Open House
Our Open House is a wonderful opportunity for you to meet
our faculty and staff in person. Open Houses are scheduled
on a Saturday in October and January.
Admissions Tour
The Admissions Tour is an opportunity for parents to see
current students in the classroom setting. Tours are scheduled
on Tuesday and Wednesday mornings from October through
February. To schedule an admissions tour, please contact the
School Secretary at 924-5388, extension 0. Please be aware
that space is limited, and this tour is for adults only.
(Note: We prefer parents to attend the Open House before
scheduling an Admissions tour.)
Parent Education Sessions
Join parents of current students at these interesting and informative events scheduled on evenings throughout the
calendar year. These sessions are presented by Marin Montessori Faculty, and each session highlights a unique
aspect of our school. We recommend that prospective parents attend at least one of the Parent Education
Sessions presented by the Faculty.
Family Visit or Classroom Visit
This is your child’s opportunity to interact with the teachers and the materials in the classroom. After current
students complete re-enrollment, we know how many open spaces we have for the next school year. We will
contact individual families who have submitted applications by the priority deadline to schedule Family Visits
(child and parent attend for Toddler and Primary levels) and Classroom Visits (child attends for the Elementary
level). Since we schedule Family Visits and Classroom visits based on the needs in our classrooms, we regret that
we cannot schedule every family and/or child for a Family Visit or Classroom visit.
TODDLER LEVEL 1½ THROUGH 2½ - 3 YEARS
Half-Days (M-Th) 8:30 – 11:35 am $13,620
Full-Days (M-Th) 8:30 – 2:55 pm $18,670
PRIMARY LEVEL 2½ – 3 THROUGH 6 YEARS
Half-Days (M-F) 8:30 – 11:35 am $13,790
Full-Days (M-F) 8:30 – 2:55 pm $18,820
ELEMENTARY LEVEL 6 – 12 YEARS
Full-Days (M-F) 8:30 – 3:00 pm $19,100
ADDITIONAL FEES
Application Fee $ 75
Non-Refundable Registration Deposit 10% of Tuition
ADDITIONAL SCHOOL CARE PROGRAM (ASC)
Additional School Care is available to students enrolled in the Primary and
Elementary levels. Additional School Care packages are available for the entire year only and
do not include Holiday or Summer Camps. Note that Morning Care is a separate package.
Packages
#1 Full-Day Primary + ASC to 6:00 pm $22,990
#2 Elementary + ASC to 6:00 pm $23,260
#3 Morning Care – 7:30 – 8:30 am $ 1,420
Reserved: Primary Elementary
Morning Care (7:30 – 8:30 am) $9.00/day $9.00/day
ASC Program (3:00 – 6:00 pm) $8.50/hour $8.50/hour
Drop-In Additional School Care: $9.00/hour $9.00/hour
Tuition Assistance
It is the policy of MMS to provide Tuition Assistance within the school's financial capability to
families experiencing hardship in paying the full tuition cost. Applications for Tuition Assistance will
be available in the School Office in October and are due by the end of the first week in December.
MMS is a member of the School Scholarship Service, which processes each application on an
impartial basis to determine financial need of the family applying. The Tuition Assistance Committee
considers all applications and decides on allocations according to Board policy. Responses to
Tuition Assistance applications will be completed prior to the re-enrollment deadline.
1. Are all Montessori Schools alike?
2. What is AMI?
3. Is there a wait list at MMS?
4. Do you have a financial aid program?
5. Does my child have preference for admission if he/she has a sibling already enrolled at MMS?
6. How is class placement determined?
7. Is diversity a component of admission decisions?
8. What is Full-Day Primary?
9. Why should my child attend Full-Day Primary?
10. When can I sign my child up for Full-Day Primary?
11. Why is it important that each child complete each level of our program?
12. What happens to children who transfer from MMS Primary to public elementary school?
1. Are all Montessori Schools alike?
- No. Any school can call itself a Montessori school. Thus, schools vary in their knowledge of and
adherence to Montessori principles. Marin Montessori School’s accreditation from the Association
Montessori Internationale (AMI) insures that MMS adheres to the Montessori philosophy and
principles as the originator of this method, Dr. Maria Montessori, intended.
Back to Top
2. What is AMI?
- Association Montessori Internationale (AMI), headquartered in Amsterdam, Holland, was founded in
1929 by Dr. Montessori to protect the integrity of her work. The AMI has remained the worldwide
authority on Montessori education and practice. AMI/USA is the functioning branch office of AMI
in the United States.
Our AMI accreditation assures our families that the school performs according to the highest
standards of the Montessori philosophy. AMI accreditation indicates that our school performs
according to the highest standards of the Montessori philosophy, receives regular consultations
from qualified AMI consultants and is staffed by qualified AMI teachers and teachers.
3. Is there a wait list at MMS?
- Yes. Turning your application in on time is important.
4. Do you have a financial aid program?
- Yes, MMS offers a tuition assistance program. Please see Tuition Assistance for details.
5. Does my child have a preference for admission if he/she has a sibling already enrolled at MMS?
- Yes, if the intention is for the older sibling to complete the entire program through the Elementary
level. In order to protect the integrity and quality of the entire program for those children who stay
to complete it, siblings of children who prematurely leave the program will not receive sibling
preference as experience shows that these siblings are also likely to leave prematurely. Also, it is
important to note that sibling preference does not guarantee admission, as many factors go into the
decision process.
6. How is class placement determined?
- After your family visits, the Director of Education and the teachers spend a considerable amount of
time in determining the best placement for each child. We consider the needs of balancing the
classes as well as meeting the needs of each individual child and the existing classroom community.
Several factors relevant in class placement include gender, age, temperament, learning style and
class dynamic. Once your child is placed, he/she will remain in the same classroom within his/her
level.
Back to Top
7. Is diversity a component of admission decisions?
- Yes. We are committed to offering the broadest possible experience to our children and to our entire
school community by increasing the diversity of our community to reflect the variety of experience,
culture, development and physical abilities, economic diversity, alternative lifestyles and philosophies
which exist in the Bay Area. The macrocosm aspect of the full Montessori educational approach is
thus better met, enabling all children the further enriching experience and exploration of as many
aspects of their world as we can offer within the limits of the environment.
Back to Top
8. What is Full-Day Primary?
- The Full-Day Primary is a continuation of the morning activities. The children work independently
and in small groups with the classroom materials. They also receive individual and small group
lessons. All children enrolled in Full-Day Primary attend class Monday-Friday, until dismissed at 2:55
p.m. In order for your child to receive full benefit of Full-Day Primary and to ensure continuity for
all the children in the classroom community, we ask that you only schedule extracurricular
enrichment classes after the school day has ended. All children in their culminating year (5-6 year
olds) in the Primary level are enrolled for Full-Day Primary.
Back to Top
9. Why should my child attend Full-Day Primary?
- The Full-Day option offers Primary children a consistent and familiar afternoon in their Montessori
classroom where they extend their opportunity to reach their fullest potential -- intellectually,
socially, and personally (physically, creatively, and emotionally). For example, a child that requires
more repetition to master a task, has more opportunity to repeat his work and gain that mastery; a
child that masters tasks more easily, has the opportunity to move on to more advanced materials.
Further, all the children grow emotionally and socially from their greater interaction in their
classroom community.
10. When can I sign my child up for Full-Day?
- Parents may arrange to enroll their child in the Full-Day option at any time during the school year.
Parents and directresses, in consultation with one another, will consider when the best time would
be for a child to extend his/her day. Once a child begins Full-Day, it is essential that he/she
consistently attend Full-Day five days a week. This insures the continuity, consistency and routine
required for all Full-Day children to reap optimal benefits from their Montessori experience.
11. Why is it important for each child to complete each level of our program?
- Dr. Maria Montessori observed that the transformation of children takes place through a series of
developmental planes (approximate ages are birth to age 6, age 6 – 12, age 12 – 18, and age 18 –
24). The child’s experience within each developmental plane level builds and results in a culminating
year where the growth that takes place is remarkable. Thus, the last year of Primary and of
Elementary is a time of consolidation and mastery of knowledge and creative development for that
developmental plane level. These children are the classroom leaders -- they enjoy giving lessons to
the younger ones, thereby, reinforcing their own knowledge. The opportunity to be a role model
enhances their self-esteem and they take this responsibility very seriously. Academically, last year
Primary children "blossom" as they complete their readiness to move on to Elementary and last year
Elementary children "blossom" as they complete their readiness to move to an adolescent program
(middle school). It is only by completing each level of our program that children gain the full benefit
of that developmental plane level. It is only by completing our full program that children gain the full
benefit of our Montessori education.
Back to Top
12. What happens to children who transfer from MMS Primary to public elementary school?
- The transfer from Montessori is usually fairly smooth. The actual time needed for transition will
depend greatly on your child’s adaptability to new situations. Of course at MMS, we believe that in
order to gain the full benefit of the Montessori program, children should not transfer until the
completion of the Elementary level. However, because that is not possible for all children, it is highly
recommended that Montessori children transfer only after they complete the full Primary level or the
full Elementary level.
