This article originally appeared in Forest & Bluff Magazine
Throughout their admissions process, Montessori School of Lake Forest teachers and staff members value every interaction with prospective students and their families–ensuring each child’s successful transition into a new learning environment.
When it comes to finding a school that is a good fit for your child, the process can feel daunting. After all, a child’s education is one of the most important aspects of his or her life, and one that shapes thoughts, actions, and future goals. Montessori School of Lake Forest (MSLF) uses a detailed admission process to ensure the best fit for prospective students. Naturally, the staff at MSLF approaches the admission process the same way they approach each child’s education: with careful thought, extensive communication, and a desire to meet each student’s needs in the best way possible.
“The intent of our admission process is not to decide if students are good enough for us,” explains MSLF Executive Director Ann Jordahl. “It’s quite the opposite; it’s to decide if we can serve a child and his or her family.” One of the first goals of the admission process is to simply inform families about Montessori education and how MSLF, specifically, carries out this educational philosophy. Parents who are interested in learning more about MSLF may attend admission open houses or schedule a private tour of the school. In the subsequent days or weeks, parents are welcome to observe a classroom, schedule a time for their child to meet and interact with a teacher, and arrange follow-up meetings to converse with teachers or administrators.
The overall mission of the admission process, of course, is to ensure that MSLF will be an engaging and beneficial learning environment for any given prospective student. “Montessori can serve just about every child,” Ann explains. “What we’re looking to do is to make absolutely sure that the child would be comfortable with us.” In order to ensure a child’s comfort and, consequently, success at the school, teachers look for two important qualities in prospective students: the characteristic of responsibility and a strong sense of respect for oneself, others, and the environment. “Those are hallmark terms in Montessori and our goal is to foster those qualities in each child,” Ann says. “We work on it in very simple ways with the young children, and as they grow older, it becomes more and more complex.”
With rolling admission, MSLF is able to admit new students anytime during the school year. Although it’s more difficult for elementary-age and older children to join and adjust during the middle of the school year, it’s entirely possible. For the youngest children, however, the rolling admission policy is quite beneficial. Because children under the age of 6 progress very quickly through developmental stages, they may be ready to join a class at any point during the school year. A toddler, for instance, may not be ready for school in the fall, but may show indications of readiness for school a few weeks later. At MSLF, that child’s parents may enroll him or her mid-year and capitalize on that readiness, rather than wait for the next school year.
MSLF uses a “phase-in” method to help new students make the transition to their new classrooms. Rather than expecting a young child to immediately acclimate to a new environment, the staff at MSLF introduces the child to his or her new setting gradually. First, the child meets and speaks one-on-one to his or her new teacher. Then, on the first official day, the child stays for a brief visit in the classroom, and may interact with the other children and participate in a lesson. The second day involves a longer stay, and by the third day, the child may stay the entire day. Of course, the process is different for each child, and some need more visits to make the transition; MSLF teachers are able to accommodate each student, depending on his or her progress. “We all need to orient—to know where we are and what we’re doing—and children typically need more time to do that,” Ann explains.
Because the whole well-being of the child is important to MSLF staff members and teachers, they make an effort to collaborate with parents on strengthening the children’s curiosity, intellect, and sense of responsibility. Throughout the school year, MSLF offers various parent-education opportunities, as well as two formal parent-teacher conferences. Parents are always welcome to schedule additional meetings with their child’s teacher, as communication is considered a key contributor to each child’s growth and development. “It’s our job to be as transparent as possible,” Ann explains. “We want families to choose Montessori education and MSLF because they understand our philosophy and value it.” MSLF’s staff members, parents, and students all value one another and their common goal of excellent Montessori education for each child. This mutual sense of respect allows the children to flourish in their education—and that’s when true success is achieved.
Montessori School of Lake Forest will host fall open houses on September 18, October 2 and 23, and November 6, for prospective students and their families. The open houses begin at 9:30 a.m. at the school’s main campus, located at 13700 W. Laurel Drive in Lake Forest. To sign up for an open house or to schedule a private tour, call 847-918-1000.
-Jenna Schubert
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