-How to Get DD's school to add lower el program

[nkm1968]

My youngest daughter is turning 6 in July, and attends a wonderful Montessori preschool that has been in our area for 40 years. Because DD was not accepted into the Montessori school by us that has Montessori up to age 15 (they had no room for any first year elementary students from other schools, or so I was told, although it is a very rich school, we are not, and a rich kid from dd's preschool got one of the first year elementary spots). So, we have decided to have her stay for a 4th year in her preprimary class.

We chose her current Montessori school as it had wonderful directresses AND an all-day class for working moms. The "rich" school of course does NOT have an all day class as most of the families there are either one income or have nannies. And I am feeling like dd won't get accepted there next year, either, so am starting to plan now, with as I see it, 3 options:

Option 1: Enroll dd in 2008 at the Catholic Montessori right by the hospital where I work. It has an all day program, and I like the teachers and community. However, it would mean a 45 minute car trip morning and evening for dd.(As opposed to a 5 minute car ride to the rich, west side school with no space).So she would be far away from school friends too.

Option 2: Enroll dd in nonCatholic, more pricey, but totally "green" and modern Montessori school 10 minutes further from my hospital job; this would mean 55 minute car ride twice a day, even further from schoolfriends compared to where we live.

Option 3: convince current Montessori preschool of dd to start elementary class. Now, this preschool has 5 preprimary classrooms, 1 toddler classroom. Preprimary classes are at full enrollment, meaning 120 3-6 year olds attend. The school usually has about 30 "extended day" kids as they lose a lot after the first two years to area Catholic schools who insist upon Kindergarten attendance instead of enrolling in the first grade (don't even get me started on that one!)

I am on the board of dd's preschool, and have brought up the idea of an elementary program repeatedly, but the current teachers and administrator are highly highly resistant to the idea, stating they tried for 3 years in the late 1970's to operate an elementary program at a remote site, and it didn't work, yada yada yada.

Any thoughts out there??


Any ideas out there?

[Valkyrie9]

I guess I'd go with Options 1 or 2. Do you have an aversion to the Catholic program? (Not judging, I can understand--DH would like to send DD to Catholic school later on, but I am very firmly agnostic and have some conflicts there.) If not, I'd say go for that one. There would be some definite benefit to having her so close to you. The car time might be good bonding for you guys. Have you done an interview with them to see how the religious instruction does or does not get into it?

[nkm1968]

I was raised Catholic but am not a believer any longer (although dh claims to, and claims to want dd to make first communion, etc, although he does NOT go to mass!) I actually like how the religious education is incorporated at the Catholic school, it is a Montessori program called the Good Shepherd program, and has a little atrium where kids can meditate or play with little action figure like things to reenact parables and stuff. And the Catholic Montessori school IS in a really cool neighborhood, our version of Little Italy, and close to all the museums and very close to my work (5 minute walk) too. Thanks!

[mightymoo]

DD's montessori school has one lower elementary program, I knwo they had an upper el for a couple years, but then dropped it. I think the biggest problem is interest - if there aren't enough students, the school can't afford to run the program. It's not just a 'build it and they will come' scenario. If you are interested in convincing the school to add a program, start by asking the parents if any are willing to commit to sending their kids there if they start one. Having students lined up will be a much bigger convincer than anything else I think.