Parent Handbook
2014 - 2015
“Education is not preparation for life.
Education is life itself.”
Dr. Maria Montessori
South Campus
499 N. Parham Road
Richmond, Virginia 23229
North Campus
501 N. Parham Road
Richmond, Virginia 23229
Main Phone: (804) 741-0040
FAX: (804) 741-5341
Website:
Office Hours:
8:00 A.M. to 4:00 P.M. Monday through Friday
Montessori Enrichment Hours:
7:30 A.M. to 6:00 P.M. Monday through Friday
Administration Contact Information
Head of School – Gregory Wojcikewych
Assistant Head of School - Grainne
Director of Studies - Christine
Director of Montessori Enrichment - Darlene
Director of Finance & Operations - Tracy
Director of Marketing and Communications - Erin
Admissions Coordinator - Parham
Advancement Coordinator - Suzy Short
Registrar - Nimila Banerjee
Admin. Assistant/Front Desk Receptionist - Rebecca Bell
Accounting - Lael Edmonds
Building & Grounds Supervisor - Dug Campbell
Information Technology Coordinator - Jerry
Table of Contents
Introduction/Overview of our School
5 Our Mission/Vision
5 Our Values
6 Our 2013-2018 Strategic Plan
6 RMS Description and History
7 Accreditation and Licensing
7 Board of Trustees and Committees
10 The Administrative Team
12 Richmond Montessori Parents’ Association (RMPA)
13…Who Can I Talk to About?
Our Montessori Faculty
14 The Teacher’s Role
14 Faculty
15 Teacher Training
The Montessori Curriculum
15 Spiral Curriculum
16 Example of How Subjects are Integrated
16 Specialty Program Curriculum
Our Students
18 Quality Assessment at RMS
18 Student Assessment
19 Student Progress Reports & Parent/Teacher Conferences(please also see p. 38)
19 Mid-Year Advancement
19 Standardized Tests
20 Our RMS Graduates
RMS Montessori Enrichment
20 Coupons
21 Early Arrival
21 Holiday Package Information
21 Montessori Enrichment After-School Activities
School Policies & Practices
Student Admission
22 Student Selection
22 Financial Aid
23 Class Placement
Enrolled Students
24 Student Files
25 Student Phasing-In Process
25 Parent Orientation and Education
25 The First Day of School
26 What Should My Child Wear?
26 Student Dress Code
26 Late Arrival
27 Guidelines for Self-Toileting
Arriving and Departing Safely
27 Carpool Procedures: Arrival and Dismissal
30 Walking Students to Class
30 Departure Time – Late and Early Pick Up
30 Pick-up by Persons Other Than Parents
Daily Routines
31 Lunch & Snack
32 Allergy/Food Intolerance Policy
33 Rest
33 SendingItems To and From School
Special Occasions & Field Trips
34 Celebrations (birthdays and other)
34 Field TripsField Trip Drivers
35Parents Authorized as RMS Bus Drivers
Student AbsencesIllness
37 When to Keep Your Child Home
37 When Your Child Becomes Ill at School
37 Medications
38 Allergies
38…School Closings
Communications/Family Education
39 Responsible Use of Electronic Communication
39 Communication from School to Home
40 Parent/Teacher Conferences (please also see p. 19)
40 Parent Concerns
40 ClassroomObservations
41 Children’s Anxieties
42 Parents’ Anxieties
42 Continuity between School and Home
43 Faculty and Staff Professionalism
Behavioral Expectations for Students
44 Student Discipline
44 Withdrawal and Dismissal
Campus & Student Safety
45 School Safety Plan
46 Reporting Suspected Child Abuse
Parent Participation in Our School Community
47 Parent Volunteering
47 Opportunities to Invest in Our Vision
49 Parent Covenant
Family Contractual Commitment and Tuition
49 Students Leaving During the School Year
49 Re-Enrollment
49 Tuition Payment System
INTRODUCTION
Welcome to a new school year at Richmond Montessori School! We are looking forward to your participation in our Montessori community. This Handbook is published as a resource for RMS families to use throughout the year as a guide to information and school policies. Please review the Handbook prior to the beginning of the school year and keep it handy for future reference. A wide range of topics are covered, from our Vision, Values and Organizational Structure, to a Program and Curriculum overview, to School Policies and Procedures that ensure the safety and well-being of our students. Please refer to the table of contents for a full list of topics and their location.
We hope this Handbook will serve to facilitate the flow of communication among our community members. Should you have questions that are not addressed in the Handbook, please feel free to contact the Front Desk and the Administrative Assistant will direct your inquiry to the proper administrative or faculty member. Let’s all make this a terrific year for our children!
Gregory Wojcikewych
Head of School
OUR MISSION/VISION
“Richmond Montessori School is a premier Montessori community, inspiring academic excellence and nurturing human potential.”
OUR VALUES
Excellence…Academics, Leadership, Accreditation
Character…Personal Empowerment, Integrity, Accountability
Authenticity…Montessori Curriculum, Philosophy, Method
Respect…for Self, Others, the Environment
Community…Diversity, Dynamic Learning, Service
Strategic Plan 2013-2018
Strategic Directions
Our five strategic directions reflect analysis and synthesis of data and information gathered from several sources including the members of our school community and the guidance and recommendations from our 10-year accreditation by the American Montessori Society and the Virginia Association of Independent Schools. These strategic directions are meant to provide guidance and inspiration for our school leadership and community as we make decisions and take action that reflect our vision and values.
As part of the Task Force planning process, the Board of Trustees completed a review of our mission, vision and values. The Board charged the Task Force with setting our broad directions and goals that will be developed, piloted, and implemented over time to reflect the needs, timing, resources, and emerging research in education. Our focus is to nurture and support our students on their path to becoming creative, resilient, caring, ethical, tolerant and intelligent members of the wider world community.
- MONTESSORI PHILOSOPHY IN SUPPORT OF THE WHOLE CHILD
- COMMUNITY
- COMMUNICATIONS
- LEADERSHIP
- FINANCIAL CAPACITY
To learn more about our 2013-2018 Strategic Plan, please go to our website at
OUR SCHOOL - DESCRIPTION AND HISTORY
Richmond Montessori School is a co-educational day school serving children ages 2 to 14 years. It is operated as an independent, non-profit institution governed by a self-perpetuating volunteer Board of Trustees. Richmond Montessori School is a Virginia non-member, non-stock corporation and a Federal 501(c)(3)corporation.
RMS has an enrollment of 310 students drawing from the Richmond Metropolitan Area and outlying localities. We welcome students of diverse abilities and cultural, racial, religious and socio-economic backgrounds. Students are selected for enrollment on an individual basis. Richmond Montessori School has a nondiscriminatory policy and admits students of any race, color, national and ethnic origin to all the rights and privileges, programs and activities generally accorded or made available to students at the school. Richmond Montessori School does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national and ethnic origin in the administration of its educational policies, admissions policies, scholarship and loan programs, and athletic and other school-administered programs or otherwise discriminate in violation of federal, state, or local law.
RMS was founded in 1965 by a group of parents dedicated to the principles and educational practices developed by Dr. Maria Montessori (1870-1952). The school originally located in Richmond's historic "Fan" area, moved to its current Parham Road campus in 1974. It has grown from two original Primary classes to offer a full program from early childhood through middle school (grade eight).
Accreditation and Licensing
●RMS has held accreditation from the American Montessori Society (AMS) since 1991 and from the Virginia Association of Independent Schools (VAIS) since 2002. RMS is the only Montessori school in the metro Richmond area that is dually accredited by these organizations. RMS lead teachers hold AMS and/or Association Montessori Internationale (AMI) teacher certifications.
●The Virginia Department of Social Services licenses the RMS toddler program and the RMS Montessori Enrichment Program (before and after school and summer programs).
●Information regarding applicable standards and regulations is available from the Head of School.
Board of Trustees and Committees
The governance of the school lies with the Board of Trustees. The RMS Board meets as a whole at least nine times per year and is guided by bylaws that contain provisions dictated by law and our accrediting agencies, the American Montessori Society and the Virginia Association of Independent Schools. The bylaws specify that the Board will consist of 10 to 25 individuals who are elected for one- to three-year terms. The Board annually elects a Board Chair, a Vice Chair, a Secretary, and a Treasurer. All Trustees volunteer their time and sign statements of care, duty, conflict of interest, and confidentiality as part of their service to the school.
The Board annually approves an Executive Committee, comprised of not fewer than five Board members. The Executive Committee works with the Board Chair to establish the Board’s annual agenda, which is derived from the priorities of the strategic plan, a document created periodically through the collective efforts of all of the school’s constituencies and adopted by the Board.
Trustees hold in trust the school’s future, as well as its present. The Board of Trustees is responsible for the property and affairs of the Corporation including the fiduciary integrity of the school including funds development, employment, supervision and evaluation of the Head, and long-range planning.
Much of the Board’s work is done through active Board committees, which meet throughout the year. Typical committees focus on finance, building and grounds, advancement, support and evaluation of the Head of School, and the Board’s own performance and succession.
The Head of School is the Chief Executive Officer of the School. The Head is charged with implementing the School’s strategic plan and overseeing the effective administration of all aspects of the School’s operation including staffing and educational programming.
The Board:
●Provides continuity and direction for the school
●Provides effective, strategic and committed leadership to uphold the school’s vision and values
●Hires, supervises, supports, and evaluates the Head of School
●Establishes official policy
●Is responsible for the current and long-term financial health of the school
●Serves as role model of governance, integrity, confidentiality, professionalism, ambassadorship and financial support
●Follows RMS Bylaws (copy available in school office)
●Does not make operational decisions
●Does not make programmatic or faculty and staff hiring decisions
How Are Trustees Selected?
●The Committee on Trustees presents candidates for trusteeship who have demonstrated a commitment to RMS through Board Committee or RMPA service, or school community involvement. The Committee on Trustees also seeks candidates from the Greater Richmond community with specific skills or experience that strengthen the overall composition of the Board. Based on the National Association of Independent Schools Principles of Good Practice, our Committee on Trustees seeks to bring a range of talent and expertise to Board membership by nominating a balance of current RMS parents, past parents, and members of the community at large. These various perspectives bring strength to our Board and allow the Board to focus on the long-term future and well-being of the school.
●Nominations may be forwarded to the Chair of the Committee on Trustees.
●Trustees and officers are elected annually in the spring.
What are the “Standing” Board Committees?
Executive Committee
Purpose: To oversee the work of the board in the context of the RMS Strategic Plan. Members include Head of School, Board Chair, Vice Chair, Secretary and Treasurer.
Committee on Trustees
Purpose: To develop and maintain policies and procedures that will ensure the quality, composition, and continuity of the Board of Trustees, and to oversee the internal work of the Board of Trustees. Members consist of Board members only—responsible for ensuring excellence in school governance and for nominating and training new board members.
Advancement Committee
Purpose: To provide leadership, along with the Head of the School, the Director of Advancement and the Board Chair in the school’s advancement efforts in accord with the RMS vision, values, and the strategic plan. A Board member chairs the committee and non-Board members may serve on this committee. The Director of Advancement provides staff support to this committee.
Finance Committee
Purpose: To assist in the development of sound financial plans and procedures, which will support the priorities, established in the Strategic Plan and ensure the financial stability of RMS. To ensure the Board is fully informed of the financialimplications of all its actions and plans. A Board member chairs the committee and non-Board members may serve on this committee. The Director of Finance/Operations provides staff support for this committee.
Building and Grounds Committee
Purpose: To protect RMS’s capital investment in buildings, property and equipment and to ensure that the physical plant and grounds meet the current and future needs of the school in accordance with the Strategic Plan. A Board member chairs the committee and non-Board members may serve on this committee. The Director of Finance/Operations provides staff support for this committee.
Head Support and Evaluation
Purpose: To provide support and guidance to the Head of the School. The Committee is composed of Board members and an external resource such as a Montessori or independent school Head, Principal or administrator.
Ad Hoc Committees/Task Forces of the Board of Trustees
In addition to these standing committees, the Board may also authorize the formation of ad hoc committees to address time-sensitive issues that relate to the strategic directions of the school.
The Board of Trustees values and encourages parent participation on Board Committees. The Committee on Trustees keeps on file a list of those individuals whose talents, expertise, and experience might be of benefit to RMS. This list is used as a ‘leadership pool’ from which to consider candidates for participation in specific projects and in anticipation of vacancies on Board committees. The "RMS Volunteer/Leadership” is available from the school office for those interested in inclusion in the leadership pool. Please return your completed form to the School Office.
The Administrative Team
Head of School
Sole employee of the Board of Trustees with responsibility for ensuring that RMS remains true to its vision and mission through the thoughtful development and application of operational policies and procedures. The Head leads RMS in the areas of curriculum, personnel, financial management, internal relations, admissions and enrollment, program planning, advancement, and external relations and oversees the school budget and finances. The Head is responsible for all personnel decisions including annual faculty and staff contracts as well as overseeing the evaluation and development of faculty and staff. The Head initiates internal and external communications for the school community and represents RMS in local and national community.
The Head works collaboratively with the Board of Trustees and Board Committees to support the work of the Board and establish operational policies based on strategic board decisions. The Head works with the Board to establish measures of success in our process of continuous improvement and ensure that the school follows Best Practices for Montessori Education and Independent School Management.
Assistant Head of School
Responsible for all aspects of the recruitment, admissions and retention process as part of our school Advancement model. Supports Early Childhood faculty in implementing Montessori Principles and curriculum. The Assistant Head of School supports early childhood teachers with student progress, transitions and ongoing evaluation, and meets with parents when necessary. The AHOS works closely with the Head of School to recruit and interview early childhood faculty and substitute teachers. The AHOS supports the Director of Montessori Enrichment to ensure that the integrity of the Montessori Philosophy is upheld in the before and after school enrichment programs as well as summer programs. The AHOS serves on the Admissions, Placement and Financial Aid Committees.
Director of Advancement
Plans and implements community engagement and philanthropic giving to support the school’s financial goalsand strategic plan in the context of our Montessori mission. Responsible for the coordination of our long-term collaborative plan for enhancing the image of the school with its key constituencies and within the community at large. Provides staff support for the Board’s Advancement Committee and is staff liaison for the Parents’ Association.
Director of Finance and Operations
Responsible for all aspects of finance including budget development & monitoring, annual audit, billing & collections, accounts receivable, accounts payable, processing of payroll, banking and investments, and employee benefits administration. The Director of Finance and Operations serves as staff support to the Board’s Finance and Building and Grounds Committees and oversees and approves all aspects of campus building and grounds operations.
Director of Studies
Supports Elementary and Middle School faculty in implementing Montessori principles and curriculum at all levels, coordinates faculty in the review of curricula on an annual basis and coordinates all class schedules. The DOS observes students at the request of teachers, AHOS, or HOS and meets with parents and teachers to make recommendations regarding student progress, placement or evaluation. The DOS reviews all elementary and middle school student progress reports and coordinates annual standardized testing. The DOS works closely with the Head of School to recruit and interview elementary and middle school faculty and substitute teachers. The DOS serves as a member of the Admissions and Placement Committees.
Director of Montessori Enrichment
Responsible for all aspects of year-round Montessori Enrichment Program including staffing of extended day, afterschool programming, and summer programming. Ensures the RMS Montessori Enrichment Program meets Department of Social Services requirements for a licensed childcare facility, including monthly fire/safety drills. The Director of Montessori Enrichment works closely with administrative team to maintain a high-quality extension of the Montessori environment.