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   Alexandria Montessori, a nondenominational school, serves children ages 6 through 14. Established in 1981, the school has a long standing and strong reputation of providing a high quality, individualized education that guides the child towards reaching their full potential --  academically, socially, physically, and emotionally. Our fundamental belief about children is that each is unique with a natural curiosity and love for knowledge.  Our program is built around this core belief and guides us in every aspect of working with children and setting our curriculum.


Website last updated February 7, 2010

About Us

     Alexandria is comprised of three classroom environments, lower elementary for 6-9 year olds, upper elementary for 9-12 year olds, and the middle school for 12-14 year olds.  Students remain in each environment for up to three years depending on their age and skill level at entry. Three-year age spans in a classroom is typical of Montessori schools and offers many advantages. Multi-age groupings allow the younger child to benefit from the knowledge and behavior of the older child.  Older students benefit as well by developing leadership skills and serving as academic mentors. The older student reinforces their knowledge by assisting the younger student when needed.

    Our curriculum reflects that of a traditional Montessori school. Lead teachers are trained in the Montessori method of education through an accredited American Montessori Society (AMS) or Association Montessori International (AMI) training program. The Montessori method of education emphasizes learning through all five senses, not just through listening, watching, or reading. Specially designed learning materials introduce children to basic academic concepts in a sensorial way.  It is these materials that give the child a deep understanding of what is being learned. Children in Montessori classes learn at their own individual pace. Learning is an exciting process of discovery leading to concentration, motivation, self-discipline, and a love of life-long learning. Montessori represents an entirely different approach to education.

     Our Montessori community is founded out of our respect for children and a devotion to educating children for a peaceful world. Our school is committed to Montessori's approach to education and operates on the principles of freedom within limits, respect for oneself, others, and for the environment.  We welcome students from all ethnic, religious, cultural, and racial backgrounds.  Maria Montessori believed it is through our knowledge, understanding, and acceptance of all people that we will achieve a peaceful world.  Students of Alexandria also learn to be stewards of our environment.

     The physical education program at Alexandria centers on our belief in lifelong learning. Students learn to ice skate, roller skate, play tennis and/or swim during the school year. These activities help to ensure that the students will enjoy an active lifestyle.  Daily physical activity is also a big part of keeping our students healthy and fit. Students spend time each day outside playing team oriented games such as kickball and soccer or non-competitive active games.

     The arts play a strong role in our school community.  Students are involved in art and music classes on a weekly basis. Drama is an integral part of every students education whether related to a topic being studied in the classroom or as an art form in and of itself. Students attend Dayton Philharmonic concerts, Victoria Theatre presentations, The Dayton Art Institute exhibits and other area art s venues throughout the school year. Students at Alexandria are involved in the Dayton area M.U.S.E Machine program each year.

 


Philosophy and Purpose

The Montessori philosophy was developed by Dr. Montessori in response to her observation of children, the research of psychologists, doctors, her own experience, and her beliefs about the potential of the human race. Three dominate aspects prevail in the philosophy:

  • Montessori believed that children have a natural inclination to grow and develop, and that they mainly need the opportunity, expectation, and permission to let these natural inclinations develop.
  • Montessori believed that all information should be presented so that children might discover the interrelationship of concepts. Every Montessori director/directress emphasizes this interrelatedness so that children will not experience their education as covering a series of unrelated subjects but as a continual unfolding of how their world works and makes sense.
  • Montessori believed that just as all information is interrelated, so also are members of the human race. She believed that all people and countries should realize their financial and political interdependence. This realization will be the key to world peace. Montessori believed that educators have a responsibility to foster this realization in those who offer the only real hope for the future of civilization — the children.

The purpose of Alexandria Montessori School is to involve children in a unique educational program based upon the research and philosophy of Dr. Maria Montessori. This program has been built on systematic observations of the learning behavior of children, including their interests, styles and ability to retain information. Resulting from this observation, the Montessori method has as its goal to create a special physical and psychological environment in which the student is expected to develop both intellectually and socially. Our goals are to have students not only learn basic skills and information but also develop the ability and motivation to work independently and cooperatively.

2009-2010 Calendar

2009-2010 Calendar

FIRST SEMESTER

Aug. 24 (Mon)                   First Day for Teachers

Aug. 25 (Tues)                   School Begins – Full Day of Instruction

Sept. 7 (Mon)                     No School – Labor Day

Sept. 18 (Fri)                       Early Dismissal 12:15 – Staff Meeting

Oct. 15 (Thurs)                   Early Dismissal 12:15 – Parent/Teacher Conferences

Oct. 16 (Fri)                        No School – Parent Teacher Conferences

Oct. 23 (Fri)                        End of First Quarter (42 days)

Nov. 2 (Mon)                     No School – Teacher In-service Day

Nov. 13 (Fri)                      Early Dismissal 12:15 – Staff Meeting

Nov. 25, 26 27                    No School – Thanksgiving Vacation (3 days)

Dec. 21 – Jan. 1                   No School – Winter Break (10 days)

Jan. 4 (Mon)                       First Day of School Following Winter Break

Jan. 15 (Fri)                         End of Second Quarter (46 days)

End of First Semester (88 days)

SECOND SEMESTER

Jan. 18 (Mon)                     No School – Martin Luther King, Jr. Day

Feb. 5 (Fri)                          Early Dismissal 12:15 – Staff Meeting

Feb. 15 (Mon)                    No School – President’s Day

Mar. 11 (Thurs)                  Early Dismissal 12:15 – Parent/Teacher Conferences

Mar. 12 (Fri)                       No School – Parent/Teacher Conferences

Mar. 26 (Fri)                       End of Third Quarter (47 days)

Mar 29 – Apr. 2                  Spring Break (5 days)

Apr. 5 (Mon)                      First Day of School Following Spring Break

April 30 (Fri)                      Early dismissal 12:15 – Staff Meeting

May 31 (Mon)                    No School – Memorial Day

June 3 (Thurs)                    Last Day of School

End of Quarter (43 days)

June 5 (Fri)                         Last Day for Staff

End of Semester (90 days)

Scheduled Days of Instruction      178

Parent/Teacher Conferences             2

Other Staff Contract Days                   3

 

Admission

Alexandria Montessori provides an educational program for students ages six to fourteen. The governing board has adopted the following racial nondiscrimination policies:

1. The school recruits and admits students of any race, color or ethnic origin into all the rights, privileges, programs and activities. The school will not discriminate on the basis of race, color, or ethnic origin in administration or its educational policies, scholarships, loans fee waivers, educational programs and athletics/extracurricular activities.

2. The Alexandria Montessori School will not discriminate on the basis of race, color, or ethnic origin in the hiring of its certified or non-certified personnel.

3. Students must be at least six years of age by September 30 of the school year to be eligible for admittance. The only exception to this would be students who are eligible for an early admission appraisal or a special needs student.

4. Placement of students in the multi-age-level program is determined according to the following criteria: observation by parent or guardian, a half day visit including an interview with a teacher by the prospective student, the student’s previous academic experience especially that in Montessori, and performance as recorded on available cumulative records. The child’s social maturity is also taken into account when a placement is made.

 


 

Testimonials

… I am so grateful for the level of excellence in teaching, curriculum and faculty/staff.  Alexandria has been a real bright spot in Meredith and Daniel’s lives.  They always loved school.  They learned so much about geography, other cultures, cooperative learning and independence… 

Dr. Anne Proulx, parent of two Alexandria Montessori graduates, 2006 and 2009.


     We feel so fortunate to have been a part of such a wonderful school.  Both Matt and Leah have such confidence in themselves and a compassion for others.  We’re certain Alexandria Montessori School had much to do with giving them that confidence and compassion. The Montessori approach has fostered an internal pride and a desire to strive for high goals in both our children.  This has served them well through high school and college and now beyond. 

Kit and George Wymer, parents of two Alexandria Montessori graduates, 2001 and 1998.


     It started with a little 6-year old boy squeezing my hand as we entered the 6-9 classroom, and it ended with a 14- year old, confident and comfortable, telling an audience of people at graduation that “Alexandria Montessori School is the finest school you will ever lay eyes on.”  In between, Evan learned and grew … and formed a character and a spirit that makes us very proud and happy.  He is a unique child, as all children are, and you helped him develop his character and personality along with teaching the world to him … We are your biggest fans, and we thank you from the bottom of our hearts.

Jane Jones, parent of Alexandria Montessori graduate, 1999.


     We sincerely appreciate your efforts to make of Alexandria not only a place where students obtain information but, more important, a second home where they receive the highly prized and almost extinct FORMATION.  Thank you so much for your impeccable job…

Drs. Norma and Peter Lauf, parents of Alexandria Montessori graduate, 1996.

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