Primary
3-6 years
Best Pre-School
Primary Program
Dr. Montessori divides a child’s growth into four distinct planes of development. The first two planes deal with childhood and the growth of a child through age 12. Providence Montessori addresses these first two formative planes through its primary and elementary programs.
The first plane of development, the age of formation, covers birth to age six. During this time a child has what Dr. Montessori termed an absorbent mind. During the first three years, the child is unconsciously absorbing his surroundings. During the second three years, the child moves from unconscious absorption to conscious work. The teaching staff at Providence Montessori recognizes the child’s need to gather facts and make sense of previous impressions. Additionally, the classroom environments are carefully prepared to encourage learning and independence. We recognize that children develop and learn best when their physical needs are met and they feel safe, valued and psychologically secure.
Providence offers three primary classrooms serving children beginning at age three and continuing through the kindergarten year. The classrooms all have three-year age spans to allow children to both learn from and teach other children.
There are typically 25 children in each classroom and three teachers. The materials and curriculum promote practical life experiences, sensory-motor experiences, as well as activities in language, mathematics, science, and geography. In addition, specialized teachers in art and Spanish provide demonstrations and lessons.
The primary level offers a morning half-day program and full-day option. Half-day is 8:15 a.m. – 12:30 p.m. and all-day is 8:15 a.m. – 3:00 p.m. Before School Care is available beginning at 7:45 a.m. Our after school program is from 3:00pm-5:30pm. At the primary level, the fee for both Before School Care and the After School Program is included in tuition for full-day students.
Portia attended Providence Montessori School from age 3 through 6th grade, and currently is Director of Advancement and Communications at Local Food Hub in Charlottesville Virginia.
“Providence gave me an environment where I felt supported and encouraged to figure myself and the world around me out. The teachers were so committed to supporting the students, and I met amazing people who remain my friends to this day. Providence inspired me to learn both inside and outside of the classroom. It helped instill a lifelong desire to care for my community and try to leave it a better place than I found it. I am so grateful for my time at Providence.”
- Portia B.
Lynn attended Providence Montessori as a child, and now her children attend.
“I have been fortunate to experience the difference Providence makes as both a student and parent. As a student, I always felt encouraged and supported, which led to a genuine love of school and learning that I knew I wanted my children to have as well. As a parent, I see how much the education Providence students receive extends beyond the obviously excellent academics. Students don’t merely study facts, they understand and apply concepts. They develop independence and responsibility under the guidance of caring and attentive teachers, and in turn, a well-founded confidence that they can achieve anything to which they apply themselves. And they learn what it means and how to be a good member of a community, from the classroom level to the world at large. In my experience, you could not find better people than Providence’s administrators, faculty, and staff to teach and care for your children. It is no wonder so many of my former classmates’ children, like mine, now attend Providence."
- Lynn Z.
