Waldorf and Montesorri in Southern Maine

[DirtyHippie]

My 5 year old is currently in Kindergarten in a public school. And I tell you I am NOT impressed. She has had some hearing problems this year due to excess fluid and dosn't "perform" as the teacher sees fit. Her teacher actually said she thinks she has a learning disability and it has nothing to do with her hearing. She laso says she cannot do many things when my daughter does them atr home. Anyway how do I find a waldorf school or montesorri in my area? I live in Southern Maine. Also how expensive is it and is there usually tuition assistance?

[sanna]

DirtyHippie,

I would do a search on the net. Also, if you go to the following site and click on Waldorf then resources, it will bring you to all Waldorf schools listed in US. I did notice that some slipped thru the cracks. So, you may want to call the one closest to you and ask. Especially the ones offered privately in homes, etc..

Good luck!

waldorf web site

[Mallory]

Hi,
We lived in Sanford for 10 mo. Altough my kids didn't go I am pretty sure there is a Waldorf school in portland and I babysat for some people who loved thier Montessori school 9only until 1 st grade though) in Biddeford Pool.
Sorry, thats not a lot of info,
Mallory

[MamaMae]

Hello Maine Mama! Sorry to hear you're having a hard time with dd in school this year! But be glad that there ARE some resources in greater Portland for you! There is a strong Waldorf Community, as well as homeschool community if that is something that interests you as well.

The closest Waldorf school to you is in Freeport...Merriconeag Waldorf School. If you call information and get their number, I'm sure they can help you more. As far as I know, there is not an "official" or accredited school in Portland, though there is talk of starting one up in the next few years. There's also a Waldorf based "pre-school" called Homespun (I think!)...if you want more info on that, I have the woman's name and number that runs it.

The school is a bit expensive, but I know they do have assistance.

The Waldorf School in Freeport has their annual May Celebration and open house on Saturday, May 11th. That would be a great thing for you to check out!


As for Montessori, I know for sure that there's one on Route 77 in Cape Elizabeth, I think its called Casco Bay Montessori. And I would imagine that there are many more around Greater Portland too. I don't know as much about Montessori, I just know of that school.

Good luck!

[trinismama]

Montessori Schools

Hi,
There is also a "Little Log Cabin Montessori" School in South Windham, right near the Raymond border. And, there's another in North Yarmouth(?) Falmouth. I am very interested and think this is how I'm going to go about the preschool years with Trini.

[Carmen]

I used to live in Portsmouth, NH and when I was there this summer visiting it seems that my friend who has a son in the first grade now was sending him to a Waldorf school across the Maine border, perhaps in Elliot? He went to Montessori Kindergarten before that also in So. Maine. If you want I can e-mail her and ask for the specifics. Where do you live?

[autumndawn]

what a perfect thread for me to find! we live in kittery maine, as southern maine as you can get! we've checked out some of the montessori/waldorf schools in the area. there is a waldorf school (tidewater school) on rte. 236 in eliot, literally a few minutes drive from the kittery traffic circle, also a montessori school in york (brixham friends school) where we are sending our almost 4 year old next year!! it's small and totally cute. also, across the border is another montessori school in rye, NH (i don't know the name) and the cornerstone school, a montessori school in stratham, NH, both about 10-15 minutes away from us. the cornerstone school is quite large and has more facilities, and is also more expensive.

brixham montessori is $3,100 a year (september-june) for 3 morning preschool (9:00 - 12:30) , $2,500 for 2 day preschool, $4,600 for 5 day kindergarted (9-1) and $6,500 for 5 day elementary (9-3). i think waldorf was pretty comparable.

if i can give you any more info, advice, let me know!

[truly_sarah]

I have researched with my son who has decided he is happy with homeschooling/unschooling.

I live in York.

Here we have in Eliot the Tidewater school which is Waldorf.
Right down the road there is Brixham Montessori...they are just gearing up their upper grades last I heard.
There is a new venture called White Pines Community School in York that is a 3-day program, 1 day in nature, 2 days instruction/exploration type of thing (just written up in the Sunday paper)...what else...in Kennebunk you have the School Around Us which is quite nice but has a bizarre operating structure (nothing to do with the instruction, but when we looked it didn't have an outside board of directors and there was some risk tuition-wise)...there is also an underground-type school that is homeschool kids but they all go to someone's house for the day...Bridgette somebody or other (for this you'd have to ask around).

I think those at least are the options that first come to mind.

IF my little one were to go to school, I think the Tidewater School would be first choice. I like Waldorf. For an older grade-school child I would choose School Around Us. But it all depends on personality and needs.

Keep asking around and do some visits.

When my son went to Open Fields School in VT, we visited first and I remember how disappointed he was when we had to leave. Of course he went there - it was just perfect for us...him especially.

Sarah

[Carmen]

I use to work for Marylyn who started up (with others) The School Around Us. It is right on the edge of her farm. What great memories of going there for Sunday breakfast at "The Farm" and swimming afterwards. My husband is a teacher and worked closely with Marylyn and heard lots about The School Around US while he taught in Berwick, Maine.

You all are making me miss my Southern Maine/Portsmouth days.

[truly_sarah]

Yes, I remember talking to her on the phone when we were thinking about moving here and looking around for a new school for my older son. I believe her daughter had some association with my son's school in Vermont...maybe she was teaching there? Anyway, it's a nice school but a bit too far away for us unless I was to be working up that way, which I wasn't.

There is a higher-grade school available in Kennebunk now too. A follow-on from the School Around Us. It's called "The New School". When we drive by every week on the way to music class, it always looks quite busy and lively.

Sarah

[Carmen]

That's right. Her daughter Amy was teaching in Vermont for a bit, then moved back to Kennebunk and I believe is teaching at The School Around Us.

A friend of mine's son in Portsmouth was going to the Waldorf school in Elliot, but is now going to a Montessori School I beleive.

Good luck with the decisions for your ownchildren!

[truly_sarah]

That must have been her I met when we visited about a year after we moved here. Very nice!!!! The kids are lucky.

The two schools: Open Fields in Thetford and School Around Us in Kennebunk, are very similar except for their organizational structure (which the kids could care less about ; )