50%%-&3 PROGRAMS
What to Expect
A Parent’s Guide to the Toddler Program
Developing independent-thinking students of knowledge, courage, personal integrity and compassion.
ABOUT OUR SCHOOL
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Founded in 1961, Milwaukee Montessori School is a private, independent, co-educational elementary day school educating over 400 students from toddlers through eighth grade. Recognized for its outstanding and dynamic academic program, the school is dedicated to providing an individualized educational experience. The challenging and enriching curriculum encourages the development of real-world skills. Milwaukee Montessori School does not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, creed, color, sexual orientation, age, physical challenge, nation of origin, gender, disability or any other characteristic in the administration of its educational programs, admission policies, financial aid policies, scholarship and loan policies, and athletic and other school-related administered programs.
TODDLER PROGRAM 5IF 5PEEMFS 1rogram Gor children ageT NPOUIT ZFBST QSPWJEFT Fxcellent preparation for PVS academic .POUFTTPSJ DMBTTSPPNT UIBU CFHJOT XJUI K3. LessoOs are given by our .POUFTTPSJ USBJOFE FOUIVTJBTUJD BOE skilled faculty. Children in our Toddler Program enjoy art, NVTJD EBODF simple science, NBUIFNBUJDT language arts, sand and water play BT well as plenty of time outdoors. Students aSe encouraged to become independent as we teach them to clean up their spaces, put away their lunchboxes, button their coats, and put on their mittens and boots, all in an environment that is safe, secure, and welcoming.
CONTACT US MILWAUKEE MONTESSORI SCHOOL 345 N. 95th Street, Milwaukee, WI 53226
Phone: 414-259-0370 Fax: 414-259-0427
Website: www.milwaukee-montessori.org Email: mmsadmin@milwaukee-montessori.org ORCAS: https://orcas.milwaukee-montessori.org
- Director of Admissions: Cheryl Kelly | admissions@milwaukee-montessori.org - Director of Child Care & Extra-Curricular Activities: Catherine Brys cbrys@milwaukee-montessori.org
SCHEDULE SCHEDULE
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ARRIVAL
6:45 - 8:00 aN
MORNING
8:00 - 10:45 am Activities may include: Table activities, Toddler Specials (Art, Yoga, and Gymnastics/Dance), Outside Playtime/ Gym, Story time, 4FOTPSZ 4DJFODF and Montessori Lessons. Snack time occurs mid-morning.
LUNCH
10:45 - 11:30 am
NAP TIME
11:40 - 1:30 pm
AFTERNOON 1:30 - 6:00 pm Activities may include: Table activities, Outside Playtime/Gym, Story time, and Montessori Lessons. Snack time occurs mid-afternoon. DEPARTURE
6:00 pm - School Closes
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Activities vary every day, depending on the interests of the child, weather season, etc.
MMS FAMILY HANDBOOK
We hope this pamphlet will be a helpful guide for getting started in our Toddler Program. Remember to refer to the MMS 'BNJMZ )BOECPPL *U QSPWJEFT EFUailed information about school policies aOd QSPDFEVSFT 5P WJFX UIF Family Handbook, visit our website and access this, BOE PUIFS EPDVNFOUT, PO the MMS Portal.
DAY-TO-DAY
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WHAT TO WEAR?: Send toddlers in comfortable clothing that can take some wear and tear. Toddlers should “dress for their jobs:” playing outdoors, feeding themselves, participating in art projects, and more. Refrain from sending them in their “Sunday best.” Please note that children may return home in different clothing due to spills or accidents. OUTDOOR PLAY: Weather permitting (feels like 25 degrees +), toddlers will enjoy outdoor play everyday. Please provide seasonally appropriate outdoorwear and boots in winter. BIBS: 5oddler * students wear MMS bibs. 5PEEMFS ** *** students do not wear bibs, as they are learning to eat more neatly in preparation for our Academic Program. CUBBIES: Should be stocked with three changes of seasonally appropriate clothing-at all times. 5PEEMFS 1SPHSBN children who are toilet training should include socks and shoes. Please note that your child’s clothing may be changed during the day at the teacher's discretion as needed. LABEL EVERYTHING: All items that come to school with your toddler should be clearly marked with your child’s name including: clothing, diapers, lunch box, blanket, etc. While we make every effort to help find stray items, MMS is not responsible for missing property. For this reason, please refrain from sending valuable items or items of great sentimental value. NAP: Nap starts promptly at 11:40 am. Toddlers should bring a crib-sized fitted sheet and/or blanket to school. These will be sent home for washing on Fridays and should be returned clean on Mondays.
ARRIVAL / DEPARTURE
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TIME: Our Full-Day Toddler Program is open from 6:45 am 6 pm. Half-Day Toddler Program ends at 11:15 am. Drop-off and pick-up your toddler according to your schedule. MORNING DROP-OFF: Toddler parents may not use the drop-off car line. You must escort your child into the building, sign them in, and escort them to their classroom. PARKING: Park only in designated areas. Please refer to the Family Handbook for detailed information. LUNCH & NAP: If your Full-Day toddler is dropped off after 11:15 am, they must have already eaten lunch. Please do not drop-off your child during nap time (11:40 am-1:30 pm). TOYS: Please leave toys in the car. This promotes a safe environment and a better drop-off experience. A special soft or cuddly toy from home is permitted for nap time. The item must be able to stay for the duration of the week. DO NOT LINGER. Lingering gives your child the impression that you are not comfortable leaving him/her at school, making your eventual departure more difficult and stressful on your child. SIGN YOURSELF OUT Before exiting the building, signout. AFTERNOON PICK-UP: As with morning drop-off, parents must enter the building and sign their toddler out.
ARRIVAL / DEPARTURE (CONTINUED)
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APPROVED PICK-UP LIST: Anyone on the pick-up list in ORCAS may pick-up your toddler. HOWEVER, pick-up is faster, smoother, and your toddler is more prepared if we know ahead of time that Aunt Sue is coming instead of Mom. Please make it a part of your normal routine to alert your toddler teacher by note/email when a change of pick-up will occur. The person picking up your toddler must show proper photo ID. ALTERNATE PICK-UP: Parents must provide a note to the Front Desk when an adult, other than those already listed in ORCAS, will be picking up their toddler. This note must be submitted prior to the pick-up time. Proper photo ID is required. VISITATION DAYS (Mothers’, Fathers’ & Grandparents’): These visitation days are reserved for the Academic Programs as it is unnerving for toddlers when guests appear and disappear.
MEALS & SNACKS
We provide a healthy morning and afternoon snack such as fruit, whole grain crackers, and cheese. Lunches are brought from home or school lunch is available during the school year. MMS FOOD POLICY: Our low-sugar, low-salt policy, includes no nuts or choking hazards in the Toddler Program. The policy applies to food packed for lunches or brought from home to share for snack.
MEALS & SNACKS
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TODDLER DIET: Studies have shown that if given a wide range of healthy foods, a toddler will naturally choose a balanced diet. One day a toddler might eat only fruit, another day only grains, and another vegetables; but in total, these foods will contribute to proper balance and health. WHAT TO PACK (COMMON ITEMS): Deli meat, cheese (string or block), crackers, pasta, leftovers from dinner, yogurt, raisins/craisins, fresh or cooked vegetables, rice, fruit, chicken, bread, beans, pizza, macaroni and cheese, applesauce and spaghetti. WHAT NOT TO PACK (COMMON ITEMS): Sugar cereals, cookies, “dessertlike� Jell-O (even sugar free), fruit snacks, gummi worms or anything that looks candy-like - chips, chocolate milk, Pediasure, soda, etc. PEANUTS AND OTHER BANNED FOODS: Nuts of any kind are not allowed due to the number of children with allergies. Foods that constitute a choking hazard, specifically whole grapes, hot dogs rounds, whole cherry tomatoes and whole cherries (even pitted), are not permitted. BREAKFAST: Before 8:00 am, toddlers may come into school eating breakfast (provided from home), snack is served at 9:00 am. LUNCH: Starts at 10:45 am and ends at 11:30 am. Lunchbox must have an ice pack to keep the food fresh and safe for consumption. Any items to be heated must be in a microwave-safe container. UTENSILS: Toddlers are learning to use utensils in the proper manner at school, we request that you send labeled forks and spoons with your child.
DRESSING / TOILETING
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LEARNING TO DRESS: 5PEEMFS * TUVEFOUT should practice dressing themselves; we will always be there to help as needed. 5PEEMFS ** *** students should know how to or be in the process of learning how to dress themselves. Being able to dress oneself is an important independence milestone and is a necessary skill before potty training can begin. CLOTHES: Dress your toddler in easy-on, easy-off clothing. Elastic waistbands are great! Avoid belts, bib overalls, onesies and tights or anything that would be difficult for diaper changing or potty training. AT SCHOOL: Provide three changes of seasonally appropriate clothing: underwear, shirts, pants, socks, and an extra pair of shoes in your child’s cubby. Check and replenish them as needed. TOILET TRAINING: Before starting to potty train, a toddler should be able to dress with minimal assistance, be able to stay dry for one to two hours at a time during the day and express interest in toilet-learning. Start practicing at home and begin teaching your toddler that wearing underwear is different than wearing a diaper. PULL-UPS: They can confuse a toddler who is potty training and hinder progress because they do not allow the toddler to feel the wetness and learn from it. Pull-Ups may be used for nap time as long as they velcro on the sides. ACCIDENTS: For sanitary reasons, if your toddler has three or more accidents in one day, we will diaper him/her for the remainder of the day. Each day, we will try again. After a week of three accidents per day, we ask that you take a break and re-try potty training in a few weeks.
BEHAVIOR
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BEHAVIOR: The classroom is a perfect environment to practice and learn social skills. If a child displays disruptive behavior, we use this moment as a learning opportunity for the child. We consistently follow three simple steps to teach appropriate behavior: STEP 1
Talk to the child in a calm, respectful tone, and model proper behavior.
STEP 2
Gently redirect the child to a new activity.
STEP 3
If the behavior continues, move child to a different part of the room for a couple of minutes for a quiet time of reflection and then start again.
TODDLER FEEDBACK REPORTS are sent home twice per academic year in December and May. These reports provide feedback about your toddler’s development in four key areas: cognitive, social/emotional, large and small motor skills, and practical life. TRANSITIONS: Children move between our 5PEEMFS 1SPHSBNT and Children’s House classrooms based on their age as well as the academic year cycle. Children start in our 5PEEMFS * classroom around 18 months. Those who turn two years old before the start of the new school year will move to the 5PEEMFS ** PS *** classroom at the beginning of the next academic year. Those who turn three years old before the start of the new school year will move to our K3 Half Day Children’s House at the beginning of the next academic year, provided they are fully potty trained.
STAY CONNECTED
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WHAT DID MY CHILD DO TODAY? CLASSROOM WHITEBOARDS provide daily updates from toddler teachers about what children worked on that day as well as important information parents need to know #SJHIU 8IFFM Our school is using the app #SJHIU 8IFFM, ensuring that parents are more connected to their child and aware of their activites during the day. This tool enables teachers to send parent notifications in the form of text and email. Teachers take photos to videos of each child and share them directly with parents. Additionally, we are able to send other messages and reminders quickly and easily while reducing paper waste. CONTACTING FACULTY: If you have concerns about your child, first contact your child’s teacher. Teachers serve as your primary Tchool contact. To contact any specific members of the 5PEEMFS 1SPHSBN MFWFM classrooms, it is best to call and leave a non-emergency message at extension 300. Toddler teachers check their messages throughout the day and return calls when they have a free moment to talk to parents. Should you need to contact faculty before that time, it is best to FNBJl Catherine Brys at cbrys@milwaukee-montessori.org.
STAY CONNECTED
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WHAT’S HAPPENING AT MMS? WEBSITE: milwaukee-montessori.org. Visit the website to learn about school-wide events such as guest speakers, athletic game times and locations, information about our Parent Association and more. PARENT PORTAL: Log in to the Parents section of our site to find important forms, the school calendar, and teacher contact information. ORCAS is our student and parent information software. Parents are able to update family contact information, medical conditions, allergies, alternate pick-up information, etc., making it immediately available to MMS staff. https://orcas.milwaukee-montessori.org SCHOOL CALENDAR: We publish our calendar, with special academic dates, event dates, and holiday closings. View and print from the website, found in the Parent Portal. NEWS & EVENTS section of our website is updated regularly with stories from our classrooms, upcoming event information, latest photos/videos, Head of School messages and links to our newsletters. SOCIAL MEDIA: Follow us on Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, and Linkedin. View photos and get updates about school happenings, events, and innovations in education. GETTING INVOLVED AND SCHOOL EVENTS Throughout the year, we provide a number of opportunities for parents to be involved including, our Welcome Back Ice Cream Social, Toddler Socials, Family Fun Nights, Spaghetti Dinner, Gala Dinner & Auction, and the End of Year Picnic.
MILWAUKEE MONTESSORI SCHOOL
345 N. 95th Street, Milwaukee, WI 53226 Phone: 414-259-0370 • Fax: 414-259-0427 milwaukee-montessori.org • mmsadmin@milwaukee-montessori.org