Mountainview Montessori »

In our Montessori school we learn together peacefully and responsibly by caring for each other and the world. We are a public education school that follows a Montessori philosophy. Families come from throughout the district but there is also a growing cohort of local students.  We have approximately 340 students.

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 We have a diverse cultural population, represented by almost 25 first languages other than English. Almost one in four of our students are English Language Learners; this has doubled from four years ago. We have a significant number of students with diverse learning needs.  We are a community that is changing.  Our students are more diverse with their learning needs. The Montessori philosophy and program emphasizes independence, global issues, stewardship for the environment, peaceful problem-solving, leadership and service. 

• can children peacefully solve problems

• what leadership and service opportunities are part of the culture 

• how do students demonstrate independence in the classroom/ on the playground?

• can students make choices with independence?

• Montessori students have good familial support

Mountainview is fortunate to have an active PAC that helps fund field trips, special events, Montessori learning resource materials and extra equipment for the school. Parent involvement is usually high with special events and encouraged.  Our parent community has a history of being very generous with volunteer time and financial support.

• Four students receive Aboriginal Support Services
• 74 students are coded as ELL, almost one in four overall; all ELL students are in Grades K-5 but most in primary K-3 as we increasingly believe younger students are not speaking English in the home.  Staff sense there is not only a language barrier but some students have challenges expressing themselves using more than a few words.
• 33 students meet Special Education categories; 26 are “high incident” and seven are classified as “low”; six are in Primary; 27 are in Intermediate;
• # in Fast Forward
• # SBT meetings have increased from monthly to bi-weekly and now weekly sessions.
• Full compliment of extra-curricular activities with strong  student participation: sports (cross-country, soccer, volleyball, basketball, track and field, and badminton); drama; dance; and outside-school classes offering science, lego and art activities.
• There is a change in demographics: less parent involvement; more “local” or neighbourhood students yet the sense of community is becoming less.
• Past three years we have a fruit and veggie program; this year we added a milk program; both are provided monthly on average.  We also have a snack program, compliments of the Surrey Fire Fighters, which provides food for students without lunches or snacks.  Requests for food average 4-5 times per week.

How can we move forward, align and connect Montessori Education to First Peoples’ Education using the Circle of Courage framework? How will this work impact student learning?

How will using the Grandfather’s 7 Sacred Teachings impact student behaviour?

• what SEL aspect needs to be addressed? Survey????

independence

evidence?

Survey