Welcome to Childtowne Montessori School : Programs

Welcome to Childtowne Montessori
School

Programs
Founded 1969

Program Hours
Toddler/Transitional
Preschool
Kindergarten
Extended Hours

Program Hours

Childtowne's hours are Monday through Friday, 7:30 to 5:30.

NOTE: When school opens, the starting dates for students are staggered. See the Policy page for more information.

Morning Program: 9:00 to 11:45.
Afternoon Program: 12:45 to 3:15.
Afternoon Program with Lunch: 12:00 to 3:15.
Morning Program With Lunch: 9:00 to 12:45.
Kindergarten Program: 9:00 to 2:30
Extended Hours available from: 7:30 to 9:00, and 11:45-5:30.

Toddler/Transitional

Childtowne's toddler teachers have created a warm and nurturing environment for this community. Children range in age from 18 months through 3 years of age. Utilizing the Montessori philosophy, the classroom teacher assists the young child in developing intellectually, emotionally, socially and physically. Children learn through their own initiative and interest as well as at their own pace. Emphasis is placed on routine in order to foster the toddler’s need for security and independence.

The Montessori environment is prepared for the young child; organized from simple to complex, moving from left to right on the shelves.

The toddler is on his “road to independence,” hence these freedoms found in the Montessori classroom facilitate the process.

Freedom to explore.... Freedom of choice.... Freedom to speak....
Freedom to develop respect for each other and the Montessori work....
Freedom for repetition.... Freedom of movement.... Freedom to experience order

At this early age, we see the child developing his power of concentration. This accomplishment will last him a lifetime. Our Montessori Program is designed to meet the needs of every child. We attempt to satisfy the scheduling requirements of each family. A supplemental music and movement program is also offered to those enrolled.

“Growth comes from activity, not from intellectual understanding.”
- Maria Montessori

Preschool

Childtowne conducts three morning preschool classes from 9:00 to 11:45. The Montessori classroom is a miniature society in which the children live and work cooperatively. Each mixed age class spans the years of 3 through 6. Each child proceeds at his own pace and is able to enjoy his own accomplishments rather than compare himself with others in the class. In this way a positive self-image develops. As older children help younger, they reinforce their own learning. The adult in the classroom is primarily a facilitator and guide. She is also the connecting link between the children and the materials, giving large group, small group and individual lessons.

There are four primary areas of a Montessori classroom. The area that contains Practical Life exercises lays the foundation for all the other materials in the classroom. The purposes of these daily living tasks are to develop the senses of order, concentration, coordination and independence.

The Sensorial area in the classroom allows children to explore, develop and refine the five senses. The materials provide a guide to observation and classify the impressions that each sense can receive.

Language is an important component of the entire curriculum. The environment includes provisions for developing basic reading skills, introducing reading as a tool, fostering reading interest in appropriate literature and encouraging life-long reading habits.

The Mathematics area of the classroom involves concrete manipulative materials and symbolic representations for developing skills and internalizing concepts. All materials have a built-in control of error, which enables the child to see mistakes for himself rather than be corrected by a teacher.

In addition to these four major areas, the Montessori classroom also includes cultural areas that allow for exploration into science, geography and history.

The special subjects available for the preschool program are Art, Music, Spanish and/or Movement, each conducted by a teacher who specializes in that area.

“To the young child, learning is a natural function of childhood - effortless, challenging, and meaningful.”
- Maria Montessori

Kindergarten

Childtowne offers a Kindergarten program for those children who are eligible. Eligibility requires meeting the age criteria for the child’s school district, in addition to teacher’s recommendation that the child is developmentally, socially, emotionally and academically ready for Kindergarten.

The Kindergarten hours are 9:00 a.m. to 2:45 p.m. Following their mixed-age morning program, the Kindergarten group has lunch together and completes the day in a kindergarten-only classroom.

The third year of the Montessori 3-6 year old program is the time when many of the earlier lessons come together and become a permanent part of the young child’s understanding. The Kindergartners begin to work with more of the advanced Montessori materials based on the foundation established in previous years. Skills previously learned are reinforced as the student has many opportunities in the morning to teach the younger children lessons that they learned when they were that age.

Some of the additional skills improved upon, and/or developed, are: following verbal directions given in a group situation, completing assignments on time, developing work habits and social skills. This is done through group activities and play. Kindergartners are also given more traditional type work to ease the transition they will be required to make in their new school the following year.

Extended Hours

Childtowne offers extended hours for those families that require them, and indicate this need on their registration form. Extended Hours are available either 3 or 5 days per week. These hours are:

7:30 a.m. – 9:00 a.m.
12:00 p.m. – 12:45 p.m.
3:15 p.m. – 5:30 p.m.
11:45 a.m.– 5:30 p.m.

Children participate in individually directed play activities (i.e.: blocks and puzzles) as well as crafts, music and creative dramatics. You may enroll for 3 or 5 days per week.

Children are given increased responsibility for taking care of themselves and their environment. In addition, there is frequent opportunity for socialization.

While the curriculum differs from that of our morning program, every effort is made to incorporate Montessori principles into this program.

Four year old children who attend 5 days participate in the "Virtues Class" as part of the extended hours program. Topics covered include friendship, empathy, cooperation, sharing, diversity and others.

Montessori recommends, “Observe, and take your lead from the child.”

Childtowne Montessori School
1380 BRISTOL ROAD
CHURCHVILLE/SOUTHAMPTON, PA 18966
215 – 357 – 3930
(For questions, more information, or if you would like to set up an appointment to visit.)