Located in the heart of the Beach, Avalon Children's Montessori School is a small, independent, co-educational school that fully supports the Montessori philosophy of education. Our objective is to guide the children with respect and understanding, developing a love of learning that will last a lifetime.
We aim to create a pleasant and nurturing environment that enables intellectual, social, moral, artistic, and physical learning and development to occur. Parents, students, and teaching staff share equally in the achievement of our goals. The best way to learn about Avalon is to visit the school and see us in action. Check out our casa, elementary and senior programs to learn more about Avalon.
All teaching and support staff at Avalon are committed to creating a pleasant, nurturing, and safe environment, enabling intellectual, social, physical, and artistic learning and development. We believe that staff, students, and parents share equally in the achievement of our goals.
A teacher in an authentic Montessori environment will hold a Montessori Teaching diploma. Fully qualified Montessori teachers receive rigorous training in the proper use of the materials and learn about the child's development – emotional, physical, intellectual, moral, and social. Dr. Montessori saw education as a natural process for children.
Through careful observation, a Montessori teacher follows the child's interests and needs, providing lessons and guidance when necessary. Our teaching staff adheres to both the letter and the spirit of the pedagogy that governs the Montessori Method of Education and Avalon Children's Montessori School. Our classroom assistants also receive training and certification in the Montessori philosophy of education.
Our specialists include a music teacher, French teacher, art teacher, and physical education teacher. Avalon's staff is a dedicated team of people who enjoy working together to ensure success for both the school and every student. Our objective is to guide the children with respect and understanding, developing a love of learning that will last a lifetime.
Whenever possible, staff are encouraged to participate in professional development. All teachers and assistants have current first aid and CPR training. The Avalon Staff is headed by School Directors Christine Keery, Sherry Vanderkooi, and Angie Samis, Montessori teachers, who founded the school in 1999. Avalon is proud to be celebrating 20 years in the Beach! We believe in helping others within our community as well as the community at large. Since opening in 2000, community involvement has always been an integral part of the Avalon philosophy, and everyone is encouraged to become involved. These are some of the organizations and initiatives Avalon has supported over the years.
Meeting the child's needs is a crucial principle in Montessori education and is something we strive for at Avalon. Choosing the best environment for your child is very important. At Avalon Children's Montessori School, we believe this decision should not be taken lightly by the family or by the school. The Casa Program is for children ages 2 1/2 to 6 years of age. We offer full time and part-time options. The Elementary Program is designed to meet the child's needs during the second stage of development, for children six years and older. Within the Elementary environment, we offer two multi-aged classes – Lower and Upper Elementary.
Avalon is the first Montessori school in the Beach to offer a Senior School program. Upon completion at 14 years of age, senior students graduate prepared to meet the expectations of secondary school. They are learning Support Program. Some elementary students in grades 1 through 8, who have been diagnosed with learning disabilities and require additional support in a classroom environment, may be able to use our Learning Support Program. The Learning Support Program provides an opportunity for the student to receive the extra time and attention needed to succeed academically. We are unable to support children requiring one on one support. Space in this program is minimal. Please speak to us for more information.
Uniforms are mandatory for all elementary and senior-level students. We believe a uniform instills self-respect, for peers, and the learning environment. A uniform eliminates stereotypes among peers. Extended Care is offered beyond regular school hours. We offer before school care from 8-8:30 am and after school care from 4-5 pm daily. Monthly fees are reasonable and available upon request. We offer a hot catered nutritious lunch for all full-time Casa and Lower Elementary students. As students move up through the elementary and senior programs, there are opportunities for opting out of the mandatory lunch program. Parents are encouraged to provide healthy snacks for the classrooms.
Extracurricular activities are offered during and after school hours and provide a rich and diverse learning environment. These activities vary from year to year and depend upon the interests of the students. Over the years, extracurricular activities have included chess club, piano, drama, cross country running, dancing, karate, and homework club.
Field trips and classroom visitors are fun ways to explore and learn and allow parents to participate in the school. We utilize many of the resources available within our community and beyond to augment the curriculum. At Avalon, one of the many benefits of a small school setting is the level of communication between the school and the families. It provides a great sense of community and a love of learning for everyone involved.
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