Your Most Common Questions Answered
What is included in the tuition cost?Everything. All costs for the year are included in the annual tuition fee. This includes all supplies, snacks, specialist classes, field trips, etc. No additional fees will be collected throughout the year.
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Does my child need to be toilet trained?Yes. In order for our program to function at its best, all children must be fully toilet trained. This requirement also applies to new enrolling students who participate in WMS Summer Camps.
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What specialist classes are offered?Included in tuition are French, Yoga and Music classes. Students attend each class once a week for half and hour with a Specialist Teacher in our Specialist Room.
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How much time do you spend outside?We spend about 30 minutes in outdoor play time daily.
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When can my child start?You may apply for a September start in the year that your child turns three years old. For instance, if your child will be three in 2019, you may apply for the 2019 September start date.
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When can I submit my child's application?WMS is now accepting applications for the 2018-2019 school year for children who turn three, four or five years in 2018.
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What do parents say about your program?Through personal cards, heartfelt words and testimonials, we know that parents fully support our staff and our programs. Read some of our Parent Testimonials below.
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Do the children go on Field Trips?Students in the Regular Program go on two to three field trips a year. The cost for these trips is included in tuition. Students in the Friday Enrichment Program go on frequent field trips to expand on their classroom program.
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Does my child ever work in groups or is it all individual work?Children choose how they want to work throughout the day. There is time to be together as a whole class group, time to work in small groups or partner groups and also the opportunity to choose to work individually.
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How does my child actually learn in the Montessori classroom?In our student-centred classrooms, children are free to develop at their own individual pace that fits their specific strengths, challenges and interests. One-on-one lessons with a teacher and daily activities are targeted to each child's interest making the learning perfectly tailored to each student.
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How well do children transfer to "traditional" classrooms after a Montessori Three Year Program?Research shows that Montessori children are very well prepared for later life academically, socially and emotionally.
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Will a Montessori Program challenge my child academically?Children graduating from the WMS program not only exceed the prescribed learning outcomes but also have strong concentration skills, refined work habits, are self-motivated and reflect a true love for learning. These skills will serve them well as lifelong learners.
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How do teachers motivate the children?Every moment in the Montessori classroom is thought out and structured to engage students actively in the learning process. Teachers guide the children to delve more deeply into the areas of study that they are currently interested in and lead them to new ideas.
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How would you describe a Montessori child?Children in our classrooms are confident, self-directed learners. They are independent, careful, thoughtful, curious, creative and joyful. Students are constantly learning through inquiry which means that they are asking the big questions and searching out the answers. Montessori classrooms do not focus on reward or punishment as a means of motivation. Rather, they nurture a love of meaningful learning activities and inner focus and discipline.
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I'm concerned that my child won't get into our preferred school if he completes Kindergarten at WMS.The majority of our families apply to schools with a grade one intake and our children generally get accepted to the schools on the westside of Vancouver. The intake of your desired school is something that you need to consider before applying to WMS. If you are looking for a school with only a Junior Kindergarten or Kindergarten intake, then WMS is not the school for you.
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What schools do children usually move on to after WMS?Our students move on to the big private schools, Catholic or Jewish schools, Montessori elementary schools, French Immersion and some enroll in their local public schools.
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Do I have to pack a snack for my child?No, you don't! A gluten free, healthy organic snack is provided for all students at any point during their day at WMS.
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What is the classroom environment like?Our classrooms are full of natural light with windows on three sides. The bright, inviting colours mixed with the traditional Montessori learning materials make WMS the ideal place for children to learn and grow in their home away from home.
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Do you have a question that was not answered on the website?
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After searching the website, if you still have an unanswered question, you can contact our school office by phone at 604.731.6594 or by filling in the form below.
*PLEASE NOTE: We do not offer school tours. We host an Open House in January for the parents of applicants. |
Another option would be to contact a parent. We have a group of dedicated parents of current students who would love to help you determine if Westside Montessori School is the right choice for your child. If you would like to ask a WMS parent a question, you may do so by completing the form below.
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