Richmond Hill Montessori

At Richmond Hill Montessori we started with a deep understanding of Maria Montessori’s principles and evolved a philosophy of application that we and many of our parents believe produces superior results with their children.

The Montessori “prepared environment” has two critical components the physical facilities and the tone of the classroom.We believe that high standards in both components are essential to successful application of the Montessori method.

Therefore we maintain a serene and inviting building. It is open bright and airy not closed dark and dreary. It is kept clean at all times. Each classroom has a full complement of appropriate Montessori sensorial materials which are a critical element of Dr. Montessori’s approach. The playground areas are maintained in strict accordance with the latest safety regulations. As you consider a school for your child you should compare these features.

The second part of the prepared environment is the tone of the classroom. The ability of each child to learn at her own pace and to have a choice of activities in which to engage is very important. In order to accomplish this the teacher must maintain a fine balance between liberty and discipline in the classroom. At RHM you will find a calm purposeful atmosphere. At the same time students are given ample opportunity to explore individual expression and to expend excess energy.

In this way each student becomes a proactive learner a characteristic that will benefit him throughout his life.

Finally we believe that a strong involvement of the parents in the child’s education is crucial to her academic and social development. We believe strongly that both formal conferences and informal daily interaction between parents and teachers is vital to this involvement. We encourage the parents and the teachers to discuss any problems or successes the student has at school or at home. In this way we can work as a team to help the student achieve his potential.