All questions are good questions. Please read through all of the FAQs to better understand our school’s philosophy and core values. If you have further questions, please feel free to send us an email and/or call us. Our answers will support and guide you throughout this admissions journey.
General
Before you think you are ready (early as possible). Parents have applied a year or two years in advance, and sometimes even before the child is born. We always welcome applications at any point during the calendar year.
Our Alexandria campus features two toddler (2-3) and three preschool (3-6) classrooms. Each Montessori environment has several carefully positioned windows that let in plenty of natural light, from sunrise to sunset. Each classroom is named after one of the subdivisions of the historic Town of Potomac; Del Ray, Hume, St. Elmo, Abingdon, and Mt. Vernon.
CHMS follows all Virginia regulations for teacher to student ratios. Virginia Department of Social Services (DSS) mandates a teacher to student ratio of 1:8 for children aged 24 months – 36 months. At CHMS, our teacher to student ratio is 1:5 for our Toddler Program (24 months – 36 months). CHMS follows DSS’ teacher to student ratio for children aged 36 months – 5 years. In our Preschool Program (36 months – 5 years) the teacher to student ratio is 1:10. Additional Montessori Guides that are not assigned to a specific classroom are present at CHMS, to offer support in classrooms, as necessary.
The Alexandria campus is currently under construction and undergoing extensive interior and exterior renovations. In the meantime, a member of our CHMS Admin team leads Zoom tours, so families learn more about CHMS values, while seeing renderings and pictures of our Montessori environments and playgrounds.
Yes. We have two enclosed outdoor spaces on campus. One is a large playground in between the East building and West buildings. Children have plenty of room to run and play on all natural play structures that promote open ended free play and gross motor development. Nestled in the East building lies a small outdoor courtyard for planting herbs and flowers, and space for peaceful outdoor learning activities.
CHMS families pre-select a drop off timeframe and pick up time frame upon enrollment. Drop off timeframes are 8:00 a.m. – 8:15 a.m., 8:15 a.m. – 8:30 a.m., and 8:30 a.m. – 8:45 a.m.. Pick up time frames are 11:45 a.m. – 12:00 p.m., 2:45 p.m. – 3:00 p.m., and 3:45 p.m. – 5:00 p.m.. Parents can choose to drive or walk their child to CHMS. Drivers park in our parking lot and walk their child to the entrance.
Toddler Program
Starting in August of the school year, typically students are between 22 months to 30 months.
No. Toddlers are welcome in diapers. However, during your child’s time in the toddler program, your child’s Montessori guide will recommend a specific time to begin the potty training process with your child. Our Montessori Guides keep daily records of bathroom habits of each child and observe children throughout the day. The answers to the following questions will help guide your child’s potty training journey: “How long is his/her diaper dry for?”, “Does your child communicate (even if it is one word, or a noise) that s/he needs to go to the bathroom?”, “Does your child do a “potty dance” right before s/he pees or poos?” Your child’s Montessori Guide will email you when your child is ready and instructions for how to proceed so your child successfully completes this milestone. Looking forward to the preschool program, your child must be completely potty trained by the time s/he enters our preschool program.
Toddlers are free to wear what they like. Children should wear plain and simple clothing, so they can enjoy their Montessori classroom with limited distractions or restrictions to movement.
All toddlers nap from 12:45 p.m. – 2:30 p.m.., each day.
CHMS opens from 8:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.. We offer the following pick up time frames: 11:45 a.m.- 12:00 p.m., 2:45 p.m. – 3:00 p.m., and 3:30 p.m. – 5:00 p.m..
Yes. Toddlers who stay at CHMS past 12:00 p.m., enjoy our catered lunch. We partner with Good Foods, an Arlington based company, that provides nutritious and healthy lunches to our students. Children learn to become good eaters by trying new foods that Good Foods offers. The menu rotates every 3 months and children enjoy vegetables or salad, a protein entrée, bread, and fresh cut fruit each day. Here’s a sample menu:
Preschool Program
Starting in August, typically students are aged between 2.8 years old to 5 years old. Preschoolers are required to be completely toilet trained and emotionally ready for the Preschool Program. Preschool Montessori environments are mixed-aged classrooms with a balanced number of 3, 4, and 5 year olds.
Yes. In order for your child to enter the preschool program, s/he must be fully potty trained. This means, s/he is dry for the entire time at CHMS and wears underwear, without training underwear and/or pullups. We understand that accidents can happen. That’s why it’s important for your child to have multiple pairs of extra clothes in his/her cubby at CHMS.
Our CHMS uniform. It consists of a collared shirt with our CHMS logo, navy blue or beige shorts/pants, navy blue or beige jumpers or dresses, plain colored socks, and velcro sneakers.
CHMS opens from 8:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.. We offer the following pick up time frames: 11:45 a.m.- 12:00 p.m., 2:45 p.m. – 3:00 p.m., and 3:30 p.m. – 5:00 p.m..
Preschoolers rest from 1:00 p.m. – 2:30 p.m., 2:00 p.m. – 2:30 p.m., or not at all, depending on their age. Most preschoolers sleep during this time, since they are exhausted from the busy Montessori classroom environment. Children are invited to bring a small lovey (<6 inches in length), which can be kept inside their nap mat.
Yes. Preschoolers who stay at CHMS past 12:00 p.m., enjoy our catered lunch. We partner with Good Foods, an Arlington based company, that provides nutritious and healthy lunches to our students. Children learn to become good eaters by trying new foods that Good Foods offers. The menu rotates every 3 months and children enjoy vegetables or salad, a protein entrée, bread, and fresh cut fruit each day. Here’s a sample menu: