Procedures and Policies
Squamish Montessori School is a co-educational, non-denominational school. The school does not discriminate according to gender, race, colour, heritage, ethnic origin, or religion.
Preschool/Kindergarten Admission Policy (ages 2.5 to 6)
1. Returning students have priority for admission. After re-enrolments are received, the remaining places are divided according places available in both preschool classes. At the preschool level we do select according to age, since we have a three year age grouping and try to maintain an even balance between the age groups in each class whenever possible.
2. All new children must go through at least one orientation session in order to assess their suitability with our program.
3. From new applications, children are admitted on the basis of priorities:
- Siblings of children already enrolled in our programmes have priority for admission.
- Children of staff members.
- Applications are then selected on a first come, first serve basis; this means that the sooner an enrolment application is received with deposit, the better the chance of admission. Re-enrolment applications received after the due dates will be considered along with new admissions. New admissions received after the due date will be considered after the first round of admissions have been placed.
- For admission to our first year casa programme, children must be thirty months of age, toilet trained and able to take simple direction.
- For children who are 4 years of age or older, children with Montessori experience will have priority. Children not having Montessori experience and are 4 years of age or older must be assessed by the school through orientation sessions.
- We admit children with learning differences, but with a limit of one or two children per class and taking into consideration the teacher’s experience, the class configuration, and the nature of the child’s learning difference.
Elementary Admission Policy (ages 6-12)
Returning students have priority for admission. After re-enrolments are received, the remaining places will be available on the basis of priorities:
- Siblings of children already enrolled in our programmes have priority for admission.
- Children of staff members.
- Children must be 6 years old by December 31st of the new school year.
- Children that have Montessori experience.
- Applications are then selected on a first come, first serve basis; this means that the sooner an enrolment application is received with deposit, the better the chance of admission. Re-enrolment applications received after the due dates will be considered along with new admissions. New admissions received after the due date will be considered after the first round of admissions have been placed.
- Children that have no Montessori experience that are of grade one and grade two levels and have been assessed and deemed eligible to enrol in our elementary program.
- We admit children with learning differences, but with a limit of one or two children per class and taking into consideration the teacher’s experience, the class configuration, and the nature of the child’s learning difference.
Please note: Our Elementary School will not accept any children aged 8 and up (grades 3 and up) that have not had any previous levelled Montessori experience.
Withdrawal Policy
The parent may terminate the School Contract of enrolment by giving thirty days written notice to Squamish Montessori School. There is not reduction or refund of fees in the case of withdrawal, dismissal, absence, cancellation or non-attendance. Exception: if the cancellation occurs within 5 days of enrolment (cooling off period), all fees will be refunded. The administrator maintains records of withdrawals for each school year, together with explanations.
Dismissal Policy
The School reserves the right to terminate the Enrolment at any time if the student’s teacher(s) and the school’s principal determine that the student is unable to thrive in the school’s Montessori environment, if the student’s behaviour represents a danger to other students or if the parents are unable to pay the tuition. If the School under these circumstances terminates enrolment, tuition will be pro-rated and refunded accordingly.
Waiting List Policy
Once a classroom is full, a waiting list will be started. The following conditions apply to be placed on the waiting list:
- An application must be submitted.
- The child must obtain the minimum age by Dec. 31 of that school year.
- The waiting list will be limited to 8 students per class. After that, we ask that you apply in the spring during the regular enrolment period.
Once a child is accepted on the waiting list, a letter will be sent acknowledging the estimated wait. As spots become available, they will be filled by age-eligible children according to date of application acceptance.
If students on the list have not been admitted due to lack of space during the current school year, an updated application must be submitted during open enrolment in the spring to confirm your continued desire to enrol your child. You only need to pay the application fee the first time the application is submitted.
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