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.
Upper Elementary -
The Upper Elementary program for grades 4th-6th builds upon the skills and content of the Lower
Elementary. Children continue to progress academically and begin to take a more active role in
their own learning process. Students learn about the significant historical contributions of
individuals and great civilizations of the past as they begin to understand the relationship of
past to present. They learn that their actions can have global impact through work with local
charities as well as organizations like the Heifer project that address world hunger. They
continue to study Spanish; other interdisciplinary activities include drama, art and music.
Students meet growing academic challenges while building a foundation of organization,
self discipline and cooperation.
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 7:30 to 8:30am, and after school care is offered from 2:30 to 5:30pm. 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:
Children's House I:
We are anxiously awaiting the arrival of our caterpillars - they are due any day now and we will begin our observance of the process of metamorphosis. We are continuing to learn about the different groups of invertebrates, thanks to Dylan for bringing in jellyfish, a crab and a shrimp (all living) for us to study. We will focus on insects later this month, we have only to go as far as the playground for first-hand observation. With luck, we will end the year with a bang as the caterpillars change into butterflies that we will release outside, perhaps to see fluttering around the children's garden this summer!
Click to view CH I Calendar
Children's House II:
As the class slips into the final phase of the school year, it is so rewarding to watch the children work together and see how they have grown on so many levels. This is my thank you note to you for the joy of working with your children. Best wishes to our kidergarten graduates, Jake, Cooper and Elliott. Thanks to the LaCasse family for the wonderful CD and thanks again to Chip & Stephanie Davis for our beautiful bathroom renovation and painting the walls.
Click to view CH II Calendar
Elementary:
Both classes are preparing for a trip to Assateague island. Students will fish, swim, and cook on this group camping trip. We are studying the evolution of humans which will culminate in Cro-Magnon Day on June 8th. On Cro-magnon day we celebrate our ancestors with cave painting, food gathering, fire-making, and atl-atl throwing. Students will have a test on the Animal Kingdom on Friday, May 14th. Students are almost finished with their Mammal order habitats paintings. Upper elementary students will finish their research papers on early humans. They will study measurements, and also review area and volumes of geometric figures.
Lower elementary will finish studying the atmosphere with the presentations of their research papers on weather. They will make a hot air balloon together.
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