Toddler Program
18-36 Months
Montessori Toddler program offers so much more than childcare. The environments are designed to promote your child’s growth in all areas of development. Teachers introduce new materials and activities that promote independence, order, coordination, and concentration, as well as support social, emotional, physical, and cognitive development. Learning objectives for your child at this age include developing skills such as language, concentration, problem solving, visual discrimination, and physical coordination. A Montessori environment for young children gives your toddler the freedom to safely explore and learn through discovery. The setting is calm, inviting, and homelike, with soft rugs, a rocking chair, books arrayed on low shelves and toys in
baskets. Colors are muted, the atmosphere peaceful. The space is organized, clean, and uncluttered. The adult to child ratio is 1:6 with one Montessori certified lead teacher, a full-time assistant, and a shared assistant. Each toddler classroom has 12 children ranging in age 18-36 months old.
Enrollment Process:
Valley Montessori Academy follows a 10-month school calendar, with open enrollment for the upcoming school year starting in April as long as availability permits. However, we also offer year-round enrollment when spaces are available. We also offer a Summer Program, which varies each year. To begin the enrollment process, please follow the steps below:
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The first step is to complete our inquiry form, which confirms your interest in the program.
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Within 1-2 business days of submitting your inquiry, you will receive an email with information about availability, program information, and instructions for scheduling a tour. Response times may vary based on school closures or busy periods. Please note that tours may not be available during certain times due to full waitlist enrollment or school commitments.
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After your tour, you will receive an enrollment offer if there is availability or will be placed on the waiting list.
Please note that we do not assign individual waitlist numbers. Enrollment offers are made based on various factors to ensure a balanced, mixed-age classroom that best meets the needs of all students. Additional considerations include sibling priority and transfer requests.
Primary Program
3-6 Years
The Early Childhood level, for children ages 3 – 6, encourages preschoolers to explore and discover, to collaborate with classmates, and to take ownership of their education. The Montessori Method encourages self-directed learning that promotes self-confidence, independent thought and action, and critical thinking, while fostering social-emotional and intellectual growth. The teaching of peace, social justice, and global citizenship is based on fostering respect for all people and living things, and helping children learn the tools for peaceful conflict resolution. The Early Childhood classroom offers your child 5 areas of study: Practical Life, Sensorial, Math, Language, and Cultural Studies. Rigorously trained teachers carefully observe their children in the Early Childhood environment, identifying their interests and abilities and developing personalized learning plans tailored to each child’s needs. They guide the learning, introducing new lessons and levels of difficulty as appropriate. Price Here:
Enrollment Process:
Valley Montessori Academy follows a 10-month school calendar, with open enrollment for the upcoming school year starting in April as long as availability permits. However, we also offer year-round enrollment when spaces are available. We also offer a Summer Program, which varies each year. To begin the enrollment process, please follow the steps below:
-
The first step is to complete our inquiry form, which confirms your interest in the program.
-
Within 1-2 business days of submitting your inquiry, you will receive an email with information about availability, program information, and instructions for scheduling a tour. Response times may vary based on school closures or busy periods. Please note that tours may not be available during certain times due to full waitlist enrollment or school commitments.
-
After your tour, you will receive an enrollment offer if there is availability or will be placed on the waiting list.
Please note that we do not assign individual waitlist numbers. Enrollment offers are made based on various factors to ensure a balanced, mixed-age classroom that best meets the needs of all students. Additional considerations include sibling priority and transfer requests.
Elementary Program
6-9 Years
As at all Montessori levels, the Elementary program is based on the belief that children learn best through movement and work with their hands, and provides cognitive, social, and emotional support to help them reach their full potential.
Children who are new to Montessori quickly feel at home with the inspired teaching that appeals to their deepest interests, and with the distinctive, hands-on learning materials that teachers introduce sequentially according to the students’ developmental needs. For students who have completed Montessori Early Childhood programs, the environment offers continuity with familiar routines and learning materials that offer new lessons and opportunities for more complex exploration and discovery.
Multi-age groupings of children ages 6 – 9 provide a heterogeneous mix in which children can collaborate and socialize. These inter-age relationships strengthen the entire community.
Teachers guide children through a rigorous curriculum individually tailored to their own interests, needs, and abilities. Teachers monitor progress against established benchmarks and expectations for student learning, including: academic preparedness, independence, confidence, autonomy, intrinsic motivation, social responsibility, and global citizenship.
Enrollment Process:
Valley Montessori Academy follows a 10-month school calendar, with open enrollment for the upcoming school year starting in April as long as availability permits. However, we also offer year-round enrollment when spaces are available. We also offer a Summer Program, which varies each year. To begin the enrollment process, please follow the steps below:
-
The first step is to complete our inquiry form, which confirms your interest in the program.
-
Within 1-2 business days of submitting your inquiry, you will receive an email with information about availability, program information, and instructions for scheduling a tour. Response times may vary based on school closures or busy periods. Please note that tours may not be available during certain times due to full waitlist enrollment or school commitments.
-
After your tour, you will receive an enrollment offer if there is availability or will be placed on the waiting list.
Please note that we do not assign individual waitlist numbers. Enrollment offers are made based on various factors to ensure a balanced, mixed-age classroom that best meets the needs of all students. Additional considerations include sibling priority and transfer requests.
Infant Program
Coming in 2026
Valley Montessori Academy will soon introduce a thoughtfully designed Montessori Infant Environment. This inviting space will be prepared to welcome children as young as 6 months, fostering each stage of infant growth with developmentally appropriate materials and activities. Our infant environment will feature a calm, home-like decor with soft lighting, appealing mobiles, and cozy napping areas. The adult to child ratio will be 1:3 with one Montessori certified lead teacher, a full-time assistant, and a shared assistant
We will encourage free movement and motor skill development with soft floor mats, bolsters, and independence-enhancing elements such as wall-mounted bars, low stairs, and soft furniture to help infants with pulling up, climbing, and standing. Our safe, infant-friendly design will include toddler-sized shelving with objects that promote fine motor skills, and cause-and-effect learning, and mirrors close to the floor for self-discovery.
Infants will also have access to both indoor and outdoor play spaces equipped with specially designed equipment for exploration. Designated tranquil nap spaces and comfortable chairs for nursing parents will offer peaceful areas for rest and bonding.
Our Infant Program will provide a nurturing, secure space where each child can explore and develop at their own pace. laying the foundation for a lifetime of curiosity, confidence, and joyful learning.
Enrollment for our Infant Program will open in April 2025.
If you’re interested in learning more, please submit an inquiry form:
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The first step is to complete our inquiry form, which confirms your interest in the program.
-
Within 1-2 business days of submitting your inquiry, you will receive an email with information about availability, program information, and instructions for scheduling a tour. Response times may vary based on school closures or busy periods. Please note that tours may not be available during certain times due to full waitlist enrollment or school commitments.
-
After your tour, you will receive an enrollment offer if there is availability or will be placed on the waiting list.
Extended Care
Morning: 7am-8am
Afternoon: 3pm-4pm
The Morning and Afternoon Care Programs provide optional extended care and enrichment opportunities for parents seeking additional support for their children. These services are available exclusively for Preschool and Elementary students and offer an extension of the Montessori experience, focusing on age-appropriate activities, gross motor skills, and positive social interactions. Enrollment is subject to availability and should be requested during the school year's registration.
At the time of enrollment, parents are required to sign a legal agreement to pay for their selected Morning and Afternoon Care Program on a monthly, annual, or semi-annual basis. Please note that the annual payment option includes a built-in discount, and we offer a 10% sibling discount for extended care. Spaces are limited in both the morning and afternoon programs.
For occasional drop-ins, reservations can be made via email at vmaenrollment@gmail.com, on a first-come, first-served basis. For morning care, reservations must be made by 2:00 p.m. the day before, and for afternoon care, by 12:00 p.m. on the same day. Please note, once a reservation is confirmed, it cannot be canceled or rescheduled, and charges will apply. Hourly fees are not prorated. Drop-in fees will be billed separate from monthly tuition rates.
Extended Care fees are billed monthly and due on the 15th of the month prior to attendance (for example, September fees are due by August 15th). *Rates are subject to change.
Extracurricular Activities
At Valley Montessori Academy, learning extends far beyond the classroom. Our thoughtfully integrated extracurricular activities are designed to enrich each child’s development—emotionally, creatively, physically, and culturally. Rooted in Montessori principles, these experiences provide students with opportunities to explore mindfulness, music, nature, and language in engaging and meaningful ways. From daily mindfulness practices to hands-on gardening, joyful music sessions, and immersive Spanish lessons, each offering supports the whole child and complements their academic journey with balance, curiosity, and joy.
Mindfulness
Mindfulness resonates deeply with Montessorians because the tools and methodology are grounded in principles that align with the Montessori belief system. Dr. Maria Montessori, founder of the Montessori philosophy, believed that the purpose of education is to work towards a more peaceful world as part of social-emotional learning through empathy and compassion for us and others.
Why Bring Mindfulness to VMA Students?
Mindfulness is the energy of being aware and awake in the present moment. When practice mindfulness with children, they become more aware of themselves, their happiness, and their sorrow. Mindfulness allows us to come to understand ourselves and others much more clearly and compassion for ourselves and others naturally arises.
Sharing mindfulness with young people allows them to develop emotional stability and creates a basis for them to lead a happy, authentic, engaged, and ethical life.
Cultivating Mindfulness in Education. Happy Teachers change the world!
VMA educators believe in the transformative power of mindfulness, especially in learning environments. In a spirit of service, we are committed to establishing a daily mindfulness practice with children (breathing techniques, walking, yoga-based movements, body). Montessori teachers are increasingly interested in explicitly developing a cluster of social, emotional and ethical qualities in their student, using the range of terms, including ethic, values, morals, social and emotional learning. To successfully share mindfulness and yoga practices with children, VMA teachers first practice themselves and then integrate into daily lives and work. A happy, mindful teacher is one who is present in the classroom, takes time to be there for himself and children, creates balance and harmony in the daily routine. Mindfulness and love are the biggest gifts educators can offer to young people.
Music
Music plays a vital role in children’s development, allowing them to express themselves and broaden their awareness. It encourages exploration of rhythm, melody, and creativity through hands-on activities. Music lessons also support the development of focus, coordination, and a deep appreciation for the arts, enriching their overall Montessori experience. At Valley Montessori Academy, we offer weekly music lessons in every class led by Mrs. Paige, our music teacher. She engages students with a variety of instruments, singing, and humming, providing an interactive and enriching musical experience for all students.
Garden
At Valley Montessori Academy, we are proud to offer unique learning experiences, including a beautiful edible organic garden that the children care for, as well as a quail they help tend to. Every week, our students participate in garden lessons led by Mrs. Kay, our garden teacher. Gardening is an essential part of the Montessori experience, fostering hands-on learning, responsibility, and a connection to nature. Through activities such as planting, watering, and harvesting, children develop an understanding of the natural world, learn about the environment, and cultivate patience and care. These lessons not only nurture practical life skills but also inspire curiosity and respect for the Earth, aligning with Montessori principles.
Spanish
At Valley Montessori Academy, we offer weekly Spanish lessons, taught by a teacher of our faculty. These lessons introduce children to the Spanish language through interactive activities, helping them develop language skills, cultural awareness, and a global perspective. In line with Montessori principles, our Spanish lessons encourage natural language acquisition, fostering curiosity and confidence as children explore a new language in a supportive, immersive environment. Beginning in the 2026-2027 school year, VMA will expand its language program to include a full Spanish immersion program for all ages, offering students across all age groups a fully immersive environment to further enhance their language learning experience.