FAQs about First Montessori of Atlanta

	When can my child start at FMSA?
	Children may be admitted to the Toddler program at 1 1/2 years old. Accepted applicants to the Primary program may be admitted generally between the age of 2 1/2 to 3 years old, depending upon readiness. Readiness is determined by being independent in the bathroom, in addition to having the ability to separate from parents, share the attention of an adult and age-appropriate maturity. Each child is interviewed individually by a member of the teaching staff to assess readiness. Please consult the admission section for further guidelines regarding interviews, enrollment and start dates.

	Do the students have a snack in the morning?
	The Primary children always have snacks available in class. They may choose to eat a snack whenever they are hungry. In addition to regular daily snack, there are many Practical Life food preparation exercises where the children prepare (with child-friendly and safe utensils) apples, bananas, carrots, etc. and eat or serve them to classmates. Elementary and Middle School students have a similar healthy snack available to them during the morning work period, as well.

	What is a typical day for a 3 and 4 year old?
	Usually, children begin to work on individual activities after they come into the classroom, greet the teacher and hang up their coats. They continue choosing different activities on their own throughout the morning based on the lessons that have been previously presented to them until about 11:15. During this work time, the teacher will also be giving individual and small group lessons to the children. At 11:15, the teacher often stops the activity in the classroom and has a group time with the children before they go outside to the playground. From the playground, the 3 and 4 year olds in the Half-Day program go directly to their carpool lines, to be picked up by their parents or caregivers.  Children in the All-Day program prepare for lunch and nap.

	Why do young children come to school everyday as opposed to only 3 days per week?
	Children love and thrive on routine and consistency. It helps them to feel safe and secure. They enjoy repeating the same tasks over and over, and they need the opportunity to work on their lessons daily in order to master them. We also find the transition from home to school is much easier when children know they come to school everyday though the length of the day is relatively short; at just three hours. You will soon have to explain why they cannot go to school on weekends. They love coming to school. Many children get upset when they cannot come to school—even when they are sick.

	When students leave FMSA, where do they go? How do the children do when they leave Montessori?
	Students generally matriculate to other private high schools in the Atlanta area. FMSA students leave us to attend gender specific schools, religious schools and competitive college prep high schools. It is always best to move a student at the end of a three year cycle, and this point is emphasized in the admission process. Also, the older the student, the easier the transition for maturation reasons alone. The Montessori experience supports a strong development of concentration, a thorough understanding of concepts, a zest for learning, and solid social skills which serve them well in conventional educational environments. Middle School students are graded in order that their transcript reflects their level of proficiency adequately and efficiently for consideration by other schools. These students are continually accepted into their school of choice TheGalloway School, Pace Academy, Blessed Trinity and Riverwood IB.