Thank you for reading Mission Viejo Montessori’s Policies and Procedures handbook.
While every effort is made to keep this document up to date, the paper copy available at the school is the official version.
School Hours
Our school day is from 8:30 a.m. - 3:00 p.m. during which time Montessori Curriculum and other classroom activities are scheduled. It is during this time that new concepts are introduced and your child’s progress is recorded. We are open for childcare before school beginning at 7:00 a.m. and after school until 6:00 p.m., Toddlers to 5:00 p.m. During childcare hours we schedule additional developmental enrichment activities.
Mission Viejo Montessori offers a variety of schedules to meet the needs of our families.
We have several schedule options:
Additionally, we provide before school care from 7-8:30a.m., after school care from 3-6p.m., or both before and after school care.
General Administration
Once the child arrives at the school, parents are required to sign them in. The State of California requires you to walk your child into the school building and sign in and out daily. Signature sheets are located at the front desk. These signature sheets are for documentation purposes and should be signed with a full signature by adults only.
After sign-in, walk your child to the classroom or play area and directly to the teacher on duty. If classes have already started, please leave your child with a staff member in the front office who will be in charge of bringing him/her to his/her respective classroom.
At departure time, parents are required to sign out for their child before they can pick up their child in the classroom or at the playground or multi-purpose room (for the afternoon program). Please try not to pick up your child in the middle of class, but wait for the class to be over before entering the classroom. This will help us to have fewer disruptions of our classes. If you must pick up your child during class time, please ask at the front desk for assistance.
Mission Viejo Montessori School will release children only to those persons whom parents have authorized in writing. We will ask unfamiliar adults for photo identification before we will allow the child to leave the facility with them. Please be sure to list all authorized people on the Identification Emergency form. Please do not call the school to authorize pickup, as authorization must be in writing. In the case of a separation or divorce if one parent is restrained by the courts from picking up the child, we must have a copy of this order on file.
It is imperative that you notify the school if you will be unable to pick your child up at the regularly designated time. Early drop off or late pickup may be arranged with the Director for times of special circumstances.
Mission Viejo Montessori opens at 7:00 a.m. and closes at 6:00 p.m. (Toddlers: 5:00 p.m.). Any child dropped before opening time (or before their regularly scheduled drop-off time) will incur a $1.00 per child fee for each minute they are early. Any child left at school beyond closing time (or after their regularly scheduled pick-up time) will incur a $1.00 per child fee for each minute until the child is picked up.
Mission Viejo Montessori is an academic prep school for children 2 years through Elementary. We consider several factors when placing a child in our program. These include matching the child’s developmental readiness to the placement that is available. Children from 20 months to 3 years are placed in our toddler classrooms. Our pre-primary classrooms have children ages 3, 4, and 5 in a multi-age group. Our Kindergarten classroom typically groups children 4½-6, but this does sometimes change depending on our enrollment for the year. Our Lower Elementary classroom groups children age 6 to 9 and our Upper Elementary 9 to 12. Our Elementary students must meet state age requirements and demonstrate appropriate competencies.
Starting Out
Toddlers are just learning to separate from their parents and developing into autonomous, secure individuals. We ask you to help transition your toddler into the school program by visiting with your child prior to enrollment and by allowing ample time each morning for an unhurried arrival. For older children, separation from parents is much different. If parents linger, these children may get mixed messages. They may translate their parents’ hesitation to leave as fear. Therefore, we ask you to help your child by not staying in the classroom when your child begins school. Instead, we ask that you help transition your child into the school program by visiting the classroom prior to the first day so your child can meet the teacher and become acquainted. It has been our experience that once children begin school, brief drop-off times encourage a positive adjustment to school. Sending your child to class with a smile, a kiss, and encouragement to have fun reassures your child that you approve. Always remember to tell your child that you will return and always say goodbye before you leave.
Preschoolers need an extra set of clothing, including shoes, and toddlers need two sets. During the day, your child may become wet, sandy or splattered with paint. We help by using washable paint, however some colors are difficult to wash out. We don’t want your child to be afraid to participate because he or she might get dirty. Please label all items with your child’s full name and be sure they are appropriate to the season. When a bag of soiled clothing comes home, please replace it right away. We also suggest that you leave an extra coat or sweater at school throughout the year, as the weather can easily change from morning to afternoon without warning.
School Policies
Mission Viejo Montessori School takes and records attendance daily in all classrooms. If you are taking your child out of class for a medical or dental appointment, please notify the office and your child’s teacher. In the primary classroom, if an absence is unexcused, the teacher will establish close supervision of the child’s attendance practices. If unexcused absences continue, the school may have to ask the family to withdraw.
Beginning the school day on time allows your child to participate in valuable social interaction and learning experiences, which they would otherwise miss. This is especially important for Kindergarteners and Elementary students, as chronic tardiness can affect your child’grades. It also helps in the child’s full participation and enjoyment of school. Circle time, when teachers introduce new classroom activities to the group, begins at 8:30 a.m.. We ask that students arrive by 8:25 a.m. so they can easily join the group activities. If you arrive late and the program is already in session, please say goodbye quietly before your child enters the classroom so the class is undisturbed. Your child can then join the group without any disruption or embarrassment. When you must arrive late, please notify the office so we will know whether to count your child for the day’s activities.
In the event your child will be absent due to illness or vacation we ask that you notify the school as soon as possible. When you call to report your child absent, we will ask you whether your child is ill. If your child has an illness of a highly contagious nature, such as Strep throat or chickenpox, we will notify the teacher and parents of other students. Children must stay out of school until symptom free for 24 hours for the following list of illnesses/symptoms:
We have taken into consideration the fact that children occasionally miss some school days. We considered this absentee rate before setting tuition rates. Thus, we do not pro-rate for absences.
Please prearrange extended absences from school for reasons such as family business or travel with the Director. Tuition installments must be paid in advance to hold the child’s place in a class.
The State of California requires that children be in good health to attend school. There will be an informal health check of each child as they arrive at school. If a child becomes ill during the day, a parent must take him or her home within an hour of being called. Children’s behavior can suggest illnesses when combined with fever, diarrhea, several loose bowel movements, unusual mucus discharge, deep coughing, or other symptoms. Children must remain home for 24 hours after a normal temperature has returned before returning to school.
The school is required to have at least two (2) emergency contacts listed besides the parents or guardians. In case of a medical emergency, the school staff will be in charge until the parent arrives. Parents are responsible for all costs. We take children out of class immediately upon determination of illness. The teacher brings the child to the front office and endorses him/her to the staff in charge until the parent arrives to pick-up his/her child.
California law requires Mission Viejo Montessori School maintain up-to-date medical records including immunizations on all of the attending students. The immunization records maintained at school should be updated annually. For a list of required immunizations by age, please ask at the front desk. A child whose family chooses not to immunize due to religious faith must sign the waiver on the state immunization form.
School staff is prohibited from administering medicine, prescription or over the counter, without a doctor’s prescription. If your child must take a medicine while attending school, you must fill out and sign a permission slip. There is a space in your child’s Health History form to list allergies and chronic illnesses. Please fill this out carefully.
A letter from the child’s health practitioner must accompany medication for chronic illness or allergies. The letter must state the symptoms that would require the medication to be given, the exact dosage amount, times to be given and the number of days to be given. This letter and a signed Parent’s Medical Release form must be on file for your child. Mission Viejo Montessori School reserves the right to refuse to administer any medication we believe we are unqualified, inadequately staffed, or untrained to administer.
Naptime is a routine made easier for children when they follow a regular schedule. As children mature they begin to give up their nap. Thus, some students do not nap but do continue to have a short rest time before engaging in interesting activities. These children should bring a small beach towel in a labeled pillowcase to rest on. The school provides cots for the parent’s convenience, but require parents to bring a blanket and crib-sized sheet or small sleeping bag (stored in a labeled pillow case) for the child to nap with. These are then sent home every Friday to be washed. At least 2 teachers with 24 children put them to sleep, and we follow a teacher-child ratio of one teacher supervising 24 napping children if all children are napping. The classroom is converted into a nap room for the classes that do nap (Toddlers and Preschool).
Children will have many opportunities to participate in sharing. Mondays are sharing days and children may bring an item to share that represents a recent special event or something from their cultural background.
The School is enriched with many activities and carefully selected Montessori Educational Materials, which fill your child’s day. Please leave personal toys and playthings at home. Precious items, such as jewelry or hand quilted baby blankets should also remain at home. The school is not responsible for items that may get lost or broken. Toys of aggressive nature are discouraged.
We help your child celebrate his or her birthday with their classmates at school. Our special celebration shows how our natural world extends a loving welcome to each child born on earth. We invite you to send pictures of the birthday child at each year of life. We use this pictorial time line to help understand the meaning of birthdays. You may send a special treat for the class if you wish. Please no balloons, party favors, or entertainment. We ask parents who wish to send invitations for home parties to use the sign-in sheets in the front lobby. This spares the feeling of children they do not invite.
Many children and teachers enjoy contributing a book to Mission Viejo Montessori School Library in honor of their birthday. A nameplate is placed inside the book with your child’s name. The purchase of a library book is a special gift and a legacy for many future students.
Please label everything that comes to school with your child’s full name. Items forgotten by the children are kept in a lost and found bin for one month. Articles left for more than one month will be donated to charity.
Discipline in the Montessori classroom is established for the child by giving them an environment that encourages them to move freely about and choose activity. We teach children to respect each other and their environment in an atmosphere of joy and caring. Courtesy and grace are modeled for the child by the staff.
Misbehavior is redirected into positive action and children are encouraged to express themselves verbally. Occasionally, a child may need time to collect his or her thoughts and feeling. When this happens, the teacher may invite the child to choose between participating in an activity and taking “time outâ€? with an open invitation to return when the child feels ready to join in with the others. When circumstances involve recurring behavior difficulties, we may ask that you work with the school toward redirecting your child’s misbehavior. Physical punishment is never used.
As children grow and develop, they sometimes go through difficult stages. One example is toddlers’ biting. This behavior is part of natural development and may be unrealized, often accidental, or sometimes provoked. The staff readily handles harmful behavior by preventing the situation or by redirecting the child into positive activity. On occasion, a child may have extreme difficulty and may repeat the behavior in spite of being redirected. If the child repeats a harmful behavior three times during the day, that child will be sent home for 24 hours to protect other children in the group. Continued aggression may result in a request that the parents withdraw from the program.
Mission Viejo Montessori School will report all accidents occurring on the school grounds to the parent. All staff members are trained in first aid and will administer first aid as deemed appropriate. If your child has had a serious accident away from school, such as a hit on the head, bruises, cuts, sprains, or broken bones, you must report it to a staff member when your child arrives at school. Law mandates that Mission Viejo Montessori School report any signs of child abuse to the authorities.
Mission Viejo Montessori School follows the major holidays observed by both the Capistrano Unified and Saddleback Unified school districts. These holidays include but are not limited to the following:
In addition to the standard holidays, Mission Viejo Montessori School also is closed for Teacher Inservice Days and the Annual Montessori Conference.
Please see the Current Calendar for this year’s holidays.
Mission Viejo Montessori School holds fire drills and earthquake drills regularly. We also stock the school with emergency supplies, which we rotate and check frequently. We will supervise children at the school until parents arrive or for a maximum of 72 hours following a major earthquake or disaster. After this time, we will take the children to the nearest central disaster site. The nearest public school is traditionally chosen as a disaster site. The closest public school for us is Montevideo Elementary School. It is located at 24071 Carrillo Dr. in Mission Viejo. This is where additional assistance and counseling will be available. We request that parents leave an out-of-state contact person on the designated place on the ID emergency form. We also suggest that an envelope containing a letter to your child and a family picture is kept on file in case of a disaster.
Communications
Mission Viejo Montessori School issues monthly newsletters. This important resource has valuable reminders, announcements, and information on special events. Please read it and mark your personal calendars with the dates you need to remember. There is also a parent bulletin board visible in the main entrance for notices of timely interest.
You may write messages for teachers and staff members on notes and leave them in the teacher’s mailboxes in office. Teachers are often unable to take phone calls because it interferes with their classroom duties. We gladly take telephone messages and leave them in the teacher’s mailbox, or convey important information to them as soon as possible. You can also get in touch with your child’s teacher or the office via email. Staff and teachers may be emailed via our online contact form. We will get back to you in a timely manner.
Montessori classroom activities are process oriented, not product oriented. Your child is learning by “doing” throughout the day; however, there may not always be a piece of paper at the end of the task. Each child has a personal folder in the classroom. These folders should be used to collect periodic artwork, special projects and papers created during the week. Please take this work home weekly. Notices, calendars, and newsletters from the teacher will be placed in the child’s information pocket, which is also located in the classroom. Please check this each day for important information. Our elementary students keep much of their work in cumulative folders inside the classroom.
Please check with your child’s teacher for individual class schedules and routines. Since our school day extends from 8:30 am - 3:00 pm (a half hour longer than traditional school), this allows children to finish the majority of their work under the supervision of their teacher. Daily homework is a smaller part of our program than traditional school, although pleasure reading and research for projects is always encouraged.
Children who are new to the program will receive a preliminary classroom survey, which denotes the child’s demonstrated interests and skills and is not a graded evaluation of ability. At the preschool level, students records in the classroom consist of skill related checklists of initial presentation, degree of practice, and mastery along with observations and anecdotal records. Elementary student records are more specific as to tracking work. We issue progress reports at parent conference time. These occur twice a year, once in the fall and once in the spring. Primary grades will receive a more traditional report card type evaluation. You are encouraged to request meetings whenever you want one. Our teachers may request additional conferences whenever they believe it to be appropriate for the child’s needs.
Mission Viejo Montessori School asks that parents fill out a school evaluation form annually. This helps us make sure we are providing the services and maintaining the quality you expect. The information is kept on file for our school accreditation procedures and is available for your review.
All information in your child’s file is confidential and available to staff for school purposes only. State licensing agents have the authority to inspect and audit child or facility records and to interview children or staff without prior consent. You are responsible for informing the school in writing of persons whom you authorize to review your child’s file, to take your child from school, and of any changes in your address or telephone number. Children’s files are available to parents or guardians at any time.
Additionally, if we receive a written request, authorized by the parent or guardian, from another school, we will send a copy of the child’s report card, immunization record and cumulative review for the new school's records and files.
Additional Programs And Policies
Occasional field trips and trips to the park will be arranged. We will give you advance notice for all field trips. You must sign a permission slip and medical release form before we will allow your child to go on the field trip. You will be asked to sign a blanket permission slip (kept on file) for walks to the park. Teachers and staff will supervise all field trips with help from parent volunteers, but please, no siblings.
Our school is built on successful staff development using Montessori and NAEYC enrichment sources. Our staff is encouraged to attend Montessori and NAEYC conferences, which feature workshops designed to fill the needs of teachers, administrators and staff. These conferences provide a great stimulus and opportunity for sharing. Teachers are also encouraged to participate in continuing education courses including Early Childhood Education, sign language workshops, and many other professional growth workshops and classes. A well-prepared, highly qualified teaching staff requires continuing development of professional skills. Mission Viejo Montessori School provides Teacher-in-Services to ensure a teaching staff of the highest caliber. In-Service activities include the introduction of new techniques, the refreshing of seasoned skills, and a time for planning and organizing.
We schedule two open houses during the school year. We also have book fairs, back-to-school night, dance recitals, and other exciting events throughout the year. Please check the calendar for schedule dates.
We offer a breakfast time during the morning childcare hours before the school day begins. If your child is scheduled to arrive before 7:30 a.m., they will be provided time to eat breakfast. We will provide milk and juice and ask that you bring your child’s main course (Such as cereal, pancakes, fruit or other breakfast foods). We are not able to provide this service for those arriving later as it begins to interfere with the school day. Thank you for your courtesy.
Hot lunches are offered at Mission Viejo Montessori for our children. You may either order a hot lunch or bring a cold lunch for your child. If you choose to bring a lunch, please make sure it is a nutritious lunch and that a beverage is included. No candy or sweets please. Also, be aware of the quantities that are appropriate for your child. We will try to send home uneaten portions so you will know what your child is eating in school.
We occasionally offer pizza day on Fridays for the whole school during the summer months. Details for signup are available if you wish to have your child eat the pizza at lunchtime. Please let the front office know on or by Thursday if you would like your child to have pizza.
We usually eat our lunches at the school playground. Child size tables and benches are provided in a shaded area. Water is available, especially when the weather is hot.
Lunch schedules are arranged so that only one or two classes at a time eat lunch on the playground.
We serve a nutritious mid-morning and afternoon snack which may consist of juice, lemonade or milk, crackers, apple or orange wedges, raisins, celery or carrot sticks, peanut butter, cheese, etc. Various food preparation experiences such as orange juicing, carrot or egg peeling and banana slicing are activities which children during class time and share during snack time. Your child’s teacher may ask for help in providing these special treats from time to time.
Supervision Policies
Each of our classrooms for the Primary and Elementary levels are staffed with two qualified teachers with a 1:12 ratio. No teacher is in charge of a group of more than twelve children. For our Toddler program, we maintain a ratio of six children to each teacher.
We still follow a 1:12 ratio when we bring our children to the playground in the morning and in the afternoon. Every class follows our playground rules so as to avoid any untoward incidents outside the classroom. Also, our front gate is closely supervised. The teachers supervising the playground are stationed on every corner or play area (e.g. sand box) and keep an eye on every child.
The school is required to have at least two (2) emergency contacts listed besides the parents or guardians. In case of a medical emergency, the school staff will be in charge. Depending on how severe the situation is, we either administer first aid or call 911 and accompany the child to the hospital until the parent/guardian arrives. Parents are responsible for all costs.
Whenever we go out on a field trip, we adjust our adult-child ratio from 1:12 to 1:4. This is done by asking some parent volunteers to accompany the class and escort their children on the said field trip. We make sure that each parent or adult have with them a copy of the emergency contact numbers of the children that are with them, in case any untoward incident happens. Teachers also carry with them the classroom’s emergency backpack and a master list of all the children joining the field trip.
On occasion, we also go to the park across from the school to have a nature walk or just simply have a different venue to learn and experience new things. The teacher leaves the class sign in and out books at the front desk with a note as to where they have gone. The note informs the front office and parents of the time they will be back. The teachers also carry with them the emergency backpack, and a list of all the children that are going to the park.
Programs And Schedules
Mission Viejo Montessori School is a year-round school. The academic school year is from September through June. The summer program is in July and August. The school will be closed certain holidays and during short recess periods in winter, and spring (see school calendar). Our staff traditionally takes their vacation benefits during these recess periods thereby maintaining a cost-effective tuition rate for your family. This benefit helps us attract and keep the best available teachers while encouraging the continuity of teaching staff when your child is at school. Mission Viejo Montessori School is pleased to offer a summer program in July and August. During this time we have a “theme curriculum†featuring special trips, visitors, and activities that enhance the fun.
Our class plan stresses the Montessori Method of Education, high academic standards, development of artistic and creative talents, and the individual education program approach used by local GATE classrooms. The program encourages the development of concentration, self-esteem, cooperation and teamwork. We also incorporate computer, French, Spanish, music, dance, drama, art and physical education classes into our Montessori curriculum.
Our school day includes core subjects, Montessori manipulatives, reading, writing, language arts, math and critical thinking skills. We also explore integrated studies such as geography, history, science, ecology, computers, music, drama, art, dance, foreign languages, physical education, gardening, and cooking. Here is an example of our typical daily schedule:
| Time | Activity |
|---|---|
| 7:00-8:30 | Extended childcare |
| 8:30 | Line up |
| 8:40 | Circle time |
| 9:00 | Montessori work time |
Music, dance, drama, art, French, Spanish and computers are at different times for each class.
| Time | Activity |
|---|---|
| 10:30 | Recess |
| 11:30 | Lunch |
| 11:30 | End of ½ Day |
| 12:00 | Naptime |
| 2:00 | Snack |
| 5:00 | End of Toddler Full Day |
| Time | Activity |
|---|---|
| 11:30 | Lunch / Recess |
| 12:00 | End of ½ Day |
| 12:30 | Rest/Nap Time |
| 1:00 | Integrated Studies / Montessori Curriculum |
| 3:00 | Recess / End of School Day |
| Time | Activity |
|---|---|
| 12:00 | Lunch |
| 12:30 | Recess |
| 1:00 | DEAR Time (Reading) |
| 1:30 | Integrated Studies / Montessori Curriculum |
| 3:00 | Recess / End of School Day |
| Time | Activity |
|---|---|
| 3:00 | After school program. Extracurricular and enrichment activities are available through our after school program. Various arts, crafts, gardening, sports, and games are available. Indoor and outdoor playtime is also available. |
| 6:00 | Closing |
Enrichment activities such as dance, art, computer instruction, foreign language, music and drama are all included in our program. Occasionally, programs such as piano, gold, ceramics, special field trips, and other activities may be offered. There may be some limitations for participation in special projects. Parents may be asked to pay additional fees to cover the cost of special field trips or special projects.
Enrollment, Tuition, Payment and Fees
Mission Viejo Montessori requires the following items to complete enrollment and secure your child’s reservation within a given program:
Upon enrollment, the registration fee, payment of the LMTD and all necessary paperwork is needed to ensure your children’s placement. Failure to satisfy all of the above items may result in the loss of your child’s reservation in his or her program.
When first enrolling at Mission Viejo Montessori, your LMTD will be held as a Placement Reservation Deposit (PRD), which is fully earned by Mission Viejo Montessori and non-refundable at time of payment and guarantees your student a place within the program selected until such time as your student begins school with us. After starting school with us, the PRD will automatically convert to a Last Month’s Tuition Deposit. At such time as we receive a written 30-day notice of withdrawal for your student, your LMTD will be applied to your account at the end of the month and any monies due back to you will be refunded.
If Parent pre-enrolls a current student with us for the next school year, the LMTD on account with Mission Viejo Montessori will convert to a PRD, which is fully earned by Mission Viejo Montessori and non-refundable at the time of the pre-enrollment election and guarantees your child a place within the program selected until such time as the new semester is complete. Once the first semester of the school year is complete, your PRD will revert to a normal LMTD.
It is agreed, understood and acknowledged that space is limited within the various programs offered at Mission Viejo Montessori and a student who either fails to begin the school year, or complete the first semester of the school year after pre-enrolling will result in losses, costs and expenses to Mission Viejo Montessori that would be difficult if not impossible to ascertain. Therefore the parties agree that in the event either a Parent enrolls a student and the student fails to start school, or a Parent pre-enrolls a student and the student fails to complete the first semester of the new school year, Mission Viejo Montessori shall retain the PRD as liquidated damages for student’s failure to start school or complete the first semester of the new school year. Nothing contained herein shall be construed to limit the right of Mission Viejo Montessori to bill and collect from Parent any other outstanding charges owed Mission Viejo Montessori pursuant to the Tuition Agreement or any other provision of this Policies and Procedures Handbook.
Tuition is based on an annual fee which reserves your child’s place in a class during regular school hours on an ongoing, year round basis. Tuition may be paid annually in September or in monthly installments. Monthly installments are due on or before the first of the month for the coming month. Please note that some months such as December are shorter due to holidays or vacations, however, monthly tuition installments remain the same. We have already factored these holidays and vacations into the annual tuition. When leaving the program due to an extended vacation, full tuition must be paid for the coming month before leaving to reserve the child’s place in their classroom. Otherwise, they may be withdrawn from the program and their place given to a child from the waiting list.
We prorate the tuition of children entering the program after the beginning of the school term once only according to their start date thus placing them on the regular payments schedule. Mission Viejo Montessori School is open 7:00 am until 6:00 pm Monday through Friday. The Montessori Curriculum and other classroom activities are scheduled from 8:30 am - 3:30 pm with childcare available for extended hours. This gives you maximum scheduling flexibility.
Monthly tuition payments are due by first day of each month. If payment is not received by 9:00 AM on the 5th of every month, (unless the 5th falls on a weekend, then tuition is due the Friday before), there will be a $25.00 charge every 4 days until payment is received. Non-payment of tuition by the 5th may result in the withdrawal of your child from our program. Children cannot remain in the program if the previous month’s tuition is uncollected.
We offer a 10% discount for siblings. A $25.00 service fee will be charged for all returned checks.
Parents who wish to change their child’s schedule may do so only if an opening for that program is available. Please complete the Student Change Request Form found in the front foyer and return the completed form to the front desk.
A 30-day notice is needed to request a program change.
Tuition credits are not given for individual days your child is absent for vacations, holidays, school breaks, teacher in-services, or withdrawals from the program for the months of June, August and December.
Children may be withdrawn from the program with 30 days written notice prior to the withdrawal date of the child. You are responsible for charges up to one month of tuition following the withdrawal date if we are not given a written notice.
We work in partnership with you to provide the best environment for your child, however, should the school staff determine that extenuating circumstances prevent the school from meeting a child’s needs, the school has the option of requesting the withdrawal of the child and waiving the 30-day notice.
Mission Viejo Montessori is a year round school. During the months of July and August we will only offer the summer off to those students who are on a 10-month payment schedule. Once you have enrolled in the summer program, tuition credits and/or tuition pro-rations will not be given for any reason for any program withdrawal.
Charitable contributions by parents, grandparents, alumni, faculty, staff, and friends play an essential role in the daily operation of our school. Independent schools are distinct from other schools in that they are supported by tuition, charitable contributions, and endowment income, rather than by taxpayer funds.
We encourage you to participate in your child’s school experience. Parent involvement can be at any level that is comfortable to you. You may wish to come and read a story now and then, cut out things at home, participate in career day, assist on field trips or many other helpful tasks that parents can assist us in. We often need extra help in putting on special events. Class parties are special activities planned throughout the year. Your child’s teacher is happy for your help and participation, and your child loves you being there, but please leave younger siblings at home. It detracts from the special time spent with your preschool child and presents potential safety hazards.
We invite you to attend parent / teacher meetings, various social gatherings, parent education classes, or to volunteer in the classroom. We will schedule parent education meetings and community forums throughout the year. Topics may include parenting issues, brain development research, health and safety, curriculum, literature, and Montessori in the home. Community forums often include outside guest speakers. Meeting information will be posted on the parent information board and in monthly newsletters. Please let us know what you would like to see offered.
As a courtesy, we invite you to post a business card on the parent information board. This helps our parents network and meet one another. Research has shown that the children who benefit most from their school experiences are those who have involved parents.
General Information
Mission Viejo Montessori welcomes all children without regard to race, religion, color or creed. Likewise, Mission Viejo Montessori does not discriminate against any applicant for employment on the basis of sex, handicap, race, color and national and/or ethnic origin.
Mission Viejo Montessori School is committed to providing an educational environment free of unlawful harassment and discrimination. Mission Viejo Montessori School will not tolerate actions, comments, words or jokes based on an individual’s sex, race ethnicity, age, religion, or any other legally protected characteristic. Any person who becomes aware of possible unlawful harassment should promptly advise the Executive Director who will handle the matter quickly and confidentially.