| Welcome from our Head of School |
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Welcome and thank you for visiting our Web site. You will discover that West Side Montessori School is a warm, diverse, enthusiastic community of learners. Our expert faculty is dedicated to making this first formal school experience a great beginning for our students and their families. Our learning community is supported by a caring and effective administration, our Board of Trustees and an active group of current families, alumnae families and friends. Our dynamic Parent’s Association fosters camaraderie by organizing exciting events and enhances our school each year with its fundraising efforts. These first years at WSMS will lay the foundation for a lifetime of learning for your child. We take our job as your partners in this endeavor very seriously indeed. However, while we are serious about our responsibility to you, our school environment is warm and welcoming, full of the excitement, discovery, and sheer joy of learning about oneself and others. This is a place where children are given the language and structure to foster their independence, resilience, and creativity. Here, they learn to participate in a community of self-directed learners and flexible thinkers, and use their own minds to solve problems. Here, they learn empathy and develop a social conscience. All of this takes place with ease because, as Maria Montessori would say, our school environment is “prepared” to help each child develop and grow individually at his or her own pace, in his or her own style, and as part of a learning community of children. WSMS is also a place for families to grow. We give our families ongoing support as they make the transition from parenting a toddler to parenting a child in school. And in a few years, as your child prepares to leave WSMS, we will help you make informed decisions about his or her ongoing education as you sort through your options to find the best fit. Throughout your entire WSMS experience, we are here to answer questions and provide you with the knowledge and guidance that you need. I hope you will enjoy learning more about what makes WSMS the place to begin,.. Mimi Basso |