Frequently Asked Questions
Montessori education helps children unlock their full potential by focusing on their social, emotional, and cognitive growth. Teachers observe each child closely, guiding them through individualized learning experiences and fostering meaningful relationships. Over a three-year to 5 year cycle, the same teacher builds a deep understanding of each student’s strengths and challenges.
Children are empowered to take charge of their learning in an environment that encourages exploration and curiosity. Hands-on, developmentally appropriate materials are used in small group lessons, sparking interest in subjects like math, literacy, science, and culture. Montessori students are engaged, confident, and excited about learning!
Montessori Curriculum is a series of skill sets, often utilizing specific materials to introduce, practice and master a skill. Whether identifying phonetic patterns, dividing fractions, or writing a major thesis, teachers are trained to break down each concept into self-correcting lessons that students can practice until they achieve mastery.
We measure progress through a variety of methods:
- Work Plans: Daily and weekly goals are set with the learner.
- Lessons: One-on-one or small-group lessons introduce and assess material.
- Portfolios: Each learner builds a portfolio of their best work.
- Student-Led Conferences: Twice a year, students meet with parents and teachers to review progress.
We avoid high-stakes testing that can overwhelm children with fear. Instead, we use assessment tools alongside teacher observation to track growth:
- Easy CBM: Administered three times a year, it measures progress in language arts and math.
- IOWA Test of Basic Skills: Given annually to students from 3rd grade and up, it provides a nationally-normed benchmark.
This balanced approach keeps students engaged and confident in their learning journey.
Our teachers are Montessori-trained professionals with diverse and robust educational backgrounds, including degrees in Early Childhood and Secondary Education, Special Needs, and Theology. Their training equips them to deliver a Montessori experience tailored to each child’s unique needs, while their expertise ensures a high standard of academic and spiritual development.
For a detailed list of individual credentials, please visit our staff directory.
Our multi-age classrooms offer incredible benefits. Younger students learn by observing older ones, both academically and socially, while older students step into leadership roles, mentoring and sharing their knowledge. This dynamic encourages respect for different learning styles and abilities. Spending several years together fosters a deep sense of community, confidence, and personal growth as children witness their own development and take pride in helping others along the way. It’s a beautiful cycle of learning, leadership, and connection!
While Maria Montessori emphasized the importance of early childhood education, she also developed practices for adolescents. The core Montessori principles—hands-on learning, individualized education, and a focus on social-emotional growth—are just as essential for older students. At Providence, our Middle, High School, and College programs continue these principles, allowing learners of all ages to benefit from Montessori’s timeless approach to education.
At Providence, we take a different approach to discipline. Our Montessori teachers focus on guiding children through self-awareness and responsibility rather than using rewards or punishments. When a situation arises, the teacher calmly addresses the child, recognizing their feelings and actions, and gently offers alternative choices in the classroom.
For conflicts between children, we encourage real-life problem-solving. Instead of immediately stepping in, teachers observe, giving children the chance to work through disagreements on their own. Most of the time, kids find a solution together, strengthening their social and emotional skills while fostering a sense of community.
At Providence, the safety and security of our students and staff are a top priority. Here’s how we ensure a secure environment:
- Locked Doors: All school doors remain locked, and parents are provided with an entry code for controlled access.
- Safe Room in Progress: We are in the process of developing a designated safe room on campus to use during lockdown drills or emergencies.
- Fenced Outdoor Space: Our outdoor areas are fenced, ensuring separation from surrounding spaces.
- Vigilance Training: Students and staff receive training to stay observant and report anything unusual.
We continuously review and enhance our security measures to provide a safe learning environment for our community.
As a small school, Providence has some limitations in the specialized services we can offer to children with varying abilities. However, our individualized approach allows many children to thrive within our community. If you believe Providence could be a good fit for your family, we encourage you to inquire. We will assess your child’s unique needs to determine if our environment can support their growth and success.
While we do maintain a small staff-to-child ratio, which many view as a positive, we believe that a truly engaged, learner-driven environment isn’t dependent on this. Our goal is to empower students to take ownership of their learning, and to see their peers as valuable resources in their growth. It’s less about how many teachers are in the room, and more about fostering independence, collaboration, and a sense of responsibility in every student.
Toddlers: 1:6, Primary 1:10; Elementary 1:13, Middle 1:15, High 1:15
Yes, our extended day offerings provide care from 7 AM to 5:45 PM.
Yes, Providence offers summer programs for students of all ages:
- Preschool Summer Sessions: We offer three 3-week sessions for preschoolers, with extended hours from 7:30 AM to 5:45 PM.
- Themed Sessions for Older Students: Several 1-week themed programs are available for older students, providing engaging and enriching experiences.
These programs are open to current students and newly admitted students as space allows.
Students bring their own snacks and lunches to school. We encourage lunches that cover all the food groups and aim to meet daily nutritional requirements. Whole, unprocessed foods are preferred, and junk foods like soda, cookies and chips are not permitted. We believe in fostering responsibility, so children are encouraged to prepare their own lunches daily, with help for ages 4 and under. For ages 5 and up, we recommend parents give final approval after the child prepares their meal. Lunch boxes are stored in the refrigerator and microwaves are available as needed to heat up food.
We prefer that non-essential items like sunscreen, insect repellant, and non-emergency medications be administered at home. However, when these or any necessary medications must be given during school hours, specific paperwork is required, including parent approval and, when necessary, physician authorization.
Providence is a Medical Freedom of Choice school, which means that we honor and will always defend your rights to choose the best course of action for your child and family concerning vaccines and masks (when applicable). Proper paperwork for medical or religious exemptions is required.
At Providence, we deeply value both cultural and economic diversity, as seen throughout Scripture. Approximately 65% of our student body receives significant financial aid or scholarships, allowing us to support families from various economic backgrounds. We also encourage families from a wide range of cultural backgrounds to join our community, enriching our shared experiences and perspectives. Diversity is a vital part of who we are and how we live out our mission.
A statement of faith is not required to attend Providence. We are a missional school committed to helping all children learn to love God and love people, regardless of where families are on their faith journey. We understand that expressing faith can feel different for each family. Our expectation is simply that families respect the fact that all decisions at Providence are grounded in a Biblical worldview, and that both families and students honor that foundation while they’re part of our community.
At Providence, Christian education is hands-on, immersive, and just as relevant as any other learning in Montessori. Children observe how to love God and others through the example set by both teachers and peers. Our whole-school and classroom meetings provide times to celebrate God’s goodness and reflect on how it impacts our daily actions and relationships. We are not under any specific denomination, but we are deeply committed to providing a strong Biblical foundation for our students. From studying God’s Word to discussing its real-world implications, faith is woven into every level of learning. Tough questions about faith and culture are welcomed, and we encourage open, thoughtful discussions. You can learn more about what we mean by a Christian Education here.
At Providence, the 7 Ways of Generosity is a foundational curriculum and framework that helps guide our community in thinking about and acting on opportunities to serve others. We teach students to be generous in seven key areas: thoughts, words, time, money, influence, attention, and belongings. Through this approach, we encourage everyone to be observant and intentional about offering kindness, support, and resources to those around them.
Parents play a vital role in our community, and there are many ways to get involved:
- Prayer: Join us in interceding for our students, staff, and mission.
- Classroom Projects: Help with fun and engaging activities in the classroom.
- Cleaning and Maintenance: Assist with keeping our campus beautiful and organized.
- Event Support: Volunteer to help with special events and activities.
- Committees: Serve on our philanthropy or building and grounds committees.
- Annual Fund Giving: Support the Providence Annual Fund as a donor.
Volunteers are supervised by staff to ensure a safe and effective environment. Regular volunteers are also required to obtain a National Criminal Background Check.
We value every contribution and invite you to join us in supporting our mission!
In some ways, yes. Providence is a micro-school with around 90 students, and we’re planning to grow intentionally over the next 5 to 10 years, reaching about 250 students. Because of our small size, certain entry points—like toddler, first grade, and our growing Middle and High School programs—are more accessible than others. Our admissions process is thorough, focusing on finding families who value our mission and understand the unique nature of our program. We invest a lot of time ensuring families get to know us well, and children experience the personal ownership of learning that’s essential here. This process builds a community where parents, children, and staff are highly engaged and aligned with our mission.
