1 of 36

2 of 36

Welcome to�Goodwater Montessori School!

We began as a grassroots group of parents, educators, and others committed to establishing a public Montessori charter school in Williamson County.

Nancy Gribble-Tay

3 of 36

Our Mission, Vision, and Values

  • Our Mission: To provide an exceptional Montessori education to all children and their families, encouraging a lifelong love of learning and active participation in their communities and the world.
  • Our Vision: To develop conscientious citizens who approach their world with confidence, creativity, and collaboration.
  • Our Values: Diversity, Independence, Joy, Passion, and Respect.

Nancy Gribble-Tay

4 of 36

Introductions

Nancy Gribble-Tay: Head of School

Alex Abel: Director of Curriculum and Instruction

Lesley Williams: Primary Level Leader

Christi Cowden: Admissions and Communications

Nancy Gribble-Tay

5 of 36

Texas Charter School Basics: A Charter School is a Public School

  • Open to all students within the geographic boundary in the grades served.
  • Free: supported by state and federal tax dollars (no local tax base as an open enrollment charter school.)
  • Same Public School Standards: TEKS, STAAR, Special Education & ESL services
  • Different from Traditional ISD Schools: Class Size, School Calendar, Admissions, Montessori trained teachers

Nancy Gribble-Tay

6 of 36

Dr. Maria Montessori

Nancy Gribble-Tay

7 of 36

Montessori Classroom Basics�

  • 2 adults in each classroom: 1 Guide & 1 Assistant

  • Mixed-age Classrooms
    • Primary: PK3, PK4, Kindergarten
    • Lower Elementary: 1st, 2nd, 3rd
    • Upper Elementary: 4th, 5th, 6th
    • Adolescent: 7th & 8th

Nancy Gribble-Tay

8 of 36

Inside the Classroom

  • Hands-on learning in beautifully prepared environments where the materials stay out on the shelves for a child to use and reuse in order to master the concept.
  • 3-hour uninterrupted work periods during our day.
  • Mixed age classes give a variety of opportunities for children to lead each other, to help each other, and to teach each other.
  • Indoor and outdoor prepared environment

Nancy Gribble-Tay

9 of 36

Montessori Model: The Four Planes of Development

Each Plane of Development has particular characteristics. The first and third Planes mirror each other while the second and fourth Planes mirror each other.

Nancy Gribble-Tay

10 of 36

School Basics

  • Staff
  • Facilities
  • School Calendar / School Times: 8:00 AM – 3:15 PM
  • After School Program
  • School Lunch Program

Nancy Gribble-Tay

11 of 36

School Plans and Growth

  • Year 1 (2017-18)
    • Pre-K3 through 6th Grade with 315 students
  • Years 2 & 3 (2018-2020)
    • Roll-out 7th & 8th Grades with 350+ students
  • Culminating in Year 5 (2021-2022)
    • Up to 400+ Students

Nancy Gribble-Tay

12 of 36

Educating the Whole Child

  • Montessori considers every aspect of educating the student: the mind, the body, and the spirit.
  • We give academic lessons along with:
    • Peace education lessons
    • Social/emotional lessons such as Grace and Courtesy lessons
    • Community building lessons.

Alex Abel

13 of 36

Montessori & TEKS�Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills State Standards

  • As a public school, Goodwater must meet TEKS standards using the Montessori Method
  • Weekly guide collaboration
  • Constant creation of materials to deliver TEKS requirements

Alex Abel

14 of 36

Specials

  • PE
  • Music and Art are incorporated in our regular class curriculum.
  • Language classes after school

Alex Abel

15 of 36

Pre-K Admissions

PreK Students who meet the state PreKindergarten Program Eligibility requirements get priority over all other PreK students:

    • Active Duty Military Parent
    • Unable to speak or comprehend English
    • Educationally Disadvantaged (Free and Reduced Lunch)
    • Homeless
    • Foster
    • Wounded or Deceased Military Parent
    • Parent in Law Enforcement awarded the Star of Texas Award

Christi Cowden

16 of 36

Why didn’t she just say - Hi Heather, so sorry for the delay. We are going ask Guides to refrain from using the diffusers for a few different reasons. As always, thank you for bringing your concerns to our attention.

17 of 36

PreK Admissions and Lottery

Applicants who have applied by the end of the application period who are eligible for the State PreKindergarten Program will have priority in admission. Additional PreK spaces will be filled by non eligible students.

If there are more PreK eligible students than spaces, then all eligible applicants will be placed in a lottery.

If there are more non-eligible applicants than available spaces then all non-eligible applicants will be placed in a lottery. These students will be placed at the end of the waitlist behind the list of State PreK eligible students.

Any applications received after the application period will be placed on the waitlist in the order in which they were received, with eligible PreK students receiving priority.

Staff children and siblings of current students will be given priority on their respective lists - eligible or non-eligible.

Christi Cowden

18 of 36

The Montessori Primary Years��PK3, PK4, KG

Lesley Williams

19 of 36

Montessori Education Basics

  • Mastery-based program

  • Concepts are:
    • Presented
    • Practiced
    • Mastered.

  • We document the three phases of the child’s learning and share their progress families twice a year in conferences.

Lesley Williams

20 of 36

Montessori Education Basics (continued)

  • Method and classroom provide inclusive learning environment.

  • Each student is a unique learner with specific goals for every lesson and every subject.

  • Interest in world and cultures as well as lifelong learning

  • Exploration, research, and discovery are encouraged by the Guide as students work from the concrete to the abstract

Lesley Williams

21 of 36

A Typical Day in a Primary Classroom

22 of 36

Practical Life

23 of 36

Practical Life

24 of 36

Sensorial

25 of 36

Sensorial

26 of 36

Language

27 of 36

Language

28 of 36

29 of 36

Language

30 of 36

Mathematics

31 of 36

Mathematics

32 of 36

Our Goal

33 of 36

34 of 36

Volunteer Opportunities

    • Helping with class projects as needed
    • Helping our outdoor Gardens grow!
    • Cooking with students
    • Community Celebrations

35 of 36

QUESTIONS?

36 of 36

Thank You!