect the integrity and name of her work. AMI has remained the only authentic authority on Montessori education and practice. Today, under the direction of Alain Tschudin, AMI continues to support quality teacher training worldwide.
DAILY ROUTINE
8.30 Arrival
8.45 - 11.15 Morning work time
11.15 - 12:15 Clean up, circle, lunch
12.15 - 1:30 Outdoor play
1:15 Go-Home for children under 4 years
1:30 - 2:30 Afternoon work time for children over 4 years
2:24 Go-Home
CLOTHING
One of the goals of Montessori education is to assist children in becoming increasingly more independent, self-confident, and capable of taking responsibility for their lives. In recognition of this philosophy, our clothing policy is as follows:
Clothes should allow for freedom of movement to run, jump, and climb safely outdoors.
Please save jewelry, large bows, headbands, costumes and motif clothing for home wear since they are a distraction in the classroom.
Low top tennis shoes are most suitable. Other footwear such as sandals, hard- soled shoes, boots, flip-flops, clogs, cowboy boots, rain boots, platform, and light-up shoes are not appropriate for school activities.
Please send your child with a sweater or long-sleeved layer every day.
If it is raining, might rain or has recently rained, your child should still wear regular shoes and clothing to school. Rain boot and rain gear can be brought to school in an extra bag for use during outdoor time.
Primary aged children will need to have a supply of extra clothes at school:
3 pair of underwear
3 pair of pants or shorts
2 tops, 2 pair of socks
When wet or soiled clothing comes home, please replenish the classroom supply the following day.
Please label ALL your child’s belongings.
SIGNING IN AND OUT
By California State Law, all children under age 6 must be escorted to school and signed in and out by the adult responsible for their transportation to and from school. You must use your full name and a legible signature when signing your child in and out. If someone other than a person named on your child’s emergency form will be picking up, we will need to to be notified in advance by a parent and will verify that person’s identity by checking their driver’s license.
PUNCTUALITY
It is imperative that arrival and dismissal times are adhered to. Late arrivals are disruptive to the rhythm of the day and confusing to your child. By being on time you are showing your child respect for their inner rhythm, their school community and their work.
EARLY PICK UP AND ABSENCES
If your child is going to be absent or needs to be picked up early, please notify us ahead of time.
LUNCH AND SNACK TIME
As part of their daily work cycle, children will participate in the set up and cleanup of lunch. Glassware, silverware, placemats and cloth napkins are part of our lunch routine.
Please provide a lunchbox/bag containing a balanced and healthy meal. Water is served at lunch. Please do not pack additional beverages in your child’s lunch. Filtered water is always available to your child in the classroom and on the playground.
For Primary aged children, please pack a small but nutrient dense snack in a separate container from their lunch, clearly labeled ‘snack’.
We find that the children are directly affected by the nutritional quality of their meals. Thank you for helping by providing foods for your children that are healthy, fresh, and additive free.
To support our environmental tenet, we ask that all foods be placed in reusable containers. Please refrain from sending pre-packaged foods. This packaging is a distraction for the children, creates unnecessary waste and is often thrown away half-eaten. Instead, we request that you send fresh foods sent in reusable containers.
Together we can help our children establish good eating habits while being stewards of the environment.
THINGS BROUGHT FROM HOME
We welcome the children to share any interesting hobbies or items which relate to class activities such as music, books or interesting objects found in nature.
Please help your child leave things such as toys, stuffed animals and dress up clothes at home.
WORK TO HOME
The young child approaches the world from within and is focused on the process of his/her activity rather than the result of the activity. They are not yet focused on the product of their work. If a great deal of attention is paid to the product of the young child’s work, we interfere with the concentration process and cease to truly support their development.
Work will be sent home a few times during the school year. Parents can support this process by not asking their child to bring a picture or other work home for them each day.
BIRTHDAY CELEBRATIONS
The Birthday Child’s special day will be celebrated in several possible ways:
Parade Master - At some point during the day, the birthday child will lead a musical parade around the school grounds. Each child will carry and play a musical instrument as the Birthday Child leads the procession.
Walking Around the Sun - The Birthday Child carries the colored globe in an orbit around a candle representing the sun to commemorate each year of the child’s life.
On your child’s birthday, you are welcome to send a special birthday treat to share with the whole class, please check with your teachers about allergies. Healthy muffins, cookies, fruit kabobs, etc. are appropriate, individual servings are appreciated.
For summer birthdays, we choose a day (TBD) that is close to the end of the school year for a collective celebration.
CONFERENCES AND OBSERVATIONS
Conferences and observations are scheduled in the fall and spring. We will strive to have each family observe before they schedule their conference. Both parents attending these events is preferential.
GUIDELINES FOR OBSERVATION
Parents are invited to stay up to 30 minutes. Feel free to take notes during your observation.
While you are in the classroom, please refrain from talking as conversation distracts from your experience and limits your ability to observe.
Enter the classroom quietly and sit in the specified chair. Please do not walk around the classroom unless invited to do so.
If a child should ask who you are, simply reply, “I’m _____’s parent.” If she/he should continue to talk, say, “I am going to do my work of observing now.”
A new person in the environment can distort the children’s sense of order and may make them work differently from the way they normally would. This is especially true if your child is in the classroom; therefore, try to observe him/her indirectly while apparently looking at other children. This will help your child to be less self-conscious about your being in the classroom.
Manzanita Montessori School strives to provide an environment where the child’s work can progress uninterrupted. Your cooperation will help make your visit a more rewarding experience for all.
DIVERSITY STATEMENT
At Manzanita Montessori School we acknowledge that everyone is unique and are dedicated to the enrichment of our program through cultural diversity. We do not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national or ethnic origin, sex, or religion. Manzanita Montessori School does not discriminate against any student under the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990. We welcome children from all socioeconomic backgrounds.
TUITION
Upon Enrollment, a deposit is required to secure your spot. Monthly tuition is due the first of each month over 10 months or can be paid in one or two payments for the whole year. If paying monthly, please ensure you pay promptly and no later than 5 days after the due date. Monthly tuition is broken down into ten monthly installments, regardless of school vacations, family vacation, discontinuation, and illness. Tuition includes enrichment programs, such as art, gardening, and music. There is a $550 material fee, invoiced with the first tuition payment. There are no refunds on tuition fees or fees involved throughout the year including material fees.
ENROLLMENT AND RE-ENROLLMENT
Each year, all parents of enrolled children are given an opportunity for priority enrollment for the next year. New children will be enrolled from the wait list. Completing all steps for enrollment interest is required to be placed on the waitlist.
FORMS
All registration and health forms must be returned to the office by the first day your child attends school. These forms are a California State requirement. Notify the office immediately, in writing, of any changes to your child’s health or contact information.
DISMISSAL
As an educational facility, we reserve the right to withdraw enrollment to a student. If the environment does not meet the needs of the child or vice versa. Prior to the decision, there will be a parent teacher conference to discuss the issues at hand.
DISCIPLINE POLICY
The purpose of discipline is to help children learn ways of behaving that are acceptable to themselves and to others. With very young children, this usually means setting limits for their safety, and the safety of others. All children need to be reassured that the people who care for them will guide and protect them.
Teachers facilitate the development of self-control in children by using positive guidance techniques such as modeling and encouraging expected behavior, redirecting children to a more acceptable activity, and setting clear limits for the benefit and safety of all the children.
In the event that the unacceptable behavior is not resolved, the parent(s) or guardian will be contacted by a teacher. If the unacceptable behavior is not resolved, a parent/teacher/director conference will be arranged immediately and enrollment may be terminated at the director’s discretion. Any conduct that disrupts the students ability to learn and/or the school’s ability to educate its students in a safe environment will not be permitted. Consequences for a student who commits any act of harassment, intimidation, bullying, or inappropriate behavior shall be varied depending on the nature of the behavior, the developmental age of the student, and the student’s behavioral history.
AT HOME
The Montessori approach to educate assumes cooperation between the parent and the teacher. As parents you can assist with your child’s adjustment to school by educating yourself on the basic principles of the Montessori education.
SAFETY AND EMERGENCY PLAN
A copy of the school’s Emergency Disaster Plan is available for review at the entrance of our classroom. Fire drills are held every term as required by California State Law.
Fire and Earthquake drills are practiced regularly. Extra water, food and first aid is kept at school as part of our emergency preparedness.
ABSENCES AND ILLNESSES
Under no circumstances will parents be allowed to bring a sick child to school. We need your cooperation in preventing the spread of illnesses. If your child seems overly tired or irritable, it is wise to keep him/her home for extra rest. If there has been a fever, diarrhea, vomiting, unusual discharge from eyes/nose/ears, or open sores, in the past 24 hours, it is essential for your child to be kept at home. Children who exhibit any of these symptoms will be immediately sent home. Please notify us of anything contagious occurring in your household.
To help the classroom community stay healthy, the school’s illness policy is a as follows:
Keep children home for 24 hours after conclusion of diarrhea, vomiting, unusual discharge from eyes/nose/ears, or open sores.
Keep children home for 48 hours after conclusion of fever.
Children may become ill or be accidentally injured over the course of the school day. It is essential that the school have on file an Emergency Form with the names of at least three people who may be contacted in case of an emergency. If there are any changes that need to be made to the emergency information form please contact the school immediately.
MEDICATION
Pupils who must take medication (prescribed and over-the-counter) at school, must submit a written statement from the CA licensed physician detailing the prescribed amount, method and time schedule. Parental signature authorizing administration of medication is also required. All medication authorization shall be renewed at least annually.
ALLERGIES
If your child suffers from a serious allergy (bees, peanuts, strawberries etc.) in which he/ she may require an Epinephrine injection, please ensure you notify the school ahead of time. If your child has an Epinephrine injector, please assure that your child has been properly taught to use it, and carries it with him/her at all times. In order for a pupil to carry and self-administer prescription auto-injectable epinephrine, Manzanita Montessori School shall obtain both a written statement from the licensed physician detailing the name of the medication, method, amount, and time schedules by which the medication is to be taken, and confirming that the pupil is able to self-administer auto-injectable epinephrine, and a written statement from the parent, foster parent, or guardian of the pupil consenting to the self-administration, providing a release for the school nurse or other designated school personnel to consult with the health care provider of the pupil regarding any questions that may arise with regard to the medication, and releasing Manzanita Montessori School and school personnel from civil liability if the self-administering pupil suffers an adverse reaction as a result of self-administering medication.
ASTHMA
Pupils may carry and self-administer inhaled asthma medication if the school receives both a written statement from the physician detailing the name of the medication, method, amount, and time schedules by which the medication is to be taken, and confirming that the pupil is able to self-administer inhaled asthma medication, and a written statement from the parent, foster parent, or guardian of the pupil consenting to the self-administration, providing a release for the school personnel to consult with the health care provider of the pupil regarding any questions that may arise with regard to the medication, and releasing the School and school personnel from civil liability if the self-administering pupil suffers an adverse reaction by taking medication pursuant to this section.
IMMUNIZATIONS
Prior to admission to any California Child Care Center, children shall be immunized against diseases as required by the California Code of Regulations. The licensee must document and maintain each child’s immunizations records for as long as the child is enrolled.
COMMUNICATION
You may set up an appointment with your child’s teacher to address any questions or concerns you have by sending a request via email. Observations and conferences are normally scheduled in the fall and spring, however you may request one at anytime. We ask both parents to attend whenever possible. We welcome any questions, comments or concerns.
TEACHERS
Primary Lead Guide: Juniper Dwight
Primary Assistant Guide: Imelda Banuelos
Elementary Lead Guide: Michael Johnson - michael@manzanitamontessoriojai.com
Elementary Assistant Guide: Justine Sautto
OFFICE/ADMINISTRATION
Head of School: Juniper Dwight juniper@manzanitamontessoriojai.com
Administrative Assistant: Kristina Morelli admin@manzanitamontessoriojai.com