Catskill Montessori School

Catskill Montessori School's 3-6 program offers a rich, child-centered experience focused on nature, independence, and holistic learning for students ages 3-6. Emphasizing the importance of daily outdoor activities, the program encourages children to engage with nature regardless of weather, promoting cognitive development and reversing issues caused by disconnection from nature. Work time, the core of Montessori pedagogy, features uninterrupted work cycles where children receive lessons from their guide and engage in various self-directed activities, ranging from working with Montessori materials and observing peers to enjoying self-served snacks, fostering independence and collaborative learning. Tailored to individual needs, younger children have a dedicated nap time in a soothing environment, while older children engage in quieter activities like reading, allowing them to rest and rejuvenate. The afternoons are reserved for diverse classes, including earth stewards, music, fine arts, and physical education for the 3-6 year olds. Spanish and forest explorations are integrated into the morning work cycle, enriching the children's learning experience with cultural and environmental education.

Toddler will serve children from 18 months to 3 years. This program is an introduction to Montessori for a short period of time every day monday through friday (less than 3 hours). Our authentic Montessori toddler program for children aged 18-36 months old includes: -a home away from home environment -a community of peers and nurturing Montessori guides -a specially created indoor environment to meet their developmental needs -an outdoor environment to support toddlers' need for movement and connection to nature -support for becoming toilet-independent, self-feeding, functional independence, and purposeful experiences to set the foundation for life

The cosmic curriculum drives the elementary Montessori classroom: lessons spiraling from the stories of the universe, life, and humankind. These lessons allow the child to discover their place in a beautiful, dynamic, and interdependent world and explore the possibilities of the role they play. This curriculum taps into the natural curiosity and social awareness that are awakened and refined during Montessori's second plane of developmentinspiring motivated learners and proactive community members.students have a three-hour independent work period focused on subjects like math, geography, science, and language arts, followed by lunch and outdoor activities. The curriculum also includes "specials like earth stewards, arts, and physical education, along with integrated spanish language instruction, nurturing a diverse and holistic educational experience.

Camps: during our shorter School breaks, we will offer camps for enrolled students. During longer School breaks, this supplemental programming will be available to the larger community.

Extended day: will serve children from ages 3 to 12 from the hours of 3:30pm to 5:30pm. This programming is currently for enrolled students with plans to expand to the larger community at a future date.