Sammamish Montessori School

Our curriculum is based on Dr. Maria Montessori's belief that children have an inborn drive to become independent. The Montessori learning materials stimulate children into logical thought and discovery. Each of our accredited and experienced Montessori teachers have earned a Montessori diploma, and most also hold bachelors and/or masters degrees. Classroom aides also are well-educated and bring to the classroom a wealth of experience. The Sammamish Montessori School, founded in 1977 by Director Joan Starling, has grown from an initial class of six students into a vibrant multicultural school preparing preschool, kindergarten and elementary students with strong academic and social skills and a love of learning. This history has seen the maturing of the original classes into adulthood, and even alumni returning as parents of new students. We work every day to ensure high standards, instill a love of learning and provide a caring, family-centered atmosphere at the school. We recognize the demands of today’s lifestyles, which often involve both parents working, so we offer extended care for students to arrive before their class session and/or to stay at school after their class session has ended. We encourage but do not require parents to volunteer their time and we do not fundraise for our school. In support of the community, we do take voluntary donations of toys or food for Hopelink or other worthwhile causes during the holidays. Parents are welcome to be involved in the school community in a number of ways, either on an ongoing or occasional basis. We take pride in the quality of our educational program, well-equipped classrooms and caring atmosphere. Parents can entrust us with their children with confidence, knowing that they will always be treated with kindness and respect. We try to fill the needs of each child and of the total family: our office staff and management strives to be fair and flexible. Above all we believe that school should be a positive experience that children look forward to with enthusiasm.

Janet Villella

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We offer summer camps and classes all summer long and are geared to be fun and academic. Topics in our Discovery classes include foreign language, sports, science, cooking, art and art history, world studies, math, spelling, etc.

Our clean, bright, spacious, airy and organized facility is located conveniently near the intersection of SR 520/Avondale Road and Union Hill Road in Redmond. The building and classrooms have been architecturally designed specifically to optimize the Montessori environment and all furnishings within each classroom are scaled appropriately for the students within them. Many classrooms are augmented by a fully fenced courtyard. We also have an indoor gym area. Two separate fully fenced play areas offer ample opportunity for children to run, jump and play outdoors. Our small playground includes a climbing structure, covered area and paved area with a basketball hoop and balls, and other outdoor toys. Our large grassy playfield provides plenty of space to run free and kick balls. We also have a large covered sandbox, two large playhouses, climbing and balancing structures and a slide to encourage children to run and play and use their imaginations during recess times. Tricycles, scooters, jump ropes and other equipment are available for children to use within our fenced blacktop area.

Extended care is available to any SMS student from 7 a.m. to 9 a.m. and from 3:15 p.m. to 6:15 p.m. Monday through Friday. This flexible option allows you to arrive and leave at a time that is most convenient to you. You may prepay for a set amount of time in advance at a discounted rate or pay for the amount you use based on 15-minute increments billed at the end of the month. Clubroom is available before and after regular class times: Early Birds from 7 a.m. to 9 a.m. After School Club from 3:15 p.m. to 6:15 p.m. Children are free to choose from a wide range of individual and small group work in Early Birds and After School Club. In ASC, children may participate in storytelling, acting and dress-up, yoga, balancing and light gym activities, parachute play, group circle games, arts and crafts, board games, singing, relay races, egg walks and other challenges, music and movement, hula hoops and a host of other creative and engaging indoor and outdoor games and activities. During the fall and spring, when it stays light out longer and the weather is good, the children spend time playing outside to get fresh air and exercise during After School Club.

Art and art history are integrated into the Montessori curriculum. Summer camps focusing on art and art history are also available.

Piano instruction is available on-site to any student enrolled in school. More information is available upon request.

Montessori classes allow students to work at their own pace and abilities so that students who are academically advanced will be given work that challenges them.

We are proud to have a wonderfully diverse community of teachers, students and families including individuals from nearly every continent. The school’s admission and education programs are non-discriminatory. The school is an equal opportunity employer and complies with the requirements of the Americans with Disabilities Act with respect to disabilities.

Spanish is the main second language taught throughout the school.Our native-speaking Spanish teacher visits each classroom weekly to teach Spanish to our students. Our French Immersion class, taught by our own native French speaking teacher, is available as part of our Enrichment program and is available to preschool and kindergarten students. Additional opportunities for more learning arise as many of our teachers are fluent in other languages and introduce those languages to their students.

We communicate with parents by email and publish online newsletters monthly.