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General Information

MINE, ME & US Montessori School is licensed by the Virginia Department of Social Services. MMUMS is in the process of becoming certified by the American Montessori Society.

 

Currently, MMUMS, ME & US Montessori School has:

  • Nido Environment (6 weeks – walking) (1:2-3 teacher student ratio)

  • Nido Community (walking–18 months) (1:3 teacher student ratio)

  • Toddler Community (18 – 36 months) (1:5 teacher student ratio)

  • Children’s House/Casa dei Bambini (3 – 6 years) (1:10 teacher student ratio)

  • Montessori Elementary (6 – 9 years) 1:18 teacher student ratio)

  • Montessori Elementary (9 – 12 years) 1:24 teacher student ratio)

 

MINE, ME & US Montessori School admits children of any race, color, gender, religion and national origin, neurodiversity to all the rights, privileges, programs, and activities generally accorded or made available to students at the school. It does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, gender, religion, national origins, or disability in administration of its education practices and administered programs. 

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MMUMS is a school for children ages 6 weeks through 12 years. At MMUMS we provide more than just care for young children. As an authentic Montessori school, we follow the Montessori pedagogy and method, an internationally renowned education philosophy, developed by Dr. Maria Montessori.  

 

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MINE, ME & US Montessori School inclusive tuition includes organic and vegetarian meals and snacks, organic wipes, organic diaper ointment, organic sunscreen and insect repellent, and muslin nap blankets during the school day. MMUMS provides Seventh Generation wipes and disposable diapers, Burt’s Bees Multi-Purpose Ointment, Blue Lizard 30+ Sensitive Mineral Sunscreen, Badger Anti-Bug Shake and Spray, muslin nap blankets. Parents must bring their own diapers. 

School vs. Daycare

Inclusive Tuition

Nature Education

Outdoor time is an essential component of the Montessori Philosophy and Method and the MINE, ME & US Montessori School curriculum, even for infants. Children will be outside for a large portion of every day. Even in inclement weather, the children will go outside, even if for only 15 minutes at a time. It is imperative that your child is dressed properly for the weather. We ask that your child has appropriate clothing for ALL types of weather. Because the weather in this region can be quite unpredictable, it is recommended that seasonal-appropriate outdoor clothing and rain gear remains with the child at school at all times.

 

This includes:

  • Raincoats and waterproof rain boots

  • Rain paints or rain suit

  • Snow coat/parka

  • Snow pants (preferably also waterproof)

  • Winter hat

  • Waterproof snow mittens/gloves for wet, cold days

  • Cold weather mittens/gloves for dry, cold days

  • Sun hat

 

A child that is not well enough to play outside in the current weather should not come to school. 

 

Physical activity happens very often throughout the day, and all children are provided with ample opportunity for light, moderate, and vigorous physical activity. The MMUMS outdoor environment is designed to maximize physical activity and free play by offering a variety of natural and portable play materials with elements including a grassy area (primarily for Nido children), planting boxes and materials, sand, and varying surfaces and terrain. 

 

The outdoor environment is essential to Montessori education and curriculum and is considered as an extension of the indoor classroom environment. MINE, ME & US Montessori School takes this aspect of education very seriously and relies on the myriad elements of the natural environment. MMUMS children are members of an organic outdoor environment complete with an edible landscape of vegetables, fruits, herbs, and spices. Typical playground equipment, such as swings, slides, and climbing gyms are replaced with a natural landscape including a large grassy area and sand area woven in between dirt paths, low-level natural inclines, and climbing trees. The outdoor environment also presents a small low wooden platform, often used as a stage, and several child-sized benches and logs for the children to sit on. Sand toys such as buckets and shovels are replaced with metal kitchen materials like cupcake tins, mixing bowls, colanders, etc. The outdoor environment includes brooms, hand brooms, and dustpans. 

 

In the spring, summer, and autumn, children enjoy planting, harvesting, and eating fruits and vegetables from the garden. Our backyard is full of nature and natural items for the children to explore for creative and imaginative play, impromptu science lessons, and social games. The children explore leaves, pinecones and pine needles, branches and sticks, insects, and plants. Children will collect and use many of these materials to build structures and tunnels. They explore the natural environment in all weather, allowing for play with rainwater, mud, snow, and dirt.  

 

Nature education at MINE, ME & US Montessori School is designed to very simply allow children to interact with the natural environment in a safe and respectful way.

Teacher/Student Ratios

MINE, ME & US Montessori School adheres to Virginia Department of Social Services licensing standards for teacher/child ratios. 

 

Virginia Department of Social Services Teacher: Student Ratios

6 weeks – 16 months: 1:4

16 months – 24 months: 1:5

24 months – 36 months: 1:8

3 years – age 5 years (by September 30): 1:10

5 years (by September 30) – 8 years: 1:18

9 years – 12 years:  1:20

 

MINE, ME & US Montessori School Classroom Teacher: Student Ratios

Nido Environment  6 weeks - walking:    1:4
Nido Community Walking – 18 months:  1:4

Toddler Community 18 – 36 months:  1:4
Casa dei Bambini/Children’s House  2.5 years – 6 years:  1:5
Lower Elementary 6 years – 9 years:  1:18

Upper Elementary 9 years – 12 years:  1:20

Diapering

In the Infant and Toddler rooms, we use care to check diapers often and to change them each time the individual need arises, rather than waiting until a specific interval of time has elapsed. Plastic gloves are required to be worn; it is vital that the teacher and the child wash hands after changing a diaper. Each time the changing table is used, the area is washed with a disinfecting solution. The solution is mixed in a labeled spray bottle and stored conveniently but high enough to be well out of reach of the children. 

 

The lead/co-teacher teaches these procedures to each new teacher assigned to the infant/toddler rooms:

  • Disposable plastic gloves must be worn by staff when changing a diaper or helping a child at the toilet.

  • One hand must always remain on the child positioned on the changing table.

  • Diapers should be changed as needed but checked often and at least every two hours.

  • Every diaper change must be noted on the day sheet to parents, specifically noting any bowel movement. 

  • Clean the child thoroughly, using baby wipes. Use cream according to parents’ routine and note on the day sheet to parents if diaper rash appears to be developing.

  • Use the changing opportunity to speak with the child and to gently explain what you are doing as you assist the child in this most personal routine. 

  • Soiled clothing goes home in a sealed plastic bag.

  • Soiled diapers are folded on themselves and disposed of in a trash can with a lid.

  • Be encouraging of all efforts of the child to self-care as they become able and interested in toilet readiness and self-care routines. An adult must always be present to supervise the youngest children in the bathroom, and the Board of Health requires that the bathroom doors must be always open in all classrooms.

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