Programs at GMS
Gloucester Montessori offers challenging, diverse
educational programs to help engage and prepare
children for life-long learning.
Our programs are delivered in multi-age environments, allowing children to learn from and be role
models for each other.
The activities and environments are designed to
stimulate discovery, independence and leadership.
Classrooms are attractive and fully equipped with
Montessori materials, books, research materials,
computers and living elements such as plants and
animals that provide the children with the experience
of stewardship and responsibility.
Student to teacher ratios are an intimate 9:1, with
both an accredited lead teacher and assistant in each
classroom.
The diverse Montessori curriculum is supplemented
with additional instruction in the areas
of Music, Physical Education, and Foreign Language. Numerous field trips and community
service projects throughout the year help the children explore and apply their learning in the world and community around them. |
Downloads:
GMS Family Handbook
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Each program builds upon the successes and accomplishments of the prior and prepares the
child to continue to explore at his or her own pace and approach.
Pre-School -
GMS offers a Montessori Preschool Program for children ages 2 1/2 to 6 years.
Hours are from 8:30-11:30 a.m., Monday through Friday with early drop-off available starting at 7:30 a.m.. Children engage in a wide variety
of activities including practical skills, sensory refinement, language, mathematics, geography,
cultural studies, and science. They also study Spanish, art, music and movement.
The morning ends with outdoor play.
Pre-School Extended Day
At 11:30 a.m., the preschool children are dismissed. Some are picked up by their
parents while others remain with us to participate in our Preschool Extended Day Program.
This program meets the needs of 3 and 4 year olds who are ready for a longer, more
stimulating day or whose parents require that their children remain at school beyond normal
school hours. The schedule for the afternoon includes lunch time, a rest period and another
work cycle featuring arts and crafts, creative/dramatic play, and extensions of the morning's
lessons.
Kindergarten -
After the preschool children are dismissed, the kindergarten students remain in their classrooms
for the afternoon. They are then able to concentrate on more demanding subjects such as reading,
writing, mathematics, geography, and science. Students participate in field trips and swimming
lessons at nearby Riverside Wellness Center. Kindergarteners also play an important role in the
morning, functioning as leaders and peer teachers and helping to take care of the classroom.
Their day ends at 2:30 p.m.
Lower Elementary -
In this program, children in 1st through 3rd grades build upon completed kindergarten work
with concrete materials. As a result of this early work, students progress into more abstract
learning. Language, mathematics, history, geography, and science combine to form the basis
of the program. Virginia's Standards of Learning are met and, in many cases, exceeded for the
appropriate grade level. Students are tested in the fall and again in the spring, allowing the
progress of each child to be carefully tracked. The elementary program is conducted from
8:30 a.m. until 3 p.m. Children are instructed in Spanish and also engage in a daily physical
education program including weekly swimming instruction, organized activities and recess.
In this program children also experience their first overnight study trip. Students and parents
go on a two-night excursion to a location that is relevant to their current course of study.
Recent trips have taken students to Luray Caverns and Washington, D.C.
Before and After School Care -
GMS offers both before and after school care to meet the scheduling needs of our families. Before school care is offered from 7:00 to 8:30am, and after school care is offered from 2:30 to 6:00pm. These programs are supervised and directed to include outdoor play, reading and creative work. Care is available for a monthly or annual contracted rate, or a drop-in hourly rate.
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What's happening at GMS:
December Children's House News
We are revisiting a topic that we touched on briefly in October - color theory. This is an artistic group; they have been very interested in learning about how to "paint like an artist." The students are making excellent progress and I will be concentrating on many new lessons and keeping everyone busy and challenged. As you may have noticed, we try to keep " holiday madness" in check in the classroom by maintaining the classroom routine - we will, however, be working on a few surprises for parents and add a few holiday themed art activities to help channel some of their boundless energy.
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