What is Maria
Montessori Charter Academy?
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MMCA is a public Montessori elementary school developed by parents and
teachers for the South Placer County area. The goal of the program is
to achieve academic excellence in an environment where students can
become independent, enthusiastic, competent, life-long learners who are
compassionate, tolerant, socially responsible citizens.
Why do we want a
charter Montessori school?
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Many parents would like their children who have attended Montessori
pre-schools to continue with Montessori educational methodology and
philosophy, yet some parents are unable to afford ongoing private
tuition. Still others are dissatisfied with the educational experience
they’re experiencing a t a traditional public school and are looking for
an alternative. The founders of the school believed that this
exceptional educational program should be available to all students.
How is a charter school different from other public schools?
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Charter Schools offer an important innovation in public education. They
are performance-based public schools that are free of many of the
complex regulations that often constrain innovation in traditional
programs. In exchange for substantial freedom in governance,
programming, staffing and budgeting, the school is held to strict
accountability for high student achievement.
What grades does
the school include?
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The school will ultimately serve children in grades K-8. The first year
started with grades K-4 with classrooms being added in the following
years as the enrollment grows. Fall 2004 we will see our enrollment
include grades K-8.
Where is the school located?
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Rocklin, CA. Rocklin is located in South Placer
County, the fastest growing county in the state.
K/1 and 7-8th grades -
Sunset Site:
3175 Sunset Blvd, Rocklin, CA 95677
2nd-6th grades -
Rocklin Elementary: 5025 Meyers Street, Rocklin, CA 95677
When did the school open?
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September 5, 2000.
Who can
attend Maria Montessori Charter Academy?
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All California students are eligible for admissions regardless of race,
gender or religious affiliation. Preference is given to the children of
the Founding Board, children of teachers, siblings of enrolled students
and Rocklin residents. If oversubscribed, students will be admitted by
a lottery system.
How much parental
involvement is required?
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A
high correlation exists between parental involvement and student success
in school and all parents are expected to participate as partners in the
education of the child. The school will try to match each family to
their strengths, interest, and abilities with the needs of the school.
Each family will be expected to contribute volunteer time and resources
to help support the school’s success
How may I
enroll my child(ren) in this school?
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Please go to our Enrollment page for specific enrollment information
Why do Montessori classes have more students than traditional classes?
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The Montessori classroom is designed to be a mini-community. The
multi-age makeup of the group facilitates meaningful observation and
exposure to advanced lessons, peer modeling, and the opportunity to
solidify one's understanding of the material by "tutoring" others.
Experts in the implementation of Montessori programs indicate that each
age group within the classroom should consist of 6-8 or more students to
create a meaningful social group. Classes typically include a span of
two to three years in age.
What kind
of ratios will MMCA have in the classroom?
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The average classroom is about 16:1; we have (2) Teachers per classroom,
both California certificated and Montessori trained.
Won't classrooms be chaotic or noisy with so many children?
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Montessori classrooms are often a surprise to visitors. Students are
concentrating intently on their work, speak in calm tones, and
demonstrate respect for their peer's need for space and focus. They move
freely about the environment and often assist each other with their
tasks. Children in the classroom typically work individually or in
pairs or small work groups and the teacher provides lessons at the time
of individual readiness. This "normalization" of the classroom occurs
when the children begin to "work" seriously with the materials.
How is the layout of the classroom different from traditional
classrooms?
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Montessori classrooms have more square footage than traditional
classrooms and much of the work, at the lower grades, occurs on small
mats on the floor. As the children grow older, desks are more common.
The space is broken up into smaller areas by the placement of low
bookcases and other materials in the prepared environment that create an
element of privacy yet permit the teacher to observe all areas of the
room. Additionally, students will be excused to work on specific
projects in the hall area and on the deck. These areas are visible from
the classroom.
How will the age
groups be clustered at MMCA?
Frequently Asked Questions
For the 2008-2009 school year, MMCA will have:
(2) K-1 Classrooms
(2) 2-3 Classroom
(2) 4-5Classroom
(1) 6th Classroom
(1) 7-8 Classroom
Space permitting, MMCA’s long term goal would be a configuration
consisting of:
(2) K-1 Classrooms
(2) 2-3 Classrooms
(2) 4-5 Classrooms
(2) 6-8 Classrooms
How are Special Education Students be included in the program at MMCA?
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