Summary
Contact Info
Alcuin Montessori School
PO Box 918
Oak Park
, IL
60302
www.alcuin.org
Tel:
(708) 366-1882
Fax:
(708) 386-1892
Director:
Shawn Edwards
sedwards@alcuin.org
Admissions Director:
Teresa Powell, tpowell@alcuin.org
General Approach to Learning
|
| Play-based with some structure |
|
| Predominantly teacher-led instruction |
|
Montessori |
Application Information
| Applications accepted |
While child is in utero, upon birth, after a phone conversation with the appropriate person at the school, after a face-to-face meeting at the school, after a school tour |
| Deadline for applications |
Rolling |
Key Statistics
| Student/teacher ratio |
10:1 |
| Age cutoff for enrollment |
1 years |
| School year |
8/27/2009 - 6/4/2010 |
| Summer Program |
6/15/2009 - 8/7/2009 |
Parent Ratings
| Parents at this school would recommend this school to other parents. |
|
| Quality of teaching |
|
| Development of social skills and work habits |
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| Home-school connection |
|
| Parent community |
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| Discipline |
|
| Facilities |
|
| Health |
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| Safety |
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| Handling of separation |
|
Survey Information
Number of parents surveyed:
1
Director survey: Yes
Savvy Source survey: Yes
General Info
Basic Stats
| Student/teacher ratio |
10:1
|
% of teachers with:
| - Teaching credentials |
100%
|
Transportation and Drop-off Policies
Transportation
Dropoff Procedure
Features of the Preschool
| Provide a third year |
Yes
|
| • Student stay all day, art, Spanish and musical theater are included in afternoon session. |
|
| Provide a kindergarten and elementary school program |
Yes
|
| Affiliated with a religious institution |
No
|
| Some experience serving children with special needs |
No
|
Accreditation, Membership & Awards
Other Accreditations
Other Memberships
Facilities
| CONDITION OF FACILITIES RATING (1.0) |
|
| Building, bathrooms, hallway |
|
| Classroom equipment and furniture |
|
Facilities Include:
| Classrooms (with bathroom attached) |
|
| Classrooms (with kitchenette attached) |
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| Art room |
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| Library |
|
|
Musical Theater, Spanish
|
|
|
Playground
|
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Director's Comments
Question to director: Do you have any additional thoughts on what parents should consider when looking at your school? Is there any advice that you would like to provide to prospective parents?
We offer Education for Life. Our community is a child-centered learning environment built on turst in the natural deveopment of mind and spirit. Alcuin is the oldest chartered Montessori School in the Midwest and now serves second generation families. Serving children from 12 months to 14 years. We help each child become confident, curious, self-disciplined, motivated, responsible, flexible and tolerant. We serve a diverse community of students from many different backgrounds.
Parents' Comments
Parent #1
The principal is uninvolved and unsupportive of both parents and teachers. Teachers have been good but there's really high turn over. Extra curricular activities have been cut and the facility is in disrepair.
School Philosophy & Day in the Life
School Philosophy and Mission
"We are a community of parents, professionals, and children brought together by common goal, and our values are dedicated to providing an education based on Montessori principles.
Interactions within the Alcuin Community are based on equality and on respect for individuals and diversity. Parents, faculty, and staff must each have a voice in the governance of this educational enterprise. As an educational community, we are accountable for the education of our children. We use collaboration among all its constituents, parents, and professionals alike to build a secure and supportive environment in which each child can prepare for his or her future in a rapidly changing world. Alcuin strives to be an active and responsible member of a larger community that includes alumni families, Chicago and its suburbs, local community, and the national and international Montessori Associations. Our first major goal is to use these principles to provide children with an excellent education firmly based on life skills, an appreciation of history, literature, and the arts; an understanding of nature, the environment, and the world; and a mastery of mathematics, language arts and sciences. This knowledge will stress relationships, similarities and contrasts between and among disciplines. Alcuin is a place where children are encouraged to discover and reach their full potential. The second major goal is for each child to be confident, self-disciplined, curious, motivated, accountable for his or her own actions, flexible, tolerant, and committed to life-long learning. These attributes, when coupled with a sound knowledge base, foster clarity of thought and objectivity when solving problems.
"
Excerpted from the preschool's website
Typical Day-In-The-Life At This School
The preschool program includes independent work, individual or small-group lessons, snack preparation and snack time in pairs, group time before morning dismissal, and for full day students, group lunch and recess outdoors. 3s and 4s nap after lunch; 5s receive Spanish, art and musical theater programs before dismissal. Before and after school programs are available starting for 3s.
Quality of Teaching
Teachers Are:
| OVERALL RATING: (3.1) |
|
| Full of energy and seemingly happy in job |
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| Patient and affectionate with children |
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| Praises children for accomplishments and good behavior |
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| Provides feedback on what my child does during the day |
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| Shares insights on my child that are helpful and accurate |
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| Identifies my child’s strengths and weaknesses |
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| If necessary, provides additional support to my child during pickup and drop-off |
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| Strikes the proper balance between active and quiet play for children |
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Director's Comments on Individualized Teaching
Individualized Teaching
Description of how teachers work with children who are
"behind," "excelling" or "different" from the majority of students
Classrooms operate on the principle of freedom within limits. Children under the guidance of a teacher, work at their own pace with materials of their own choosing. Different levels of ability are expected and welcomed within each classroom. A Montessori classroom is design to fit each child instead of making each child fit the program.
Parents' Comments
Parent #1
Teachers are generally good but there has been high turnover lately
Home School Connection
Home-School Connection
| OVERALL RATING (3.0) |
|
| Conducts an open house at start of school year |
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| Conducts a parent-teacher meeting at start of school year |
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| Conducts regular parent teacher conferences |
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| Provides summary of child’s learning at end of year |
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| Provides guidance on developmental goals for the following year |
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| Provides guidance on best Kindergarten and elementary schools |
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Director's Comments
Alcuin provides ongoing communication with parents starting with informational coffees and school tours for prospective families, parent education throughout the year (including the Montessori Journey which allows parents to experience materials as their child would), weekly bulletins and a monthly newsletter, parent conferences and parent observation in classrooms and ongoing communication with teachers as needed.
Separation
|
|
-
Abbreviated schedule at start of school year
|
Director's and Parents' Comments
Director's Comments
Alcuin provides a transition program at the start of each school year for children new to the school with smaller groups to allow children to acclimate to the classroom. During these shorter sessions parents are welcome to meet together (coffee provided!) while these shorter sessions take place. Teachers will keep in touch with parents and discuss strategies if issues arise during the year.
Drop-in Policy
- During school parents are not encouraged to drop-in
General Parent Education
Parent Community
| COHESIVENESS RATING (1.0) |
Modes of Communication Between School and Home
Discipline, Health and Safety
Discipline
| OVERALL RATING (1.2) |
|
| Parents at this school, on average, believe that conflicts between children:
are handled poorly in a way that makes me concerned about the safety of my child
| |
Overview
Director's Description of Approach Toward Discipline
Conflict resolution and mutual respect are the cornerstone of student interactions. When children appear to be "off task" they are offered choices for materials to work with. When one child has a dispute with another, special rituals are used to allow each child to express their concerns and come to resolution. If a child is unable to settle, he is allowed some quiet time before returning to work.
Director's Response to a Sample Discipline Scenario
Description of how teachers handle the following scenario: Child A and Child B are good friends and usually play together. One day, Child A decides to play with Child C and tells Child B, 'I don't want to play with you today. I'm playing with Child C instead.'
A child walks across a rug where another child's work is in progress and disrupts it. The second child complains. Both children go to the Peace Rug and each has a time to express their concerns with the help of a teacher and come to agreement about next steps. The second child may help the first child straighten the work, or may agree to be more careful in the future.
Parents' Notes on Discipline, Health and Safety
Parents' Comments
Parent #1
The outdoor play equipment is falling apart and the classrooms don't have an adequate amount of supplies
Health
| OVERALL RATING (3.0) |
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| Temperature and overall air circulation is comfortable |
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| Healthy and nutritious snacks are provided
|
|
Food Allergies
Medications
Safety
| OVERALL RATING (2.0) |
|
| Screen and identify all visitors
|
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| • A criminal background check is done for each staff member, including office staff. |
|
| Parents may not bring sick children to school where they may infect others |
|
Ages, Schedule & Tuition
Ages, Class Size, Days & Tuition
| Ages |
Class Size |
Days |
Tuition |
From
3 years
to
6 years
|
|
|
$3495/Year |
From
1 years
to
2 years
|
10 |
Fri 8:30am - 10:00am
|
$1100/Week |
From
3 years
to
6 years
|
|
|
$1475/Year |
From
5 years
to
6 years
|
25 |
|
$10675/Year |
From
3 years
to
5 years
|
25 |
|
$10687/Year |
|
From
2 years
to --
|
10 |
|
$3920/Year |
From
3 years
to
5 years
|
25 |
|
$7730/Year |
From
3 years
to
6 years
|
|
|
$12555/Year |
From
3 years
to
6 years
|
|
|
$9500/Year |
From
5 years
to
6 years
|
|
|
$9500/Year |
From
3 years
to
5 years
|
|
|
$6880/Year |
From
1 years
10 months
to
3 years
|
|
Mon 8.30am - 11.30am
Tue 8.30am - 11.30am
Wed 8.30am - 11.30am
Thu 8.30am - 11.30am
|
$3490/Year |
From
10 months
to
1 years
10 months
|
|
Fri 8.30am - 10.00am
|
$980/Year |
Extended Care
Notes on Schedule and Extended Care
Notes
Parent/Infant program includes 3 8-week sessions during the school year. Parent attends with child.
Toddler program (M-Tu or W-Th) has 10 students with 2 teachers, and supports toilet-training process.
3-5 years offer half or full day and before/after school care when registered for full day program.
5-6 is full day with enrichment and before/after school care when registered for full day program.
Calendar Year
School Year
Summer Program
Application & Admissions
Application Process
Admissions Process
Director's Comments
Comments
Summer camp for 3-6 years; Parent/Infant and Toddler programs (10 students per class) fill quickly. See Alcuin website www.alcuin.org for details.
Kindergarten Placement & Tips
Director and Parents have not yet submitted this information to the Savvy Source.
