Care Providers/Guardians must read this page and submit their acknowledgment, name, signature, and date below.
Once this form is submitted, a PDF is auto-generated with your signature and provided to the school for your child's records.
Policies and Procedures
In an authentic Montessori environment, we use an educational method that supports and addresses the nature of the child. The heart of the child is not a theoretical construct, but it is based upon Maria Montessori's detailed and lengthy observation of the child.
Maria Montessori believed that all children are born intelligent; they simply learn in different ways and progress at their own pace. The Montessori approach to education is consciously designed to recognize and address different learning styles.
Mission Statement
- To foster and encourage authentic Montessori education
- To help each child reach their full human potential socially, emotionally, intellectually, and physically
- To offer and apply developmentally appropriate and educationally sound principles of learning
- To serve children and families through humanitarian efforts
- To promote peace through education
Ages
Mountain Montessori is licensed for 40 children per day, ages 2.5 years to 6 years. The license allows for 20 children per classroom per day.
Applying to the Program
Each family interested in applying to Mountain Montessori must fill out an application and pay a $25 application fee. This can be done on our website at www.mntmontessori.org. A completed application is the only way to be considered for future openings. We do not offer a waitlist per se. As openings arise, we review our applications on file. We offer parents the opportunity to visit the classroom and talk to the staff during Open Houses provided twice a year in November and February.
We have a rolling admissions policy, but most of our openings are for September. If we feel your family is a good fit with our program and we have a spot, we will contact you to see if you are still interested in your child attending.
Attendance and Hours
Regular attendance is essential to success within our Montessori program. We have a 5-day program available, and we ask that you recognize the benefit of your child being in the classroom during their scheduled school days. Regular school hours are from 8:00 am - 3:30 pm. Extended Hours allow for 3:30 - 4: 30 pm each day. Holidays can be found in the Mountain Montessori Enrollment Agreement and our School Calendar.
- Absence If your child is absent, we request notification by text or email by 9 am that day.
- Tardiness School begins at 8:30 am. A teacher will be present in the parking lot from 8:00 am to 8:30 am to escort the children from the car to the school. After that time, it will be necessary for you to park and text the classroom iPad. A teacher will come out to the parking lot and escort your child into the school classroom. This disrupts your child’s routine and the children already involved in their academic day. If tardiness becomes a noticeable pattern for your family, we will ask you to consider a program more suited to your family’s needs.
- We ask parents to sign up for consistent drop-off times with 10-minute windows 8, 8:10, and 8:20. We expect all children to be present by 8:30 am.
- Second Programs We believe it is not in the best interest of any child to be enrolled in more than one care situation at a time. We ask that you commit to Mountain Montessori for all care due to the confusion that can occur for a child if they are in two different settings. Our goal is consistency, and if a child is with another provider when they are not at Mountain Montessori, the result is two sets of rules, two sets of friends, and two sets of expectations. This can cause developmental issues within the Montessori curriculum.
Birthdays
At Mountain Montessori, we acknowledge a child’s birthday with a Celebration of Life. On or near the child’s birthday, we ask parents to schedule this event with the Director. The parent is requested to send ONE photo for each year your child has been alive (newborn, 1, 2, 3, etc.). At the 11:15 am line, we light a candle, and the child walks around the line with their photo. Parents are welcome to attend line time via Zoom or in person and will be asked questions by the teacher about each year – “was he walking at 1?”. Our goal is to keep the focus on the child’s life. You are welcome to send in a special snack for that day which we will serve after lunch. It cannot be homemade, as State regulations prevent us from serving items that do not come from an FDA-approved kitchen.
Clothing
- Children should come to school in comfortable play clothes that they can move quickly in at all times. We try to use smocks during messy activities, but practical play clothes are recommended. Each child must bring a complete set of extra seasonal clothes in a zip-lock bag. The bag and the clothing must all have the child’s name on a permanent marker or sticker. These remain at school or are returned to parents when and if used. If we use them during the day, we ask that you replace that extra set of clothes the next day.
- Each child must have a pair of slippers at school. These remain at school. We want to ask you to purchase slippers with a hard surface and minimal decoration (Acorn Slippers and Foam Treads are some examples). Practice having your child put on and take off slippers before the first day of school. For the playground, we strongly encourage sneakers or soft souled shoes that are easy to put on and take off by the child. Velcro makes your child’s day a lot easier.
- Weather changes quickly in Colorado; we go outside EVERY DAY! Please make sure your child is equipped with waterproof boots, mittens, hats, snowsuits, and perhaps an extra sweater. All of these should be labeled. If the weather becomes extremely cold or excessively hot, the staff will make a safety decision to stay inside.
Communication
Our program thrives on excellent communication and collaboration. Please call the director with emergencies, text with items with a time concern, email with less urgent concerns/questions, and please feel free to make an appointment with the Director if you wish for face-to-face conversation. Your child’s teacher’s first responsibility is the care and safety of all children. Since we are a small school, we ask that talks are set up for when the teachers are not actively teaching or “on duty.” Even a “quick” question in the parking lot can distract a teacher enough to endanger the children in their care. Therefore, curbside and entryway conferences are discouraged. These times are not enough time to give you the undivided attention to your concerns that your family deserves.
We also send a daily email every school day utilizing a software program called SchoolCues. You are asked to register for SchoolCues and download the app on your phone for accessible communication. If you do not receive your email, please let us know. Emails from parents are also encouraged as a means of communication.
Conferences
Parent/teacher conferences are held in the fall to address the social/emotional adjustment of the child. A second conference will be held in late spring to address academic growth and your child's social and emotional growth. These conferences are on the school calendar; there are no classroom hours on these days, and they cannot be scheduled for other days. Conferences are scheduled utilizing the School Cues app.
Discipline
Our school's philosophy encourages “respect for myself, respect for others, and respect for the environment.” Staff utilizes ‘Positive Discipline by Dr. Jane Nelson, which can be found at www.positivediscipline.com. We also follow a peace curriculum that allows children to resolve conflict with their peers with a teacher as a facilitator. The teacher may also need to address one child’s behavior, specifically when the child is given a “time-in” or asked to stay by the teacher. The behavior is then addressed with the child and the teacher. Physical punishment is never an option.
Recurring discipline situations or serious “acting out” that is harmful to another child or disruptive to the class environment will require an immediate conference with parents, the teacher, and the Director. The school promotes teamwork with parents on discipline matters. Families are expected to partner with school staff in developing strategies for managing behavior in the classroom and at home. If the problem persists, Mountain Montessori will refer the family to community resources such as an early childhood consultant for additional support. In the Vail Valley, we have access to support systems through Early Childhood Partners and private specialists that may be required to support our efforts. If this cannot be done in a manner acceptable to the school and the parents, finding a program that better fits the child's needs may be necessary.
If families are unwilling to participate in the referral process, the child may be dismissed from the program. NOTE: When a child becomes aggressive toward other children or staff members to the point of physical contact injury, parents will be notified for immediate child pickup. Mountain Montessori staff reserve the right to physically separate (carry or pick up) a child from a dangerous situation until pickup has occurred.
Emergencies (other than illness)
Mountain Montessori Staff takes every precaution to ensure a safe environment. Our classroom was designed so we can visually identify where children are at all times. We also take attendance at 8:30 am, 10:30 am, 12:00 pm, and 2:00 pm. The staff is instructed to count continually during transitions and on the playground to ensure the whereabouts of each student. But even with those precautions, some incidents may fall outside our control. The following procedures have been established:
- Lost Child The Director is notified immediately, and staff will conduct an immediate and thorough campus search. The parent or emergency contact is alerted to the situation. Police are notified if the parents or emergency contacts cannot be located.
- Blizzard In the event of a blizzard, teachers will stay with the students, and the Director will be responsible for maintaining a safe environment and food if needed.
- Fire The classroom has a fire evacuation plan enacted when the alarm sounds. One teacher leads the children to the meeting place outside as the Director surveys the entire classroom and checks attendance before and after the notice. If we cannot return to the facility, we will notify parents via School Cues mass text to pick up their child at Prime Storage, 850 Nottingham Road, Avon, CO (970) 748-6963.
- Building Evacuation If asked to vacate the building, we will escort the children to Prime Self Storage, 850 Nottingham Road, Avon, CO, (970) 748-6963. Care of children with physical disabilities is designated to the co-director to assist these students to safety. We will then utilize School Cues to send a mass text to parents to notify them of our whereabouts.
Fee Schedule
The one-time Application Fee due with the initial application is $25. The annual registration fee is $225 for new and $125 for returning families. Tuition is determined in the spring before each academic year. None of these fees are refundable. The monthly fees from September to May are as follows:
Invoices will be sent each month electronically. Please provide the school with a valid email. Tuition is due on the first of every month. If tuition is not received by the fifteenth of the month, a 5% late fee will be assessed. Auto draft payments are made on the fifth of each month and are the preferred payment method.
Field Trips
Currently, Mountain Montessori does not offer “off-campus” field trips. We will not be transporting children in a private vehicle for school outings.
Filing a Complaint
If you would like to file a complaint about childcare, the Division of Child Care at the Colorado Department of Human Services can be reached at (303) 866-5958. The address is 1575 Sherman Street, Denver, CO 80203- 1714.
Group Parent Meetings - PARENT NETWORK
Parent meetings are held four evenings a year. These meetings are held to familiarize parents with the Montessori philosophy and environment and create a sense of community. They can also be used to discuss parenting issues. These meetings are essential in getting to know each other and supporting one another in raising children. We'll meet at Colorado Mountain College in Edwards.
Illness/Accidents
Young children frequently become mildly ill. Preschoolers experience a yearly average of six respiratory infections and can expect one to two gastrointestinal diseases each year. Deciding whether to keep your child home can be difficult. Considering your child's well-being, the other families enrolled in our program, and the staff’s health would be best. If your child is not 100%, sending them to school can often mean they are more vulnerable to severe illness. Their immune system is lowered, and they become sicker. Rest is the best means of recovery for a child. IMMUNIZATIONS are also vital in keeping the entire community well. Annual flu shots and covid vaccinations are important to keeping everyone healthy. Please refer to the chart below for guidelines and recommendations from the State of Colorado Health and Human Services:
| SymptomDisease |
Exclusion from school is necessary. |
| Diarrhea (stools are watery, and frequency is twice what is usual) |
Yes. Until 24 hours symptom-free. |
| Chicken Pox |
Yes-children with uncomplicated chicken pox may return on the sixth day after the rash start or until blisters are crusted. |
| Conjunctivitis (Pink Eye) |
Yes – until 24 hrs. after treatment. If your health provider decides not to treat your child, a note is needed to be re-admitted. |
| Coxsackie Virus (Hand, Foot, Mouth disease) |
Yes - this is highly contagious. |
| Fifth’s Disease |
No – a child is no longer contagious once the rash appears. If you are knowingly exposed, please keep the child home until the rash appears. |
| Strep Throat |
Yes – until 24 hours after treatment, the child must be fever free for 24 hours. |
| Head lice |
Yes – until 24 hours after treatment. |
During Covid-19, we are cautious each day regarding illness. If your child has a runny nose, cough, fever, sore throat, diarrhea, stomach ache, or headache - please keep them at home. If someone in your home is ill, we ask that you keep your child home until that family member tests negative. Please see the more detailed list of Covid-19 policies for Mountain Montessori.
If your child becomes ill or injured at school, we will first contact the parents and then emergency contacts if that is unsuccessful. A staff member will stay with an un-well child in an office until you arrive. We request that you respond immediately so staff members may return to their duties. Help us keep our environment healthy by keeping children home free of fever, vomiting, and discomfort for 24 hours. Your child must be well enough to resume a regular Montessori day - including outdoor play. Our staff does reserve the right to call parents and ask them to collect their child if, in our opinion, they arrived sick.
Our Montessori curriculum includes using restaurant-quality glassware and real-life materials like child-sized knives that may result in a risk of lacerations to your child. We have safety training in prevention, and all staff is CPR/First Aid trained. Below is a list of our procedures when we have a clean-up of broken materials:
- The closest staff member immediately approaches the area and reassures the child.
- All children are removed from the area within a safe, generous radius. CHILDREN MAY NOT CLEAN UP GLASS.
- One adult is solely responsible for cleaning the materials and environment thoroughly.
- All breakable hazards are immediately removed from the school and placed in the dumpster outside in the parking lot.
All health problems must be noted on the child’s information sheet. The school is required by Colorado law to keep an updated State of Colorado Immunization Certificate on every student. The link is on our registration page if you need a blank Immunization Certificate. This must be in the child’s file before the child may start school. It must also be kept current. A child may be asked to be withheld from school until their health records are completed. For this reason, there is no “break” on tuition when the child cannot attend. We require a minimum of an annual update to immunizations.
Mountain Montessori is required to alert the Eagle County Department of Health to all reportable communicable illnesses according to the State Department of Public Health and Environment regulations.
MEDICATION - staff shall dispense Prescription medication ONLY with a medication form filled out by the parent and signed by a physician with the physician’s phone number. These forms are available from staff. Medication must be in the original container bearing the original pharmacy label with the RX number, name of the drug, date filled, physician’s name, child’s name, and dosage instructions. NEVER send the medication in the child’s lunch box or backpack. Hand the medication directly to staff. All medicines are kept in the office and dispensed by personnel trained in first aid and medicine administration.staff shall dispense Prescription medication ONLY with a medication form filled out by the parent and signed by a physician with the physician’s phone number. These forms are available from staff. Medication must be in the original container bearing the original pharmacy label with the RX number, name of medication, date filled, physician’s name, child’s name and dosage instructions. NEVER send the medication in the child’s lunch box or backpack. Hand the medication directly to staff. All medications are kept in the office and are dispensed by personnel trained in first aid and the administration of medicine.
Lunch and Snacks
Children are to bring their lunches with water bottles to school daily. The lunches remain in their cubbies before lunchtime. If refrigeration is required, please pack the lunch with a cold pack. We cannot accommodate 40 lunches a day in our refrigerator. We also cannot heat lunches. Lunch must provide 1/3 of the child’s daily food needs. Please do not send candy or soda to school. Parents give an individual snack each day. Please place the snack in a separate bag marked with an “S.” This is helpful to your child during the day.
Personal Belongings and Sharing on line time
Children must leave jewelry, money, candy, soda, costumes, and toys at home. Items are lost and are also a distraction during our time in the classroom. We do have four letters a month that are posted on the calendar. Children may bring items that start with those four letters all month. We will then share them online. Only during that time are children allowed to bring items from home.
Pick-up at the end of the day
- Children are to be picked up at the west side of the school between 3:00 and 3:30 pm each school day if they are not enrolled in the afterschool extended hour program. We'd like to ask you to be patient as we escort your child to your car. Please remain in your vehicle as the teacher safely walks your child to your automobile. We believe this is the safest way to protect the children in the parking lot. Cell Phones are restricted from being used at this time of the day on campus! If your child is not enrolled in the extended hour program from 3:30-4:30 pm, pick up after 3:30 pm results in a substantial late fee placed on your tuition bill the following month. The cost is $15 after 3:30 pm and $15 every 5 minutes. We will text you at 3:30 pm if you are expected and have not arrived. There is no maximum fee per occurrence. The Director will remain with that child until a parent or emergency contact arrives. If tardiness becomes a noticeable pattern for your family, we will ask you to consider a program more suited to your family’s needs.
- If your child is enrolled in the extended hours program, your child will be picked up at the west side of the school between 4:00 and 4:30 pm each school day. We ask you also to be patient as we escort your child to your car. Please remain in your vehicle as the teacher safely walks your child to your automobile. PLEASE REFRAIN FROM CELL PHONE USE at this time. Pick-up after 4:30 pm will result in a substantial late fee on your tuition bill the following month. The cost is $15 after 4:30 pm and $15 every 5 minutes after that. There is no maximum fee per occurrence. We will text you at 4:30 pm if you are expected and have not arrived. The Director will remain with that child until a parent or emergency contact arrives. If tardiness becomes a noticeable pattern for your family, we will ask you to consider a program more suited to your family’s needs.
- Mountain Montessori will not release a child to anyone without written authorization from the child’s legal guardian. Staff will also require identification from the person picking up your child if we do not recognize that person. The parents will submit a registration form to the school to identify those people who can pick up their children. Staff will still require identification and the family code word from that person if they are not easily recognized. The pickup person must be 18 yrs old.
- If your child is not picked up at the scheduled time and we cannot reach you or your emergency contacts, then the Director will remain with your child until 5 pm. After 5 pm, if we have not heard from you or an authorized connection, we will be forced to contact Child Protective Services of Eagle County at 970-328-8840. Child services will then take over care of the child.
- If there is a reasonable belief that the authorized individual is under the influence of drugs or alcohol, leaves with the child, and is operating a motor vehicle, then the program must immediately report such to the police or social services. The school must still call law enforcement or social services if the individual leaves with the child and is not using a motor vehicle.
Sign In/Sign Out
Our program utilizes Transparent Classroom to document carpool pick up and drop off. For security purposes, each child must be signed in each morning and signed out when picked up via the Transparent Classroom app on your phone. The director or staff must use that list to ensure each child is present and has then been picked up. The classroom and playground are given a security sweep to ensure every child has been picked up for the day.
Special Needs Children
Mountain Montessori welcomes the opportunity to work with children with special needs, provided this is in the child's best interest. Accommodations in compliance with the American Disability Act will be made.
Suspected Child Abuse
The law requires staff to report any reasonable suspicion of child abuse to the county Department of Social Services or the local law enforcement agency. If parents feel the need to report suspected child abuse, they can do so by calling Child Welfare at (844) 264-5437.
Toilet Learning
All children enrolled at Mountain Montessori must be fully capable of utilizing the bathroom. We understand that all children have accidents, and we will provide safe and dignified assistance to each child needing help. However, children who consistently have accidents and are not fully toilet trained will not be able to continue attending Mountain Montessori. Please do not send pull-ups with your child, as we will not use them, even for naptime.
DAYTIME CONTROL
- Independent Use of Toilet: The child can independently recognize the need to use the toilet, communicate this need, and make it to the bathroom without accidents.
- Clothing Management: The child can independently manage their clothing, such as pulling pants up and down and properly securing fasteners (e.g., buttons, zippers).
- Hygiene: The child can wipe themselves effectively after using the toilet, flush the toilet, and wash their hands thoroughly with soap and water.
ACCIDENT MANAGEMENT
- Minimal Accidents: The child has minimal to no daytime accidents, and if accidents occur, they are rare and typically happen under unusual circumstances.
- Self-Care During Accidents: The child can recognize and communicate the occurrence of an accident and either manage the clean-up process independently or seek appropriate assistance from an adult.
Visitors
Visitors must check in with a staff member and sign a posted sheet indicating when they visited their visit's purpose, and what form of identification is used. All spontaneous visits are discourageable, but observation by appointment is encouraged.
Video Viewing
Mountain Montessori does not use television or videos within the classroom.
Withdrawal/Termination from the Program
Mountain Montessori requires written notification from parents or guardians three months before a child will leave the program.
If Mountain Montessori must withdraw care for any reason, parents will be given a three-month advance notification. If the school determines the child has social, emotional, or behavioral issues, then every effort will be made to work with the family and a team of specialists to support the child's growth. If the school feels this program is not a good match for the family and their child, every effort will be made to help them find the appropriate program to meet their needs.
Reasons for dismissal from the program include but are not limited to:
- Failure to provide health/immunization and other records within 30 days of enrollment or on an annual basis, or
- Failure to pay tuition or other charges (with no payment plan established), or
- Failure of the program to meet the needs of the child, or
- Your child constitutes a safety or legal hazard to themselves, other children, or staff (see “Discipline Policy”).