Montessori Pre-K News

This year, with Hospitality as our virtue, children will practice welcoming, helping, and caring for others. Inspired by St. Jane de Chantal’s words, “Lead those in your care with a kind and understanding heart,” we strive to nurture a caring and joyful community.

Practical Life is at the heart of our Montessori classroom, helping children develop independence, responsibility, coordination, and care for themselves and others. As Maria Montessori reminds us, “Help me to do it myself,” we provide meaningful opportunities for independence.

Practical Life at Home

Families can support these skills at home by inviting children to set the table, prepare simple snacks, wash fruits and vegetables, fold laundry, water plants, and tidy their space. We also have a SignUpGenius List for parents who would like to volunteer or contribute food-preparation donations to support our classroom. Thank you for partnering with us in these meaningful, hands-on experiences.

All children will begin the day in Room 12. Please plan to arrive between 7:45–7:55 a.m. to allow your child time to settle in before the day begins. Check out the "Tips for Separation" link (below) with some helpful ideas for this process.

Morning prayer and instruction will begin promptly at 8:00 a.m. Any children who arrive late will need to be signed in and enter through door 5.

What to Expect

Drop Off: Enter through door 4 and bring your child to the entrance of the Montessori Hallway where you can say goodbye. A classroom adult (Miss Lannette, Miss Jesse, Miss Rachelle, or Miss Marla) will be there in the hallway to greet your child and supervise the cubby area before they enter the classroom.

If an adult needs to escort a child into the building, they will need to enter through Door #5 and check in at the front desk using our Raptor security system. For the safety of our students, no visitors or guests will be permitted into the building without a name tag and badge.

Pick Up: For children leaving at 2:45 p.m. you can park and wait just outside of door number 4. At 2:45 p.m. those children will be brought to the door 4 entry as a group for dismissal. Anyone picking up a child should have a photo identification with them. Extended day pick up will be at the extended day classroom space (room 13).

On Spirit Dress Day, students may wear their Visitation spirit top with uniform bottoms. Please remember that students should continue to wear their uniform shoes. We appreciate your help in keeping students comfortable, safe, and ready to participate fully in all of our classroom activities throughout the day.

As a reminder, there is no school on Friday, September 4 and Monday, September 7 for Labor Day Break.

Extended Day will be open on Friday, September 4, and Kayla Christy is our Extended Day Coordinator. Families who need care on Friday are welcome to connect with Kayla for more information. Extended Day will be closed on Monday, September 7, in observance of the holiday.

We look forward to welcoming parents for Lower School Parent Night on Thursday, September 10, from 6:00–7:30 p.m. This is an adult-only event, so students will not attend. The evening will begin with a large-group presentation in DeSales at 6:00 p.m., followed by two classroom sessions from 6:40–7:00 p.m. and 7:10–7:30 p.m. A Parent Association sponsored social will follow the classroom sessions.

School Picture Day will be held on Friday, September 11. This will be a uniform-optional day and Montessori students will have their pictures taken at 8:05 a.m.