Overview
The Montessori School enrolls approximately 95 students and
is the only school in the Fort Smith community to offer the
benefits of a private, non-sectarian Montessori education to
children age 3 years through 12 years. The student population
is diverse racially, culturally, and religiously. We seek and
celebrate their diversity.
We are fully accredited by the American Montessori Society.
The Montessori School has a deep concern for the whole child and
feels that each area of development is of equal importance. We
nurture intellectual, emotional, physical and spiritual growth.
We offer three environments: Primary(ages 3 to 6 years),
Lower Elementary (ages 6 to 9 years), and Upper Elementary (ages 9
to 12 years). Our classrooms are carefully prepared environments
where children are enabled to work at their own level and pace.
These prepared environments are "learning labs" that are bright,
warm, and inviting. The interactive learning materials promote an
interest in exploring and learning, while the multi-age grouping
brings rich and varied educational experiences to the students, who
learn easily alongside their peers. The Montessori School teaches
children to become joyful scholars and innovators.
Our teaching staff includes certified Montessori teachers who
have been trained by accredited Montessori teacher training centers
in Houston, Texas, and Memphis, Tennessee. Teacher training
prepares our faculty to create dynamic, interactive learning
environments which encourage each child to reason, cooperate,
collaborate, negotiate, and understand. The Montessori teacher
functions as a resource person, role model, demonstrator,
record-keeper, and meticulous observer of each child's
development.
The Board of Directors, consisting of current parents and
community members, is responsible for the policies and finances of
the school, while the Head of School implements the
policies and is responsible for the overall daily operation of the
school. MPATT (Montessori Parents and Teachers Together) works to
build a sense of community for the school. These three groups work
closely together.
Financial support of the school is maintained through tuition
and fees, fund-raising, and tax-deductible monetary and in-kind
contributions by school families and friends.