phew.. school is set for Fall 2014

I went on a tour of the Traditions Montessori school yesterday.. and I must say, I've made up my mind, they are definitely attending.   I am so excited for the kids.  It is a small school.. about 15 minutes away.. a small house with 2 class rooms, a science building, and a portable building to be brought on site for the preschool.  The place is on 3 acres and under construction.  Kids will start in late August when the other schools go back in session.  Next year they may have a summer program (they don't this year due to the move to the new grounds).  I believe they said Zoe's class would have about 6-10 kids.. the school encompasses preschool to 6th grade; The Elementary program has 2 classrooms 1rst-3rd in one classroom, 4-6th in another.  Each "class" is a mixed grade class, taught Montessori style, so each kid moves at their own pace, passing off the jobs they have for the week. From the website: "Traditions Montessori offers a Montessori Elementary program for 6 to 12 year olds. The elementary classroom is taught by two certified Montessori Elementary teachers, and students are also taught Spanish. The core curriculum in the elementary program consists of Language, Mathematics, Science, Geography, and History.  Our Montessori classroom brings children of different age levels together, allowing them to progress at their own pace.  Our well-rounded curriculum includes art, French, Spanish, music, gardening, and physical education. "

   

Not having well defined "grade school classes" will help with Zoe's transition, we don't have to talk about her going into second grade again. Her learning will be at her pace, hopefully we won't have to deal with testing anxiety and pressure. They will get more outdoor time than what is found in the public schools. Each kid gets their own garden to attend, which is really cool in a place where the growing season is everything except Dec 12th-Feb 2nd.

Finn will have all day school which he is more than ready for.  He enjoyed playing with the math manipulatives when we got there.  

And I'll only have one drop off!

To me, the school is quite similar to Arbutus Grove (their preschool), with a more scholarly program, not to mention the addition of pets such as a snake, a chinchilla, fish, birds, perhaps a bunny and chickens later.

I

view it as my answer to all the TedTalk videos on how our schools are not working for our kids.

(and the price is the same price for both kids that I was paying for Finn's preschool/care last year).