Purpose Statement

Emerson Farm Middle School's mission is to nurture and preserve each child's natural curiosity for learning. We encourage children to develop academic, physical, social and life skills in an environment of mutual respect. The school is committed to serving a community of children and families from diverse backgrounds.

We recognize parents as the child's first teachers and utilize conferences, meetings, observations and parent study groups to disseminate information about Montessori philosophy and methodology.

Our Philosophy

Based in part on the methods used by Dr. Montessori, our philosophy influences policy, guides administrative practices and directs activities of Emerson Farm Middle School. We believe that:

• Developmental needs of children are universal and transcend cultural differences.
• Children have within them a natural urge to explore and discover the world around them and find joy in learning when they are actively the learning process.
• Children learn best when competencies are fostered through repetitive, successful experiences and failures are de-emphasized.
• Children internalize concepts and skills at their own pace.
• Children learn best in an environment of mutual respect and one that provides opportunities for cognitive, social, emotional, moral and physical growth.
• Children need opportunities to make choices. These choices foster independence, self-esteem and self-discipline.

Middle School Curriculum & Class Structure

A Real Life Learning Approach

We have based our middle school on the philosophy and educational methods of Dr. Maria Montessori. While Montessori education has been largely associated with the young child, Dr. Montessori also addressed the needs of adolescents. Our middle school presents a "real life" learning approach to education where students feel academically competent and challenged, are engaged in activities that balance manual and intellectual work, build meaningful relationships with peers and teachers, gain confidence and create a vision for their personal future.

The Emerson Farm Middle School program offers:

• A developmentally responsive curriculum
• Individualized learning for each student
• Multi-aged grouping
• Mastery learning, coaching and experiential learning
• Large blocks of uninterrupted work time
• Individual and cooperative learning activities

Meeting the Needs of the Adolescent Student

The Emerson Farm Middle School program addresses the unique characteristics of adolescent children. Since this is a time of profound growth and change, our middle school classroom is carefully prepared to meet the middle school student's social and academic needs. The Community Meeting, Socratic Seminar, personal-reflection time, individual academic time, group-work activities, coaching and age appropriate resource materials are some of the elements used to establish a positive learning environment. They allow students to develop leadership skills, practice peer-to-peer interaction, refine or expand problem-solving skills, express acknowledgements of others in their lives, as well as excel in their academic studies.

The Student:

• Is responsible for his or her learning
• Develops a new sense of self within the classroom and larger community
• Takes on new, more mature responsibilities
• Actively contributes to the learning environment

The Teacher

• Serves as an appropriate role model, coach, mentor and instructor
• Maintains a positive classroom environment
• Consults regularly with students
• Provides concrete, experiential learning activities, as well as guidance in creative thinking and problem solving
• Communicates regularly with parents

CURRICULUM & CLASS STRUCTURE

Since classroom materials promote individualized learning, students work at a pace that matches their particular academic needs and preferred learning styles. In keeping with the primary and elementary programs, the Emerson Farm Middle School program is completely child-centered and firmly grounded in the Montessori philosophy.

Curriculum and Instruction includes:

• Five-week learning cycles followed by an immersion week
• Integrated, cross-curricular learning
• Daily student-led community meetings
• Computers for typing instruction, word-processing, slide show presentations, simulation programs and research
• Service learning projects
• Personal reflection and self-assessment
• Student-selected end-of-year adventure trip
• Off-campus field studies
• Student-operated business projects

Class Structure

• One qualified teacher, certified by the state of Maryland, per class
• One assistant per class, as needed
• Teacher/student ratio approximately 1 to 10

The middle school experience will be the culmination of the student's earlier education. The level of independence that they will achieve, the confidence that they will gain and the concepts that they will master will enable them to be successful in their future endeavors. The students will benefit emotionally, socially and academically by a curriculum that is developmentally responsive to their needs. They will continue to receive personalized instruction through the eighth grade and then make just one transition into an upper school of their choice.

Specialty Programs

ART

Art is integrated into the curriculum in such activities as geometric drawings, map skills, botany and zoology nomenclature and historical illustrations for period costumes and architecture. The Human Relations Curriculum offers the study of the development and styles of art. In addition, formal art instruction gives the elementary child a variety of techniques and media for artistic expression.

FOREIGN LANGUAGE

The aural-oral approach is continued at the middle school level with increasing effort on reading and limited writing. Each unit contains conversation patterns, vocabulary categories and structure. It includes a short reading selection and comprehension exercises. Students complete written drills to practice the use of structure. Songs, games and cultural insights provide varied opportunities for practice and becoming more familiar with the language and the various parts of the world where it is spoken.

MUSIC

The music program consists of music reading, music appreciation and singing games. Students may use Orff instruments, recorders, keyboards or guitars to enhance songs learned in class. In addition, music is integrated into the curriculum through the study of history and different cultures.

Additional Programs

EXTRA TIME (ET)

In accordance with the Maryland State Department of Human Resources Childcare Administration, the ET Program is available before and after regular school hours throughout the school year for middle school students. Designed to complement the child's regular classroom hours, the program provides planned activities and follows the same rules as the middle school.

Since ET is a licensed day care program, enrollment is limited with priority given to those requesting five-day a week spaces. Parents are urged to be prompt when dropping off or picking up their children from the program. When dropping off, parents must walk their children into the Multi-Purpose Room where they will be received by a staff member. There is a $10.00 charge for each ten minutes a child is dropped off early or picked up late beyond his or her scheduled time. Families who are continually late will be billed accordingly and may be asked to withdraw from the Extra Time program.

It is important to remember that our ET program ends at 5:45 p.m. At that time our staff needs to leave the campus in order to keep other commitments with their own families, their coursework, etc. If parents repeatedly fail to pick up their children by 5:45 and cannot live within the parameters of the ET program, we will be forced to drop them from the program.

Parents must tell a staff member when taking their child home. It is also imperative that the ET staff be informed in writing of any changes, special instructions or restrictions concerning with whom children may or may not ride.

SUMMER PROGRAM

A six-week summer program is held at the school's Emerson Farm campus. Some of the programs offered may include computer, arts, crafts, nature, cultural studies and indoor and outdoor recreation. Morning and afternoon day care is also available during the summer program. Brochures outlining the summer sessions are available in February.

Parent Communication

Good communication between you and your child's teacher is essential to your child's progress. Please contact your child's teacher to clarify any questions or concerns during the school year. Written notes on the children's progress are given to parents in November and April. Regular parent/teacher conferences are scheduled through the office twice a year, in November and May.

All other conferences should be scheduled directly with the teacher. Please call the school office to leave a message for the teacher and he or she will return your call to set up an appointment. If your child's teacher has been unable to satisfy your concern, you may request a meeting with the academic dean by calling the office. If you are in need of further assistance you may request a meeting with the Head of School.

School activities, notices and other timely information are published monthly in the school newsletter-the Bulletin- and sent home in your child's backpack. Please remember to check your child's lunch box or backpack daily for notes.

Parent Orientation

It is essential that ALL RETURNING PARENTS AND NEW PARENTS attend the fall orientation to learn more about your child's daily routine, ask questions and meet the teachers as well as the parents in your child's class.

Observations

Parents are invited to observe their child at work in the classroom. (Prior to observing, please check in at the main office.) We ask that you sit quietly in the location designated by the teacher. Feel free to take notes and speak softly when spoken to by one of the students. If a student tries to engage you in conversation, please quietly suggest that he or she return to the work in progress. The calm and order of classroom work should be respected.

Arrangements for observations, scheduled from October through the third week in May, are made through the office. No observations are scheduled on the day before a major holiday or the week before or after winter vacation or spring break.

Admission Policies

In the middle school classroom, there is a broad cross-section of children representing different socioeconomic, religious, cultural, racial and ability groups. As often as is possible, the ages and genders of children are evenly distributed in the class. The teacher strives to create an environment with a balance of developmentally appropriate activities for maximum growth. In such an environment, we see children completing work cycles, exercising grace and courtesy, and showing a joy of learning.

Admission policies, procedures, curriculum and faculty at the Emerson Farm Middle School have been approved by the Maryland State Department of Education.

CRITERIA FOR ELIGIBILITY

Middle School Program (Ages 12 to 14)

1. All transfer candidates, as part of the interviewing process, are required to spend a morning in the middle school classroom.
2. Official records from the present school are required prior to acceptance to the program.
3. Children entering the middle school program must be over 12 years of age or older by September 1 and meet all requirements for placement.

ADDITIONAL ADMISSION REQUIREMENTS

1. All children are interviewed by the middle school teacher before admission to the school.
2. All parents meet with the Head of School and/or the Director of Admission.
3. Copies of any educational or psychological testing must be submitted before admission to the school.
4. Education for all children, including those with special needs, will be done within the parameters of the school philosophy and its implementation in the classroom. This implementation implies a multi-sensory approach to education.
5. Specific trial periods and evaluation procedures may be established as needed.

APPLICATION PROCEDURES

• Requests for enrollment applications are taken both by telephone and in person.
• An information packet consisting of our brochure, stating the philosophy and objectives of our program, a fee and payment schedule, and additional information regarding Emerson Farm Middle School will be mailed or given to interested parents.
• Observation of a class by prospective parents is required. Observations are scheduled from Monday through Thursday of each week. Every effort is made to schedule them for the first convenient date. Observations are for adults only.
• Parents are supplied with an observation sheet before entering the classroom. A meeting with the Head of School and/or the Director of Admission is scheduled immediately following the observation to answer questions and explain the programs.
• After an application is submitted an interview with the child is scheduled.
• Although the school follows a rolling admission policy, no new applicants will be admitted after spring break of each school year.

TUITION

Monday-Friday, 8:30 a.m.-3:15 p.m.

$13,500.00

There is no additional charge for before or after school extra time (7:15 a.m.-5:45 p.m.)

After Montessori...

Where do students continue their education when they leave The Montessori School? Here is a list of some of the schools that our students have transferred to after graduating from Montessori: