Enrollment/Lottery

How Do I Enroll My Child?

MMCI uses an online application form for children who wish to enter the lottery for either Monocacy Valley Montessori Public Charter School (MVMPCS) or Carroll Creek Montessori Public Charter School (CCMPCS).  If you do not have computer access, please call MVMPCS at 301-668-5013 or CCMPCS at 301-663-7970 Monday-Friday from 8:30am-4pm so that we can assist you.  The lottery application form will open on January 2, 2013 and close at midnight on March 1, 2013.  

Siblings of children already enrolled at MVMPCS or CCMPCS, children of CCMPCS Founding Family members, and children of Faculty/Staff at either school have priority for placement in available spots at the corresponding school.  After these students are placed, if the number of lottery applications exceeds the number of openings in any grade at either school, the school will hold a lottery to select students for the remaining spots and to establish the order of the waiting list for that school. 

Enrollment forms and other required registration paperwork are not accepted by either school until your child has been offered a spot at that school. If your child is selected for admission to one or both schools, you will need to accept the desired placement (instructions are mailed) and you will need to fill out an FCPS enrollment form. Parents of children not currently enrolled in FCPS will also have to complete an immunization form and a record of physical examination, provide proof of residency (i.e. current utility bill), and proof of birth for each child.

Primary Program (Pre-K through Kindergarten):

Both schools offer a no-fee Primary Program for three-year-olds and four-year-olds as well as a full-day Kindergarten. Your child must be three by September 1st to enter the three-year-old program, four by September 1st to enter the four-year-old program, and five by September 1st to enter Kindergarten.  The three-year-old and four-year-old program hours are 9:00am to 11:30am, Monday through Friday. Kindergarten hours are 9:00am to 3:45pm on Monday through Thursday and 9:00am to 2:45pm on Friday.  

CCMPCS Spanish Program:

All students at  CCMPCS will receive Spanish instruction. Some students will be in the Spanish immersion classrooms; others will receive instruction in English with periods of Spanish enrichment. In 2013-14, CCMPCS will offer two Spanish immersion classrooms where the majority of the core academic instruction will be provided in Spanish,  while reading and literacy instruction will also be provided in English. One classroom will be a Primary classroom (three-year-olds, four-year-olds, and Kindergarten); the other classroom will be a first and second grade classroom. The other classrooms at CCMPCS will offer the core academic instruction in English with Spanish enrichment four times per week.  Grades 5 through 8 are not available for CCMPCS in 2013-14.  Please see the school website for more details.
 

Parental Involvement in MMCI's Charter Schools:

Active involvement of parents is at the heart of the charter school philosophy and is necessary for the successful operation of both schools. We ask parents to volunteer 30 hours a year (10 hours for single parent families).  Specific ways in which parents might contribute include:  

• Serving on the Board Of Trustees (BOT) for Monocacy Montessori Communities, Inc. (MMCI). 
• Serving on either school's Governing Council (GC) and its working subcommittees. 
• Serving as a teacher to students wishing to master a particular skill. 
• Offering presentations or short courses to a class in response to student interest. 
• Accompanying students on field trips. 
• Assisting and participating in special events. 
• Coordinating and assisting with school clubs and activities. 

Returning Students: 

MMCI must verify the intent of every student to continue attendance at either MVMPCS or CCMPCS. Charter schools cannot assume the reenrollment of each student and require that a separate letter of intent be completed for each student who will be returning for the upcoming academic year.  Current families, please click the appropriate link to download a copy of your school's intent form.  No lottery application is necessary for a currently enrolled student who wishes to remain at his or her current school.   
Intent to Return form for MVMPCS and Intent to Return form for CCMPCS.

Is Montessori a Good Match for My Child?

The following information will help you determine whether the Montessori approach embraced by our schools is right for your child.  

Basic tenets of the Montessori approach include…

• It is natural for children to want to engage in meaningful work that is relevant to them
• Children will be self-directed when given the opportunity to do so
• Children will operate with as much independence as possible
• Children will remain engrossed in their work for long periods of time
• The work itself should be rewarding for children; external rewards and praise are counterproductive because they teach the child to look to others for validation
• Children learn from natural consequences
• Children should be taught to advocate for themselves
• Children will teach each other and learn from each other

In a Montessori classroom, you will find…

• Long uninterrupted periods of time for work (3 hours or more every morning)
• Students working individually or in small groups on a work plan the student created or helped to create
• Small group or individual instruction
• Multi-age classrooms spanning three grade levels (two levels in the MVMPCS Middle School)
• Teachers working with students to make decisions about their learning
• Busy classrooms with many different activities occurring at once
• Students freely moving around the classroom as needed
• Self-directed students working without frequent adult intervention
• Classroom sizes of 25-30 students
• A peace-loving environment where everyone is expected to treat themselves, others, and the materials with respect
• Children pursuing their interests in a variety of ways (projects, clubs, etc.)
• Many field trips (often planned by students)
• Teachers observing students and modeling the behaviors of a lifelong learner

In a Montessori classroom, you will not find…

• Extrinsic reward systems such as sticker charts
• Competitions between students
• Desks in rows
• Extensive teacher-directed, whole-group instruction
• A large number of paper and pencil tasks
• Silent classrooms: learning involves interactions with other students
• Extensive homework

Some children handle the transition from a traditional school very well. Some children, especially in the higher grades, may experience difficulty with the transition. The staff will work with students to teach them the skills they need to become more self-directed and students are then expected to show increased independence over time.

Thank you for your interest in our schools!   Please contact the MMCI Admissions Committee with any questions you have about the schools or about the lottery and enrollment process.  The Admissions Committe can be reached at:  admissions@mmcimd.org.