Program Information

Racine Montessori School offers programs for children from age 3 through the 8th grade: Primary (3- and 4-year olds), Extended Day (Kindergarten), Lower Elementary (1st-3rd Grades), Upper Elementary (4th-6th Grades) and Adolescent (7th & 8th grades). 

School Hours

• Primary Classes:  8:30 a.m. - 11:30 a.m.

• Extended Day Classes:  8:30 a.m. - 2:30 p.m.

• Elementary & Adolescent Classes:  8:30 a.m. - 3:30 p.m.

• Child care is available before and after school: 6:30 a.m. - 8:30 a.m. and 11:30 a.m. - 5:30 p.m.

Primary and Extended Day Classes

The curriculum in the Primary classes takes advantage of the natural ability of 3-5 year olds to absorb information, directing them to increasingly challenging concepts in reading, math, geography, biology, art, music and Spanish.  Kindergarten-aged children attend the regular primary classes but have an additional period (Extended Day) where they work with their peers on more challenging academic work and may have opportunities to concentrate on longer projects.  Extended Day students also have library and gym class once a week as well as a special art class once a month.

There are four (4) Primary classes at RMS.

Elementary Classes

Curriculum at the Elementary level includes reading, writing, math, science, history, art, music, geography, language, Spanish, computer and physical education.  In the Elementary, the work that was begun in the Primary and Extended Day years continues.  The social life of the Montessori Elementary is enriched by free verbalization and movement (no assigned seats).  Children learn at their own pace and move from concrete experience with Montessori materials to abstract concepts.

There are three (3) Lower Elementary classes (grades 1-3 in the same classroom) and one (1) Upper Elementary class (grades 4-6 in the same classroom) at RMS.

Child Care Program

We offer a before- and after-school child care program for children who attend our school.  We carefully structure this area to follow Montessori principles.  However, this program concentrates its efforts on caring for children in a comfortable, home-type setting.  Our child care staff is well-trained and loving; the facility is clean, fun, and interesting.

Tuition

Tuition is billed in equal payments over twelve (12) months beginning in June for each academic school year and is due by the 15th of each month.  For ease of administration, we prefer tuition payments be made automatically through electronic funds transfer (EFT) from your bank on the 15th of each month.  You will need to make special arrangements with the School Administrator if EFT is not an option for you.  You may be assessed a late fee if tuition is not paid in a timely manner and RMS reserves the right to suspend or dismiss any student whose tuition is not paid on a timely basis.

A $200 non-refundable tuition deposit is due with your application to register your child.  This deposit will be applied to your tuition bill the following March of the academic year.

There is a 5% discount for families with more than one child enrolled at RMS.

Tuition Rates for 2009-2010

Primary:                   $3,850   ($320.83/month)

Extended Day:         $4,780   ($398.33/month)

Elementary:              $5,175   ($431.25/month)

Adolescent:              $5,595   ($466.26/month)

Child Care*:

• Full-time (25 hours or more per week):   $3.75 per hour
• Part-time (10 - 25 hours per week):         $4.00 per hour
• Drop-in (less than 10 hours per week):   $5.00 per hour

*You must enroll your child in childcare at the beginning of each school year.  Unfortunately, we cannot guarantee there will be a spot for your child if you try to enroll after the school year has begun.  You pay only for the hours your child is in childcare.

Racine Montessori Society

Parents of children attending the school automatically become members of the Society.  The purpose of the Society is to operate the school and promote the educational philosophy of Maria Montessori.

The school is managed by a Board of Directors, consisting of nine (9) elected members, one (1) alumnus, and one (1) member-at-large (chosen by the Board).  The Board elects officers to serve a one-year term.  Each Society member has one vote for the election of Board members and for all other matters the Board refers to the group, with a maximum of two votes per family.

Board meetings generally occur on the second Tuesday of each month at 6:00 p.m. in the school lounge and are open to all members of the Society. 

Parental/Guardian Involvement

Successful school operations at RMS depend heavily on parent, guardian and extended family contributions of time and talent.  Upon enrolling a child, parents are requested to indicate ways in which they would be able to help the school (i.e., joining the Board or a Board Committee, helping with minor repairs or maintenance, acting as Room Parent, chairing a fundraiser, chaperoning field trips, etc.). 

In addition to volunteering time and talents, each family is required to attend one classroom cleaning per child. There are three (3) cleaning dates per year from which to choose: one before school starts; one in the fall before Family Night; and one in the spring before Open House.   Failure to participate in your requisite cleaning

day(s) will result in a $50 fee (per missed cleaning) assessed in May of the academic year.

Each family is expected to volunteer their time and talents to the school's major fundraiser, the Lakefront Artist Fair, held the first Saturday in May.  So mark your calendars now!

General Information

• New parents must attend an Orientation prior to children attending the school in order to become acquainted with the Montessori Method and our school.

• We hold informational meetings each February for the families of students moving to the next level (i.e., from Primary to Extended Day).

• There are three (3) Parent/Teacher Conferences during the year.

• We host an Annual Meeting each April reviewing the "State of the School" and introducing any important information for the following academic year.

• We provide a weekly newsletter (sent via email) each Thursday.

• We offer a lending library with books and magazines about the Montessori Method and parenting issues.

• We have a well-stocked bookstore located in the school office with 20% discounts on all merchandise!

• Our students have occasional field trips, appropriate to their age.  For the past few years our Upper Elementary students have had the opportunity to participate in a weeklong off-campus class at Nature's Classroom in Mukwonago! 

• For weather emergencies, RMS follows the Racine Unified School District: if RUSD is closed, RMS is closed.  However, if RUSD anounces a "late start", RMS will open at its normal time.

• Our fundraisers are of the "painless" variety: we offer products (through SCRIP and Market Day, for example)that you would purchase anyway .  Purchasing items through a fundraiser gets you your desired product and financially supports the school.  It's a two-fer!