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Frequently Asked Questions

Still have questions about our programs? Check out our FAQ below!

What are the ages of children at OBMS?

We accept children ages 16 months to 12 years old. ​

  • Nido Classroom: 16 months-3 years old

  • Primary and Forest School: 3 years old to 6 years old

  • Elementary Classroom: 6 years old to 12 years old (1st through 6th grade) 

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What are your class sizes and teacher-student ratios? 

  • Nido Classroom: 1:5 

  • Forest School: 1:8

  • Primary Classroom: 1:10

  • Elementary Classroom: 1:18

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What are the hours of the school day?

  • Before-school care: 8:30 am-9:00 am (M-F) 

  • Nido, Primary, and Forest School: 9:00 am-3:00 pm (M-F)

  • Elementary: 8:30 am-3:15 pm (M-F)

  • After-school care: 3:15 pm-4:00 pm (M-F) 

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What is your enrollment process? 

  • If you think our school might be a good fit for your family, we invite you to come learn more at one of our monthly Open Houses. For event information, please visit our Instagram or check our calendar of events (right here on the website)!

  • After visiting an Open House, if you are interested in enrollment, please fill out our Application and pay the $50 application fee to be added to our waitlist. 

  • Once that Application is submitted and you’ve sent the application fee, you will receive a confirmation email that you’ve been added to our waitlist.

  • When a space becomes available for your child, we will invite your family to tour our school and meet the guide(s). This allows time for us all to get acquainted and collectively determine that we are good fits for each other!

  • If your child is accepted, you will receive an email with enrollment paperwork, school information, and further instructions.

  • Lastly, we will determine your child’s start date and begin transitioning them into the environment. Not all children will have the same start date or time; this allows us to keep peace within the environment. To help each new child settle in, we believe in staggering their start (one hour on their first day and gradually increasing the time until they are comfortable spending the whole day with us), which looks different for each child and family.

  • **If, while on the waitlist, your child ages out of the selected program, please re-apply for the appropriate program -- no additional fee needed!**

What are the factors that determine my child's acceptance/placement?

Within a Montessori classroom, we create an environment for children within mixed age groups. For Nido, this is 16 months - 36 months. For our Primary and Forest classes, this is 3 - 6 years old. Lastly, for our Elementary class, this is 1st - 6th grade. We foster learning, independence, and mutual respect by bringing children of different ages and abilities. This approach allows children to observe, practice, and learn from one another, building confidence, gaining valuable social skills, and ensuring that students can progress at their own pace and explore their unique curiosities. As children transition to the next program or families move on, we must observe each classroom’s needs to best determine which families we invite to join our school.

Do you accept children mid-year? 

If space is available, children may be admitted any time between September and March. We do not accept children from April to June.

How do parents keep up with what their children are doing at school? 

Parent-teacher conferences are held in the fall and spring. In between, parents and teachers can meet as necessary or communicate via email. Parent Education Nights are scheduled throughout the year and are effective ways for parents to learn more about the materials, how their children are taught, and parenting tips and strategies.

Do you accept children with disabilities?

As a small private school, our employees do not have background/training in special education. That said, we accept children case-by-case depending on their needs and what we can offer within our environments.

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