School: MONTESSORI SCHOOL of DENVER

Website: http://www.montessoridenver.org/

Main Phone: 303-756-9441

Type: Private Montessori – Accredited member of the Association of Colorado Independent Schools (ACIS)

Tuition & Fees: Tuition for 2009/2010 school year is $10,975 ($6,220 for half-day until 11:30 AM) for Primary/Kindergarten and $11,655 for Elementary per student.  The after school program is an additional $4,810 per year. Additional fees include an $850 per family facilities fee and $250 per family work bond fee (this deposit can be worked off throughout the year by volunteering time). Financial assistance is available for Kindergarten and Elementary students.

Tours: Parent tours begin in October. Tours are for adults only and include an overview of MSD, an introduction to Montessori education, a classroom observation, campus tour, and a question and answer session. All tours require an appointment and reservations are limited. Toddler Program tours are held on Wednesday mornings from 9:45 am – 10:45 am. Primary Program tours take place on Tuesday mornings from 9:15 am – 10:45 am. Elementary Program tours are by appointment only. Please contact the school office at 303-756-9441 or info@msd-co.org to reserve your space for an upcoming tour.

Head of School: Stephanie Flanigan

Director of Admission: Tara Gehrke

Location: 1460 South Holly Street, Denver, CO 80222

Hours: 8:00 AM – 3:30 PM

Ages/Grades: Toddler through 6^th Grade (ages 2-12).  There are full day and half day programs for both Toddlers and Primary students.  Lower Elementary and Upper Elementary have full day programs.

Class Size: Depending on grade-level, a class can be anywhere from 25 students to 30 students. The ratios for the classes range from between 1:7 and 1:12 also depending on grade-level.  Classes are mixed age groups. The Toddler program is for 2 and 3 year olds and the Primary program is for 3 through 6 year olds. Lower Elementary is age 6 through 9 and Upper Elementary is age 9 through 12.

Before/After Care: There is no before care program at MSD.  There is an after school program from 3:00 – 6:00 PM.  There is also a “drop-in” after care program where parents can pay for specific days of the week if necessary.  Additionally, there is an After School Enrichment Program (ASEP) that consists of quite a few very unique offerings including Lego building, super scientists, Broadway choir and princess party.

Facilities and Playground:

The MSD campus consists of several buildings that house multiple classroom groupings, offices, a community room and an absolutely stunning library that was commissioned and built about 6 years ago. The landscaping is well maintained and there are future plans to upgrade the playground which is already in good condition.  In the wintertime, it is probably chilly for kids to transition from one building to another but they don’t seem to mind.

Special & Core Programs:

MSD is committed to an overall Montessori philosophy that includes mixed-age classrooms, large blocks of interrupted work time, and an emphasis on self-directed, independent learners who take responsibility.  This philosophy is also reflected in their core school-wide curriculum including service learning, experiential learning, real-world concepts and global education.  Teachers are expected to enroll in continuing education and often participate in global educational expeditions.  The school community (students and staff) has traditionally made “doing good” an integral part of the school culture by committing to and participating in numerous civic and charitable projects.

Beyond regular classroom lessons, students take Spanish, PE, Art, Music and Drama (starting in Lower Elementary) 1-2 times per week.

Using technology to support the curriculum is also very important to MSD. This would include SMART Boards, a library equipped with WiFi, a publishing center, and laptops to be used for class/student projects.  The brand new Website was re-launched as of October 2009 and is filled with valuable information. Parents also receive monthly newsletters and weekly reminders sent out by administration and lead teachers.

Additionally, daily lunches are offered to MSD students through Organics Delivered.  Parents can sign up for the service, look at menus and order lunch service any day of the week.

Impressions:

I have visited the Montessori School of Denver on multiple occasions.  The first time, I was invited as a guest to their annual Fall Harvest Festival in 2008.  It was a gorgeous sunny weekend and the campus was packed with families and buzzing with activity.  They had the usual pumpkin sale (though these were very expensive organic pumpkins), tasteful carnival games, a train ride, chili contest and even a reptile menagerie.  There were children riding on top of a giant tortoise and snakes slithering through the shrubs!  It was a delightful scene.

The next time I visited MSD was that November for a tour with their Director of Admission, Tara Gehrke.  A group of parents gathered in the gorgeous library by a warm fire.  Tara spoke about the 45 year history of the school and answered questions we had before we braved the cold.

The buildings surround a lovely landscaped courtyard and playing field where students were engaged in an organized game of kickball with MSD’s full time Physical Education teacher. Not only to the students have recess twice a day, they also have PE 1-2 days a week as well. I loved hearing that these kids get plenty of physical activity to burn off energy! We wear lead over to the Toddler room for observation of their morning activities.  There is only one class for two and three year old toddlers. It felt cumbersome with so many children and five teachers in one room though the activities were very organized. Adults may feel cramped, but the children seemed at ease with their environment and could freely go about their work be it inside or out. The space probably feels absolutely normal to them. In typical Montessori methodology, teachers would gently encourage each child to complete one task before they moved on to the next in an effort to keep order.  This is true for meal time as well.  It’s always so adorable to watch children eat at a table with placemats, napkins and glasses for milk.  It’s a toddler sized fine-dining experience!

Next we visited one of the Primary classrooms.  This was one of the older rooms of the school and a very interesting set up.  Up a few steps and through the door to the room, you walk in and see a series of rooms and a central fireplace in which they have created a cozy reading nook complete with pillows.  This room also seemed crowded though it was organized and run like a tight ship.  The teacher in this classroom invited us in to observe the children in their morning work cycle and tour the series of rooms.  It felt very cozy and active.  We even observed conflict resolution between two children that went so smoothly it almost seemed like a setup!

The Lower and Upper Elementary classrooms located on the newer side of the campus were much more spacious but I must say that I liked the warm and homey feel of the older rooms.  Once again, the kids were engaged in their work and it was almost as if a group of 10 adults were not even there hovering over their lessons.

After this, we made our way to the Community Room which is used for gatherings and PE on cold or very hot days.   The Art facility was located below the Community room.  Some Upper Elementary students were engaged in some very interesting art projects.  The art teacher then brought us into another classroom filled with a complex web of string depicting an historical timeline of world events.  All of this was created by the students and led by the teacher.  Apparently it was so popular and successful with the students that they turned the concept into an after school enrichment program.  My husband, who was on the tour with me, was so enamored by this creativity and unique learning process, he was giddy.

The tenure of teachers at MSD is outstanding; some have been at the school upwards of 13 years and several who’ve retired after 25 years of being with the school.  The campus average is about 9  years.  They believe wholeheartedly in promoting from within or “growing their own” and supporting each individual teacher through continuing education and flexibility.

Tara took us back to the library building and seated us in the language lab where she introduced us to a current MSD parent and opened the floor up to any additional questions we might have.  There were several questions about fundraising and work bond hours as well as how Montessori educated children transition into a more traditional school as they progress in age.

One thing we came to realize is that if you have no interest in participating in the well being of the school and volunteering your time, it’s probably not the place for you.  There are more than your average handful of community events, fundraisers, annual giving and volunteer opportunities that are presented at the beginning of the year. Families are expected to “work” (volunteer) for at least 25 hours in trade for work bond credit. This can be hard for families with dual working parents, so there is an option to pay off your work bond for a fee of $250 per year.   What’s positive about these efforts is that the school is financially healthy and it creates an incredible sense of community.  Parents have a lot of interaction with each other, as well as school administrators and staff, unlike some other private schools.  Personally, I think it’s nice to know the parents of the children with whom my children spend the majority of their day.

All in all, my impression is that this is an extraordinary school and one that I would feel confident in sending my children to for years to come.  You should not leave this school off your list  if you are considering private options.

We welcome your comments and impressions on your experience with the Montessori School of Denver.