The 2021 school year has begun and Noozhawk’s Private & Independent School Guide is sure to make things easy when planning for your child’s education! Our school guide provides you and your child with all the necessary information about private schools in Santa Barbara County.
To give parents the tools to help make informed decisions about which school is the best fit for their kids in Santa Barbara, Noozhawk has conducted a series of interviews with representatives of local private & independent schools for this year’s school guide.
In this interview, Noozhawk spoke with Brian Cogswell, Head of School at South Coast Montessori to learn more about what they offer at their school.
South Coast Montessori
Question: What is the name of your school and what grade levels do you offer?
Answer: South Coast Montessori and we offer programs for children ages 3 months to 6th grade.
Q: How is your school operated or governed?
A: We are a 501c3 non-profit governed by a diverse Board of Directors which exists to advance the school’s mission and service by providing counsel and advice on its ideas and initiatives which the school may wish to pursue. The Board is charged with the ultimate responsibility for financial, legal and strategic planning and policy issues for the school.
Q: Are you offering in-person or online instruction this academic year?
A: We are open for in-person instruction.
Q: What curriculum is available and taught at your school?
A: Dr. Maria Montessori observed that the transformation of children from birth to adulthood occurs through a series of developmental “planes”. These transformations relate to the child’s physical, intellectual, social, emotional, and spiritual aspects of development. At each level of the South Coast Montessori program, the implementation of the Montessori principles change in scope and manner to embrace the child’s changing characteristics, needs, and interests at each plane of development.
Montessori materials teach through hands on learning, spontaneous engagement, active involvement, and self-directed activity. Montessori materials have a control of error inherent in their design. This allows children to work independently, unafraid to make mistakes and to become comfortable with the fact that errors are essential to the process of learning. While making independent choices and exploring concepts largely on their own, Montessori students construct their own sense of individual identity. They become independent and confident individuals.
Q: Can you describe your student-to-teacher ratio?
A: Our child/teacher ratios are as follows:
Infant care is 3 to 1
Toddler classrooms are 5 to 1
Pre-school and Elementary is 12 to 1
Q: How does your school select/hire teachers, and how does it invest in their continuing education?
A: South Coast Montessori is dedicated to the principles of Association Montessori International (AMI), a globally recognized organization created by Maria Montessori to ensure the authenticity of the method. Our lead primary and elementary teachers are AMI certified and have received their diplomas from AMI training centers. In addition to meeting all the California State requirements for child care, we hire teachers who are dedicated to the Montessori principles and are committed to promoting curiosity, inquiry, engagement, community and peace in all our environments. Professional development is regular and continuous as we believe all individuals can be lifelong learners.
Q: Describe how your school measures student progress.
A: The Montessori curriculum is carefully structured and sequenced based on the developmental needs of each individual child. Teachers maintain careful records of each student’s individual progress. Portfolios of work are kept for older children. Children are not compared against arbitrary standards or the performance of their classmates. Parent teacher conferences are held twice a year to discuss student progress. Additional conferences can be held at a parent or teacher’s request.
The child is intrinsically motivated to learn. In a Montessori classroom children do not work for grades or external rewards. Children work and learn because they are interested in gaining an understanding of the world around them.
Q: How does your school address special education needs?
A: Montessori Education is for all children without distinction of race, religion, socioeconomic status and physical or neurological differences. We believe every child is a valued member, with opportunities to contribute and feel part of the group. All children develop their resilience, empathy and compassion, learning to work with others who have their own challenges. We work with children, their parents and specialists (as necessary) to support and offer learning plans that meet the needs of all children to reach their potential.
Q: What opportunities do you provide for parent involvement?
A: We encourage our families to be part of the South Coast Montessori community by participating in a thoughtfully prepared handful of all-school events. Throughout the year there are also opportunities for parent volunteers to enhance the classroom experience for all children. We have modified our community events by limiting the group sizes, hosting them primarily outdoors, and implementing social distancing and mask wearing.
Q: What is the cost of tuition to attend your school?
A: Please visit our website.
Q: Do you offer scholarships, and if so, what are the criteria to apply?
A: We offer tuition assistance in our preschool and elementary programs. Applicants are evaluated for eligibility objectively through a third-party vendor in order to maintain impartiality.
Click here for more information about South Coast Montessori.