There are several factors you need to consider when exploring different schools for your child. The educational philosophy of the school, as well as the atmosphere on campus, are two of the most important factors to consider. On a more practical level, you also need to determine if the programs you are considering work with your schedule. The reality is that a program that you cannot align with your work schedule simply is not an option. If you are considering a Montessori school for your child, you will find that many of the programs follow a traditional calendar. And some of those Montessori programs, such as Fountainhead Montessori (FMS), offer additional options, including before and aftercare and summer programs.

Daily classroom schedule

The daily classroom schedule at Fountainhead Montessori is similar to what you will find in a traditional classroom. For school-aged children, classes commence in the morning and finish up in the afternoon. During the day, students engage in physical activity, eat lunch, learn about a variety of subjects, and are exposed to enriching programs such as language and music. If a traditional school schedule works for your family, you can drop off and pick up your child at the specified time each day. However, if you want or need before and aftercare for your child, it is available at Fountainhead Montessori.

Before and aftercare

FMS offers before and aftercare on campus for students. Getting care for your child before and after school is convenient since it saves you time without dealing with the logistics of getting him or her from one place to another. On-campus before and aftercare is very suitable for parents and beneficial for students. Students can remain in a familiar environment and get additional opportunities for learning. At the Danville and Livermore locations of FMS, before care is available from 7 am to 9 am, and aftercare is available from 12 pm to 6:30 pm. The Dublin location of FMS offers before, and aftercare from 7 am to 6:30 pm. FMS in Orinda has before and aftercare from 7 am to 9 am, and again from 12 pm to 6:00 pm. These extended hours are designed to provide the care students need while parents start and finish up the workday.

Summer program

At FMS, we understand that parents still need to work in the summer. We also believe that students can benefit from continued learning opportunities during the summer. The summer program at FMS is designed to meet the diverse needs of children, as well as the demanding schedules of parents.

Discovery camp

Discovery camps are specialized, age-appropriate camps that are available for one week at the end of the summer session, Winter Break, Spring Break, and the end of the year before Summer School starts. These camps fill in the gap during weeks that students traditionally have off of school, but parents still need to work.

Fountainhead Montessori has a schedule designed to help students and parents have the best possible experience. You can get specific information about the schedule offered by each campus on the programs page of the FMS website.