Introduction

Welcome to Montessori on the Lake. Our school provides an education based on the philosophy of Maria Montessori for children from age 3 months through the eighth grade. Starting from our original school (Aliso Montessori) in 1985, we have grown to 25 classrooms at 3 locations. Although we are large for a Montessori school, our classrooms are structured much the same way as single room schools that employ the Montessori Method. Montessori on the Lake school includes an Infant Center, Toddler/Two’s, Children's House (Preschool), Kindergarten, Elementary, and Middle School programs.

History

Montessori on the Lake was founded in 1988 with 3 classrooms and an office, Lake 1 Building. In 1989 we opened our first kindergarten classroom. A year later, with 100 children on our waiting list, we leased another 6000 sq. ft. for 4 new classrooms in the Lake II Building and added a second playground area along the lakefront. In 1991 we added 5 classrooms (Elementary Building) to begin a full elementary program. In 1992, we added two more kindergarten groups and the Junior High classroom, and in 1993 we grew by 3 more elementary classrooms giving us a total of over 18,000 square feet for the school. Our final expansion was in 1997 when we opened the Infant Center and so occupied the entire lakefront of the Lake Forest Village shopping center.

We were initially drawn to this plaza by the view of the lake from the large, child-level picture windows and by the serenity of the outdoor areas. Most classrooms allow students to see the lake from their room, and everyone enjoys the natural light from the windows. The playground being adjacent to the shoreline allows students a view of the lake during playtime. The lake is home to many varieties of fish and waterfowl fly in from all over to entertain the children. In addition to the view, the plaza itself has a "small community" feel that offers both convenience and practicality for day - to - day operations. Our school is one of the only Montessori private schools in the area that accommodates upper elementary and middle school students.

Since 1988, our student body has grown to approx. 425 students. Including our two sister schools, AppleTree Montessori and Sunflower Montessori we accommodate over 575 students. In total, our administrative, teaching, and daycare staff includes 80 - 85 individuals dedicated to enriching the lives of our students.

Organization

Although our size is unusual for a Montessori school, our organization is structured to assure that the Montessori philosophy is reflected in each of our classrooms. In many ways we are organized as multiple Montessori schools operating under the same roof and with a common purpose.

Of the 85 staff members, 76 are teachers or assistant teachers, and 9 are administrators. Each Infant, Toddler, Children’s House and Kindergarten classroom is run by a credentialed Montessori teacher and a qualified assistant teacher(s), who are either a Montessori trainee, or a teacher's assistant with 12 E.C.E units or qualifications required by state licensing. Upper class lead teachers are all Montessori credentialed and college educated, our curriculum specialists have college degrees in their specialty areas (Physical Education, Spanish, Music, Theater, Arts, Computers). In total, we employ 30 Montessori trained teachers, between 5 -10 Montessori interns, 9 administrators/ directors, 6- 8 curriculum specialists, with the remainder consisting of assistant teachers and part time daycare teachers. The teachers hail from a wide variety of trainings including NCME, AMS, AMI, and several of the independent trainings.

To fill in for illness or other contingencies, the teaching staff includes 3 full-time classroom assistants designated as substitutes. These qualified full time subs allow the Montessori curriculum to continue in a teachers’ absence. The children are more comfortable with a familiar face when their teacher is absent. When not filling in, the on-staff subs give us the liberty to take turns going on observations of other programs, or lend a hand with a new student.

Two of our senior teachers act as curriculum directors. They monitor all of the teachers and provide training in Montessori techniques and methods. The five administrative directors are responsible for staffing, parent liaison, scheduling, and financial matters. The administrators handle all the functions that the school director would in a smaller school. Administrative meetings include all of the directors and the head of school to resolve major school issues and set school direction. The school’s owner hires senior staff and has final say on major issues. Our administrative structure allows quick response to teacher, student, and parent needs and allows for future growth of the school.

The Elementary Program also has a Parent/Teacher Organization (PTO), which was formed in 1992. Many of our parents donate time and services to the school through a volunteer reading/tutoring program, running the school library, an end-of-year picnic party for the students, and fundraising for both our school and outside in the community. By raising funds through the scholastic book fair, Square-One Art, and Babysitting Nights (Kids Night Out) we have sent our middle school class on international trips including London, Italy, Egypt, and New York. Our annual Jog-a-thon program, run with the help of the PTO, has raised over $12,000 to supply and maintain two underprivileged communities in Africa with deep-water wells, and to support an African orphanage.

The Future

We are unlikely to grow much more at this location, although demand for both preschool and upper school admittance remains high. We are at full enrollment and our playground areas are in constant use. In addition, our staff wishes to retain a small school feeling with personalized attention to parents and students needs.

Our staff believes much work needs to be done in the Montessori community to attain the goals envisioned by Maria Montessori. Her vision believed that World Peace begins with education and to reach that goal we must provide a respectful and nurturing environment for all children of the world to grow into effective and forward thinking citizens of the world. We take great pride in monitoring the progress of our students after they leave our school. We are glad to have been a part of their cosmic curriculum. Until the advent of Charter schools, the educational establishment was skeptical of the Montessori method of education. Despite this, Montessori is steadily gaining in popularity. The nation is experiencing a Montessori Renaissance, and with good reason. Montessori education works in practice because it is founded in sound educational philosophy.