Wheaton Montessori School

Parent Interaction


Parents and families are just as much a part of the Wheaton Montessori School community as students, teachers, and staff. Parents are encouraged to observe classrooms when appropriate and are regularly invited to activities at the school both during regular school hours and at other times.


There are many ways for parents to feel connected to the school community. Parent nights, classroom observations, and teacher conferences are just the beginning. There are work fair presentations, parent education events, the annual gala and auction, volunteer opportunities, and more. Every parent can be as involved as they want to be, and we welcome your participation.

Parent Discovery Nights

WMS hosts several parent nights during each school year to ensure that parents fully understand the classroom methods and can effectively communicate with their children and their children’s teachers. These meetings are designed to help parents understand the concepts and philosophy of the children’s work and the Montessori method. We provide childcare for these meetings whenever possible. 


Please click here to watch an example of a lesson given during one of these parent nights. 

Volunteering

Collaboration is central to all Wheaton Montessori School goals. It is also imperative to the success of the school and our efforts to maintain affordable tuition. We are a small, non-profit school with a strong emphasis on community. Participation in Wheaton Montessori projects allows you to interact with other parents and experience the community firsthand. It also provides an example to the children of how we can contribute to our community. Whether the task is painting a classroom or helping decorate for a holiday, you leave a mark on the environment that positively impacts both your own child’s experiences as well as those of their current and future classmates.


To fulfill this criterion, families elect from a list of ongoing projects the kind of work best suited to their talents. Past volunteers have installed network systems, designed web pages, built classroom furniture, painted, baked, solicited auction donations, tended the grounds, hung chalkboards, organized book fairs, and represented the school at the Taste of Wheaton. As we expand our reach and deepen our relationships in area communities, new ways to contribute will emerge.


Volunteers extraordinaire include grandparents, parents, and friends who wish to help.

Conferences

Conferences are scheduled twice a year to give parents the opportunity to discuss the development of their child with the child’s main teacher. In the Preschool and Elementary Programs, these conferences are conducted by the teachers and involve samples of the child’s work and discussion of the curriculum appropriate for your child. Adolescent students lead their own conferences, giving them opportunities to celebrate their successes, reflect on how their work can improve, and advocate for themselves as learners.


In addition to scheduled conferences, teachers have time built into their teaching schedule to return phone calls or have informal conferences with parents as the need arises.

Observation

Observation is an excellent way to gain a better understanding of your school and your child’s development. Each parent is encouraged to observe in their child’s classroom and watch the children interact with the materials, other children, and the teachers.


Observation can usually be scheduled any time after the first six weeks of school and must be scheduled with the school office. Observations close at the end of April, and there are periodic times during the school year that are unavailable.

Wheaton Montessori Parents Facebook Group

Current Wheaton Montessori School parents are encouraged to join the WMS Parents Facebook group. This page is a great resource for parent questions, book recommendations, local park meetups, and more. Current parents can find this page by clicking here. 

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