Parent Partnerships & Open Communication
At Brooklin Mill Montessori School, we place tremendous value on our parent partnerships and very much want to work together with you to ensure our goals and priorities are in harmony.  Regular, open, and honest communication is a cornerstone of this relationship.  We are interested in knowing such things as the birth of a sibling, inability to sleep well for several consecutive nights, stress occurring at home or school, or other insights that we might share into your child’s behaviour.  At arrival and departure times, we welcome dialogue, but may be too busy for more than a brief conversation.  Don’t hesitate to arrange a phone call or interview to discuss a question or concern further at any time.

Code of Behaviour
We believe that the safety and well-being of all the children in the school and the maintenance of a high quality learning environment is our shared and primary concern.  Respectful behaviour in action and words is required of the staff, children, their families and caregivers at School.  This includes respect for each other, demonstrated through courteous and considerate behaviour, as well as respect for School and personal property.  Any behaviour that interferes with learning or that may threaten the well-being of a member of our School family will not be accepted.  The School reserves the right to suspend or withdraw a child from the program should the child or their family fail to abide by the Code of Behaviour.

Behaviour Management
Our Montessori classes encourage self-discipline through the interactive community of children and learning materials that stimulate the mind and body.  When children do require adult support in discipline, we use the following methods:

• Redirection of the child’s behaviour; where the teacher talks with the child, explains the problem, clarifies the “rule” or expectation, and redirects the child to appropriate behaviour or actions;
• Time “In”; where the child stays with a teacher who selects an activity for the child to perform.  The child has lost the privilege of selecting their own work, but is encouraged to do something that the teacher knows will calm and re-centre the child.  Once the child is ready, the teacher will discuss the behaviour expectations and allow the child to return to self-directed activity;
• Logical Consequences; where a privilege is removed from a child as a logical response to an inappropriate behaviour (in order to use a consequence as a learning experience for the child);
• Director’s Assistance; where the teacher is required to refer the child to the School Director in the case of a recurring problem.  The Director will take this opportunity to question why this problem exists, and may engage the Resource Teacher and parents in developing solutions.

Formal Parent/Teacher Interviews & Report Cards
The orientation and ‘Meet the Teacher’ meeting will be our first opportunity to share goals and objectives for the upcoming year.  We will schedule an informal meeting in early November to compare notes on the adjustment of your child to the program and to ensure our expectations are consistent.

There will be 2 written reports and formal invitations to an interview with the teachers scheduled in each of February and June.  In addition to ongoing informal progress updates, the written reports will provide you with insight into your child’s development and accomplishments in the classroom.

Keeping the Lines of Communication Open
We will be issuing regular newsletters to keep you informed about our classroom themes, upcoming events, and shared experiences.  We will also invite you to participate in seminars and workshops regarding various aspects of our program.  We encourage your participation whenever you can work an event into your schedule.  The more you know about the Montessori method and our programs, the better we can guide your child’s early learning experiences together.  In the spring, we will be holding an Open House for the children to demonstrate some of their activities to you.  We have found this to be a very popular event with the children and their parents.

You are welcome to come into the classroom to observe at any time.  We appreciate if you call in advance to schedule your observation visit and generally find observation visits less disruptive after the class has settled into the routine (generally after Thanksgiving), but of course, you are welcome at any time.

Protecting your privacy
At Brooklin Mill Montessori School, we are committed to protecting your personal information.  We collect personal information regarding your child and family only to provide the education, transportation and child care services for which you have registered, to understand your needs and to assist us in creating new services that will serve you better.

We do not disclose your personal information to any other organization or individual outside of the School community unless it is necessary to provide you and your child with services, emergency care, or when required by law.  Your child’s and family’s personal information is processed and stored in confidential databases with strictly limited access.  If you have questions or concerns about how your personal information is gathered, used or retained, please let us know in writing.

Family Volunteers
Volunteering is an invaluable way to get involved in the school, help control our costs, and demonstrate to the children the value you place on their learning environment.  We welcome any commitment, from infrequent assistance to regularly scheduled time.  Please review our Volunteer Program worksheet to see the wide variety of talents and interests we would love to tap.