Our program is licensed for 24 children, 20 full time and 4 part time students, in an open concept learning environment of 2500 ft2.
Full Day Programming:
We are open Monday to Friday, 8 am – 4:30 pm. We offer an academic school program 10 months of the year, September to June. Then we put away the majority of our Montessori academic materials and offer an outdoor-based summer care program for the months of July and August, closing the last week of August for a break and maintenance. We also close for two weeks at Christmas and one week in mid-March. We are closed on all statutory holidays, and at least one Professional Development day per year. Exact dates are announced at the beginning of each school year.
Half Day Programming:
Blue Heron Montessori is excited to announce that we will be adding 4 half day childcare spaces to our program starting September 2021! This half day program will run Monday to Friday, 8 am – 12:30 pm. When adding your family to the waitlist please specify that you want to enroll your child for our half day program.
As of September 2022, child care fees are $1210 for our full day program and $710 for our half day program per month.*
*This is based on the CCFRI funding we receive. Should funding cease, we will charge our regular fee of $1310 for full day and $810 for half day
Philosophy
At Blue Heron Montessori we are dedicated to the child first and foremost. To keep our school safe, happy, and loving, we adhere to these three values. This is the foundation we use to guide the child in making positive choices.
RESPECT for self– This means we take care of our bodies, we speak up for ourselves and we welcome and accept our emotions.
RESPECT for others– This means we listen to those in our community, we treat our friends with kindness, and we respect all living things.
RESPECT for environment– This means we take care of our classroom, we are mindful of the Earth, and we take care of our belongings.
Welcoming the Child: Casa means HOME
We work to provide a loving atmosphere where the child feels secure. Before a child can begin academic learning, they must have all their physical and social/emotional needs met. This is priority number one for us, and is the foundation for our care model.
The Prepared Environment: Montessori Mornings
We offer an environment that is built for the child. The prepared environment includes materials made to spark the interest of the developing mind. We use Montessori materials which serve a direct purpose in categorizing the child’s understanding of the world.
Learning Through Play
Along with using our Montessori materials in free and exploratory way, we bring out different materials which encourage more social/dramatic play. We set out invitations to play that change weekly, which include loose parts to promote creativity and early math and literacy skills. We also have a dedicated gross motor area, to provide the children with a safe outlet for their high physical play needs. We change out the experiences often to continue keeping play dynamic and engaging.
Cultural Enrichment
We incorporate music and movement, HUL’QUMI’NUM language and songs, French, art, cooking, yoga, and gardening. Including indigenous culture and language is an important part of our program we are committed to in order uphold our responsibility to the Truth and Reconciliation Act. We teach only what we have been given permission to share and what is accessible to the public through books and other resources.
Outdoor Time
The value of outdoor play is exponential. We spend at 3 hours per day outside, and longer periods during the summer months. We have access to a large field as well as an age appropriate playground. The beach is within walking distance, providing a rich opportunity for learning. We are also developing a connection with the Montreal St Community Garden.
Rest
We firmly believe in the importance of sleep and a well-rested child. We provide the opportunity for all children to have one hour of quiet rest. We provide mats, books, low lighting and calming music during this time. Children who do not nap are taken outside for meditation, stories, and play.
Family Communication
We value communication with the families in our care. We send weekly emails highlighting the learning and always address questions, comments and concerns. We use pedagogical narrations (or learning stories) to give a families a deeper look into what we do and why. We also host parent-teacher interviews twice yearly, one in October and one in June. We welcome meetings throughout the year to discuss any concern about your child.
Blue Heron Montessori 