• COVID-19
  • Our Classes
    • Infant Toddler Sessions
    • The Core Montessori Program
    • Specialist Classes
    • Enrichment Fridays
    • Kindergarten Program
    • Extended Day Kindergarten
    • Elementary Program
  • Our Team
  • The Montessori Approach
    • The Three Year Cycle
  • FAQs
    • Testimonials
  • Tuition
  • APPLICATION PROCESS
    • Online Application
  • School Video
  • Emergency Protocols
  • Elementary Application Form
  • Calendar
  • Contact

The Elementary Program

The Montessori Elementary Program

Our Montessori Elementary Program encompasses  a carefully prepared learning environment that fosters personal and academic growth, independence, confidence, responsibility and a passion for learning. It is designed to inspire and challenge students to discover the best of who they are and to achieve their full potential. Our mission is to guide our students towards success in their own unique strengths and talents.
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The Montessori Curriculum

The Montessori Elementary Curriculum is very closely aligned with BC's Ministry of Education's new curriculum. The redesigned curricula are described as concept-based and competency-driven. It places more emphasis on the deeper understanding of concepts and the application of processes rather than on the memorization of isolated facts and information. This goes hand in hand with Montessori pedagogy.

CORE COMPETENCIES
Core Competencies are at the centre of the Ministry's curriculum redesign. They are sets of intellectual, personal, social and emotional proficiencies that all students need to develop in order to engage in deeper learning. The Core Competencies include critical and creative thinking, communication, as well as social and personal awareness and responsibilities. 

Our Montessori Elementary program is designed to develop and nurture these core competencies in each student.
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A Culture of Community

WMS strives to create a culture of community and belonging among our students and their families through several special family events throughout the year.

​These include: a Back to School Social, Terry Fox Run, Winter Holiday Concert, Parent / Teacher and Student Led Conferences, Parent Education Evenings, Drop Everything and Read PJ Days, Family Field Trips, Charity Bake Sale, Science Fair, Mother's Day Tea, Father's Day Coffee, End of Year School Picnic and so much more!

Family members are also invited into the classrooms to share their special skills or talents whether it be baking, gardening, art, sports, culture or career. These unique presentations contribute to building stronger connections within our community.

There are also many classroom celebrations and traditions throughout the year that the children look forward to. These include a Thanksgiving Feast, Halloween Party, Diwali Celebration, Holiday Baking, Holiday Card Exchange, Pancake Breakfast, Valentine's Day Snack and Card Exchange, Lunar New Year Festivities, Easter Egg Hunt, Earth Day Celebration, Summer Birthdays BBQ and much, much more.
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Our Specialist Classes

In a addition to a strong academic program, students participate in several Specialist classes each week led by talented teachers specializing in each area. 

ORFF MUSIC
The Orff method taps into children’s natural instincts to make music through active participation. The children learn by doing and are constantly creating music: playing instruments, improvising, moving and singing. Early musical training helps to develop areas of the brain involved in language, reasoning and problem-solving. Research shows that the study of music enhances concentration and improves school performance. At the same time, performance art teaches children to overcome their fears and become risk-takers so they can fully develop their potential. 

FRENCH
Our French program presents a child-centered, activity-based introduction to the French language and culture. Students have fun interacting with each other with basic French words and phrases as they sing French songs, repeat familiar rhymes and enjoy games, crafts, stories and dramatic play. They become comfortable using basic French words and greetings, show comprehension through gestures and conversations and can easily respond to key directions. 

ART
Art is integrated into the program and are extensions of the curriculum. Art materials are readily available in the classroom year round. Much like the Montessori materials, the children are encouraged to use, explore and create with the items on the art shelf. Our Art Teacher, enriches the program by providing direct instruction on core elements in art. Activities are connected to featured artists, connections to the curriculum or the children’s interests. 

YOGA & MOVEMENT
Yoga classes are fun with a creative approach to movement. The use of animated poses and stretching exercises promote strength, flexibility, coordination and body awareness. Breathing and visualization techniques teach us how to focus, relax and develop self-control. Children are given time to practice silence and stillness, to stimulate their imagination and to help release energy in a fun, safe environment. Through positive language affirmations the program also promotes inner-awareness, strength, confidence and a positive self-image, a feeling of well-being, respect for others and respect for our bodies.  
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A Mixed Age Classroom

Our Elementary program operates much like a one-room schoolhouse for children from Kindergarten to Seventh Grade. The majority of our students are in Kindergarten to Grade Three. Our mixed-age classroom is like a family with older students nurturing and motivating younger ones. There is no more effective teacher for a new first-grader than the experienced third-grader who is proud of his or her skills. And, as most teachers know, the best way to improve one’s knowledge or abilities in a subject is to teach that subject to others. 

Montessori classrooms allow students the opportunity to learn and grow not only from the adults in the classroom, but more importantly from one another. Growth is often a series of sudden spurts rather than a smooth, linear progression. In a classroom with a large chronological-age span, the norm becomes a wide range of abilities rather than the expectation that everyone is at the same level. 

A student may be ahead of or behind his or her chronological peers, but the classroom has teachers and materials available that are appropriate to the needs of every student, regardless of where he or she falls on the spectrum of abilities. There is no skipping or failing of grades because a student remains with his or her chronological peers whatever the academic needs.
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It is not unusual to find a student working quickly through one curriculum area but slowly through another. The academic work shown to him or her is always at level. The availability of a wide range of curriculum materials and the variety of a teacher's expertise allows that student to always be working with just enough of a challenge to … not trying to keep up with, or being bored with, the level of an expected norm.

The Montessori approach allows children the freedom to develop at an individual pace while addressing their specific strengths, challenges and interests. Individualized lessons and daily activities are designed to peak each child's interests and abilities. Lessons are perfectly tailored to each student. ​For example, each student receives 1:1 reading time twice a week and levelled, interest-based books are sent home as part of the Reading Program.

The beauty of our multi-age Elementary classroom is that our students will grow up with our 
incredible Guide, Ms Victoria. She will know and nurture their strengths and support their areas that need it. Being in the same space during these key years of development allow for trusted relationships to grow and to blossom. Our families cherish this most unique and close-knit relationship. 
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Our Day

08:50 - 09:00     Drop-Off Window
09:00 - 12:00     Morning Work Cycle
12:00 - 13:00     Lunch Hour and Outdoor Playtime
13:00 - 15:00     Specialist Classes and Project Work
15:00 - 15:10     Pick-Up WIndow

MORNINGS
The first part of the day is reserved for the Morning Work Cycle. During this time, students will be engaged with the Montessori materials, receiving and giving lessons and working through their daily learning plan.

LUNCH HOUR
Lunch is held at 12 noon. The children have 20 minutes to eat their lunch followed by 40 minutes of outdoor playtime. The group walks to the nearby play spaces in our neighbourhood. Various outdoor games and sports equipment are available to the children for use during this free play time.

​AFTERNOONS
Afternoons are when most of our Specialist classes, Physical Education outings and Project Work will take place. Class read alouds and novel study also occur in the afternoons.

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Classroom Design

The design and flow of the Montessori classroom create a learning environment that accommodates choice. There are spaces suited to group activity and areas where a student can choose to work independently. Parts of the room are open and spacious. 

You won’t find the customary rows of school desks. Instead children have the choice to work at tables of various heights or on the floor, rolling out mats on which to work and define their space. 

There are well-defined spaces for each part of the curriculum, such as Language, Math, and Social Sciences. Each of these areas feature shelves or display tables with a variety of inviting materials for students to choose from. There are also places to curl up with a good book.

​Visual clutter is kept to a minimum. The classroom is warm, well-organized, and inviting, with plenty of room to move, natural light, and plants  to help children feel calm, relaxed and at home.

We take great pride in the Elementary space we have created with a very carefully curated and rich selection of exceptional learning materials. 
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Field Trips

Connecting with the community and exploring our surroundings is an important part of the Montessori Elementary Program. Our students go on several field trips throughout the year to enrich their learning in all curricular areas.

Some highlights have included: the Monet and Picasso exhibits at the Vancouver Art Gallery, the Beaty Biodiversity Museum, the Blodel Conservatory, H.R. MacMillan Space Centre, the Vancouver Symphony, the Vancouver Playhouse, Carousel Theatre, Southland Farms, the Honeybee Centre, the Vancouver Public Library, the Pacific Museum of the Earth, Van Dusen Gardens, Maplewood Farm and CBC Radio Station. 
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Physical Education

The children walk or take the school scooters to nearby green spaces daily where the they participate in active play,  cooperative games and sports such as soccer, yoga or basketball. On rainy days, indoor activities are planned such as yoga, dance or martial arts. 

The class also travels to specialized venues to engage in physical activities such as ice skating at Hillcrest, swimming lessons at the Vancouver Aquatic Centre or  gymnastics lessons at Tumble Town or Jump Gymnastics. Activities vary from term to term depending on the interest of the group.

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Meet Our Elementary Team

An highly experienced group of educators collaborating in the development and delivery of a Montessori elementary education program of the highest quality.

Victoria Wedgbury
Elementary Principal & Head Teacher ​

Ms Victoria is a warm, passionate and talented Montessori Elementary Guide with over 15 years of Montessori teaching experience. She is in the final stages of completing her Masters in Montessori Education. Originally from Toronto, Ms Victoria completed her studies at the Toronto Montessori Teacher Training Institute. She holds two Bachelor of Arts Degrees, one in English and one in History, from McMaster University. A highly qualified Montessori Elementary Guide, Ms Victoria provides a strong Montessori education and captivating learning environment for her students. She also holds her Independent School Teaching Certificate from the BC Ministry of Education.

Bettina Tioseco
Head of School

Ms Bettina is the Head of Westside Montessori School. She is a trained and highly experienced School Leader and Guide. An Early Childhood Educator and Montessori trained guide for children Birth to 12 years of age, Bettina has over twenty-five years of Montessori teaching experience, including teaching Montessori Elementary for six of those years. She holds her Independent School Teaching Certificate with the Ministry of Education. She designed our Elementary classroom spaces and masterfully curated and organized all the materials and resources. Ms Bettina is committed to developing confident, independent, mindful students with a love of school and a joy for learning. 

Paola Tioseco
School Administrator & Registrar 

Ms Paola is instrumental in her role as our school administrator. She has a decade of experience as an Elementary school teacher and six years in school administration. She holds a teaching certificate with the BC College of Teachers, a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Family Studies, a Bachelor of Education Degree, a Graduate Diploma in Advanced Professional Studies, an Early Childhood Education Assistant Certificate and an Association Montessori Internationale (AMI) Montessori Assistant Certificate. Ms Paola is pivotal to the high level of organization and seamless running of both our Casa and Elementary programs. 

Julie Aubrey
Montessori Teacher

Ms Julie is a trained and experienced Montessori educator both at the preschool and lower elementary levels. She graduated from Simon Fraser University with a BA in Psychology. In 2005 she completed her AMI Primary Teacher training for children ages 3 to 6 at the Montessori Training Centre of BC. During her career, Ms Julie has had the joy of working in Montessori environments in San Jose del Cabo, Barcelona, Montreal and Vancouver. Ms Julie also holds her ECE Certification, Elementary Teaching diploma from the North American Montessori Center and her Independent School Teaching Certificate. 
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Ashley Speed
Montessori Teacher​ & Elementary Assistant

Ms Ashley is a highly dedicated AMI Primary Guide with over ten years of Montessori teaching experience. She is passionate about creating equitable and inviting classroom spaces and working with children to help them develop to their fullest and unique potentials. She is also a speaker and advocate for inclusive education. Ms Ashley is in the process of completing her Montessori Elementary Teacher Dipolma Program through the American Montessori Society.

Flora Marckert
Montessori Assistant​ & French Teacher

Ms Flora is a native French speaker with a love for sharing French language and culture with her students. She worked in a Montessori Casa environment for two years before making the transition to Elementary. Ms Flora holds a Bachelor’s degree from the University of Maine in France, an Early Childhood Educator Assistant Certificate through Northern Lights College and her AMI Elementary Assistant Guide certification through the AMI Institute in Sydney, Australia.

Elementary Location

Our Elementary program is located on the corner of Cambie and West 18th Avenue, ​right in the heart of Vancouver.
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One of several neighbourhood parks our students visit. This one is located just around the corner on West 17th and Yukon.

Tuition & Application

Tuition Fees are bundled and include an individualized learning program led by a qualified and experienced WMS Montessori Elementary Guides, all curricular materials, student supplies, activity fees, field trips, enriched Physical Education program and Specialist Classes. Upon enrolling, families are asked to provide the school with a series of postdated cheques using one of the  payment schedules below.
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Fee Schedule for the 2023 - 2024 School Year
1. Annual Registration Fee & Lump Sum Payment Totalling $15,000
  • Annual Registration Fee   $1,000      Date of Registration
  • Balance of Fees                 $14,000    1 March 2023

2. Annual Registration Fee & Four Installments Totalling $15,500
  • Annual Registration Fee    $1,000      Date of Registration
  • Four Installments               $3,625      1 March 2023, 1 June 2023
​                                                                         1 Sept. 2023, 1 Dec. 2023
We are able to accept a limited number of International Students.
​Tuition costs for International Students is $19,500 per year.


APPLY NOW

Our Elementary Program falls under Westside Montessori School Society, a non-profit organization committed to providing Montessori elementary education of the highest quality.

WMS CLASSES

Core Montessori Program
Kindergarten Program
Elementary Program

WMS CASA    

4157 Oak Street
​Vancouver, BC  
​V6H 2N1

WMS ELEMENTARY

3396 Cambie Street
Vancouver, BC
V5Z 2W5
​
© COPYRIGHT 2015. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.
  • COVID-19
  • Our Classes
    • Infant Toddler Sessions
    • The Core Montessori Program
    • Specialist Classes
    • Enrichment Fridays
    • Kindergarten Program
    • Extended Day Kindergarten
    • Elementary Program
  • Our Team
  • The Montessori Approach
    • The Three Year Cycle
  • FAQs
    • Testimonials
  • Tuition
  • APPLICATION PROCESS
    • Online Application
  • School Video
  • Emergency Protocols
  • Elementary Application Form
  • Calendar
  • Contact