FAQ's

Children need to be 3 years old prior to December 1st of the current schoolyear.

Yes, it is important for the teachers to give full attention to the classroom and that children can be mostly independent in the bathroom. For more information on how Montessori helps children learn to use the toilet, search the web for “Montessori toilet learning”

Children thrive best with consistent routines. They also feel a greater sense of connection to and belonging with their peers when they are consistently present for class-wide experiences and conversations.  As children over age three become more social, their consistent presence supports the social and learning dynamic in the mixed-age environment.

Snack:  Families sign up for one week commitment each semester to provide snack for the classroom. In this process, children develop life-long skills of preparing and serving food to others, as well as independence and responsibility.  Students experience a greater diversity of foods when provided by families.

Lunch: Full-day students bring a packed lunch with an ice-pack, which allows families to provide foods that are healthy and fitting to the family preferences. There is a microwave in the classroom for short warm-ups.

Our classrooms have a maximum capacity of 20 students, and our ratio is 1:10 (1 teacher for every 10 students). Each classroom has a Montessori certified lead teacher as well as a classroom assistant.

Southwest Montessori Academy (SMA) is now participating in the Indiana Child Care and Development Fund (CCDF) program to help eligible families access high-quality early childhood education and care. Families of eligible students with an active CCDF voucher can have a portion of their tuition covered and will be financially responsible to cover any co-pays or overage amounts. To learn more, please visit www.in.gov/fssa/carefinder/child-care-assistance.

It is our goal to expand access through tuition assistance in the future, and we are currently in the process of raising funds for the 27-28 school year. Additionally, some SMA families find assistance through family members, educational savings accounts, employer assisted programs, or through budgeting in advance.

To those interested in contributing philanthropically, please click the link to support us: https://southwestmontessoriacademy.org/supportus/

Because the Montessori primary curriculum aligns with the Indiana State Kindergarten Standards, our alumni students have a variety of options after completing the Kindergarten year with us. Some students enter first grade in the public school system, some enter private or parochial schools, and others continue their Montessori education in a lower elementary program at a different Montessori school. It is in our strategic plan to expand and offer a lower elementary program within our school as soon as we are able.

Montessori students are well-prepared to be confident leaders and problem solvers in their next learning environment. The Montessori environment helps develop lifelong work habits such as concentration, persistence and stamina. Our alumni students have easily adapted to the change in structure and routine in a different learning environment.