Primary
The Portland Montessori School offers a three-year program for children aged 2.5 to 6 years. This program carries the child through their kindergarten year. These are our Primary classrooms.
Classrooms are mixed-age environments, and they remain in the same class for their whole time in the Primary program. Children build strong bonds with their peers and guides. Older children serve as mentors, modelling behavior and giving lessons to younger members of the class. Younger children benefit from having experienced role models as they move towards mastery during their time in the classroom. These relationships provides children a special opportunity to develop compassion, leadership skills and an attitude of service as they grow and learn.
Association Montessori Internationale (AMI) certified guides help children develop a strong academic foundation built on language skills, math, geography, science, music and art. They also help them acquire practical life skills such as caring for themselves and their classroom environment. By design, the Montessori classroom sparks curiosity, while promoting learning, self-discipline, independence and responsibility.
A guide and a dedicated assistant lead each Primary classroom, working together to provide each child the individualized guidance they need to reach their fullest potential. At the end of their kindergarten year, children transition naturally into our Elementary program.
"The Portland Montessori School is a school with a heart. Each year, parents raise money to sustain scholarships that make the dream of a Montessori education a reality for families who could not otherwise afford it. That shows the true spirit of community at our school."
"Yesterday my second grader added 61 plus 61 in her head and she's zipping through the Harry Potter series. So while the school doesn’t measure her progress with test scores, I can see how much she has learned, but more importantly, I can see and feel her excitement about learning."
"We've been a part of this amazing community for seven years. Not only are our children getting a fabulous education, but they receive personal care and attention every single day."
"As the mom of identical (yet nothing alike) twins, we wanted a school community that would nurture their individual curiosities and interests and provide them the same lifelong love of learning that I have experienced as a Montessori student many years ago. We found that in The Portland Montessori School."
"What takes me aback every day is the exceptional commitment of every single staff member to the nurturing environment that this school provides. The care, understanding, and compassion that they show is and unwavering and is unique to each and every child."