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Élan Vital Montessori School, Inc.

School Overview:

School Notes:

• Our focus is on critical thinking skills, independent research, and in-depth study of subjects including advanced math and geometry, language, botany, zoology, animal care, geography, fine arts, dramatic arts, music, history, and entrepreneurship.
• Parents are encouraged to feel comfortable visiting, contributing, and sharing their talents with the children and the school as a whole.
• Early Childhood Primary Program (3-6 Years)
• Dr. Maria Montessori characterized the 3 to 6 year-old child as possessing an extraordinary capacity, the ability to absorb information from his or her surroundings. Dr. Montessori named this quality "the absorbent mind." The child from 3 to 6 is a sensorial explorer, soaking up every aspect of the environment, including language and culture.Dr. Montessori recognized the motto of this young child to be "help me to do it myself." Development during this period focuses on learning to be independent. The corresponding education environment, then, should support this natural drive, enabling the child to become competent, and therefore confident.The Montessori approach embraces the full development of the youngster, addressing all aspects (physical, social, emotional, and cognitive) of the whole child.
• At Élan Vital, the elementary program rests on four pillars:
  1. The cultivation within our students of a passion for excellence in everything they do, both in and outside of school;
  2. The development of a strongly held set of universal values, which include self-respect, respect for others, honesty, integrity, responsibility, empathy, compassion, kindness, peacefulness, a sense of concern for others, warmth, and a love of community;
  3. The development of a global perspective and sense of international understanding;
  4. And a lifelong commitment to give something back through service to others who are in need.
• As in the primary program, we consider the whole child when preparing the learning environment and planning curricular activities. Through the environment and sequence of materials, thoughtful lessons, and teachers who live their innate love of learning, we nurture the continued development of the elementary student in four general ways:
  • Intellectually—through the development of thinking abilities, clarification of our picture of the universe, and the development of discipline to maintain vibrant health.
  • Emotionally—by learning to feel and express our complex and powerful emotions—fully and without fear—and to respect and accept them in ourselves and in others. Equally important, students learn to harness their power and not let emotions control our lives unchecked.
  • Physically—by helping our students discover, understand and adopt the lifestyle habits most appropriate and beneficial for our bodies and minds. Among these are fresh air, pure water, exercise, sunlight, and proper diet.
  • Spiritually—by proceeding on the premise that our world is a beautiful, positive, loving place, a setting that provides the potential for each person to lead a full, free, joyful, and healthy life. While we do not teach religion, nor advocate any particular belief system, we encourage students to explore questions raised by religious teachers and develop the spiritual side of their lives, which we define as the ability to find peace within and hear the small still inner voice that we all possess.
• We believe that when children are allowed to grow in an environment that is intellectually and artistically alive, warm and encouraging, they will spontaneously ask questions, investigate, create, and explore new ideas. Learning can, and should be, a relaxed, comfortable, natural process.
• The Montessori Approach to Reading, Composition, and Literature
• During the elementary years, we increasingly focus on the development of research and composition skills. Students write everyday, learning to organize increasingly complex ideas and information into well-written stories, poems, reports, plays, and student publications. Instead of insipid basal readers, children are introduced to first-rate children's books and fascinating works on science, history, geography, and the arts. Educators have long recognized that one of the reasons our country is becoming increasingly alliterate (knowing how to read but choosing not to) may be largely due to the boring texts they are taught to read with. Books provide vicarious experiences to spark the imaginations of elementary students.
• Profile last updated: 09/15/2009

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