Richmond Hill Montessori Private School

We would like to sincerely thank you for visiting our community. We are certain, whether or not you choose Richmond Hill Montessori Private School as your child’s educational institution, you will have positive things to say about our community to others. We would like to share with you our educational philosophy prior to making one of the most important choices for your child. RHMS is built on many positive attributes. For the purposes of this introduction we will focus on trust and integrity. It is essential that trust and integrity form the basis of the relationship between RHMS, the parent(s), and the student so that we are clear on our common goal. In the event you feel you are questioning the trust or integrity of RHMS at any time, we strongly recommend that you immediately make an appointment with us to re-establish your confidence and trust.

We ask that you genuinely take the time necessary to make certain that RHMS is an appropriate educational community for your child and you have a complete understanding of RHMS in all aspects so that you are well informed. In keeping with our environmentally friendly philosophy, further written information can be found on our website. Please feel free to call us if you have specific questions. We will be very happy to assist you.

Montessori School classrooms at RHMS include students who are three years and eight months, four, and five years of age, providing an abundance of opportunities for learning, helping to create a sense of community where everyone contributes to and takes responsibility for the functioning and maintenance of the environment (classroom). The older children provide leadership and guidance, and act as models for the younger children; they benefit by helping the younger children, reinforcing skills and knowledge previously learned, and gain satisfaction and self-worth by helping others. Our classrooms have no more than twenty students with two full time experienced staff members.

Montessori Schools and their curriculum, like the world, must evolve in order to ensure they become leading Private Educational Institutions. Our Montessori School is committed to remaining current and preparing its students to participate fully and effectively in today's society.

At RHMS, we are very proud of our long-standing Montessori teachers, some of whom have chosen to work at RHMS from other Montessori Schools in Toronto. They have been with us for many years and bring vast experience and dedication to our program. Their loving and nurturing nature, along with their enthusiasm for teaching, has provided a wonderful environment for children to learn.

The primary goal of our Physical Education program is to develop awareness of and appreciation for the importance of fitness and optimal physical health.Through group exercises, children develop better listening skills, cooperation skills, and the ability to follow directions. They learn how to respect one another’s space, interact physically, and participate with other children in a safe environment. Children are challenged to perform to the very best of their physical ability to enhance their flexibility, coordination, gross motor skills, balance, and rhythm.

For a child to grasp the concepts of science, history, or geography, they must first be well-versed in language. The Montessori reading and writing learning sequence is categorized in three colour-coded levels: the Pink, Blue, and Green series of readers. Once a child masters a level, they move on to the next series. In addition to reading, students also progress through notebooks and consumables (interactive book series that provide repetitive practice). Daily writing is practiced to nurture the creative writing process while developing printing and cursive writing skills.

Geography, History, and Green Awareness are all a part of the Culture component of Montessori learning. Geography is taught with visual, colourful concrete materials that enhance the child's ability to learn. History is approached through time lines so students can see how people from different cultures developed from the earth's beginning to the present. Montessori students will have the opportunity to investigate both ancient and modern peoples. There is also an emphasis on raising awareness for environmental issues and learning to recycle classroom materials which builds good habits for the future.

The transformation of classroom into 'real world' requires not only physical resources such as textbooks, exercise books, maps, globes and an ongoing emphasis on incorporating technology into the classroom via everyday computer usage, presentations, smartboards, and other digital devices; it also requires very important abstract resources such as imagination, vision, and passion. These are all encouraged under the careful supervision of our nurturing staff. We believe that, together, these components are essential for a student's success in advancement of knowledge and development.

Private Schools and their curriculum, like the world, must evolve in order to ensure they become one of the leading Private Educational Institutions. Our Private School is committed to remaining current and preparing its students to participate fully and effectively in today's society. That being said, it is our mission to ensure that the traditional core knowledge and the educational philosophy at the preschool and elementary levels has been, and will continue to be, consistent over time. Our task of bringing the outside world, its challenges, and its realities, into the classroom is one that will allow students to understand the dynamics of any situation or environment they may encounter. This entire process is what we call practical life teaching.