Ottawa Montessori School - kanata Montessori School

Our Values

At Kanata Montessori School, we have a number of core values that are guideposts for all of our activities.  These core values are:

1. Kanata Montessori School believes in quality education and is a member of the  Association Montessori Internationale (AMI) .  AMI is a leader in Montessori education, and represents a global perspective on Montessori education.  Kanata Montessori School uses AMI instruction in the classroom and in the development of curriculum to encourage growth and maturity of the school community.

2. Setting high academic standards and providing quality education are core values of Kanata Montessori School. A Montessori education is to prepare the child for life. Since our students will eventually enter non-Montessori schools, high academic standards are a core value of the school. Whether the child leaves to enter grade one or grade seven, quality programming ensures that our students are prepared to make this transition with comfort and ease.

3. Parental involvement: Kanata Montessori School was founded by a parent and continues to get its long-term direction from an elected Board of Directors made up of parents and the school Principal. There are many opportunities for parents to be involved in the school and prepare their children to become mature adults: as Board members, in working committees, on special activity days, and/or helping out with specific needs in specific classes.

4. A strong sense of community permeates the KMS environment. This sense of community is demonstrated in the way the classrooms reflect a home environment, in the way the staff communicate with and respect parents and students, and in the way parents work together to help build a better educational environment.

5. Kanata Montessori School provides an inclusive environment which reflects our larger community.  We welcome children of all races and religions, and children with special needs. It seeks to embrace and celebrate the richness of Canada's multicultural heritage. This means we try to celebrate religious holidays by encouraging children of differing religions to share with other children. It means we exclude no child based on physical or mental disability, but seek to ensure we can meet their needs as much as possible. It means in our hiring we attempt to ensure that our staff is reflective of our surrounding community.

6. We recognize that  children need a safe and supportive environment be allowed to take risks and learn. Kanata Montessori School creates an environment that encourages children to explore and grow, one that is safe and free of all forms of violence. The Montessori philosophy places a high value on respect for the individual and this philosophy is manifested each day as children shake hands, hold doors for each, and are courteous and helpful to each other and to staff. The same is expected of parents and staff both in their dealings with each other and in how they relate to their children.

7. Kanata Montessori School strives to meet the needs of our parent community: When the school was founded in 1974, most families consisted of one wage earning parent and one stay at home parent. In today’s reality most families require two wage earners to support the same lifestyle of 25 years ago.  We have responded to the demands of two parents in the work force by providing a hot lunch program, before and after school care, and March break and summer camps.  We continue to support parents, so you in turn can support you children.

8. We recognize the need to contribute to our surrounding community. Kanata Montessori School reserves at least one subsidized space each year and is currently establishing a bursary program.  Our students learn the importance of contributing to the community and are expected to contribute to improving the world around them.