1. We ask interested parents to schedule an initial tour and brief informational meeting. Call for an appointment (539-8884). A teacher and/or Admissions staff will be present during the meeting to answer your questions.

2. If parents are interested after the initial meeting, a classroom observation will typically be scheduled (this depends on the time of year). Parents are asked to observe in the appropriate classroom for a period of 30-40 minutes. A second meeting will be scheduled after the observation. The second meeting will be to determine if our school is a good match for the family.

3. When the decision to apply is made, parents must complete the application form and send it to the school with a non-refundable fee of $75. Applications for the coming academic year are to be in no later than March 15 of the previous academic year. Applications received after that date will be considered after the first round of admissions decisions are complete.

4. Interview Process:

A. If you have applied for a Children’s House position, your child will be observed by our teaching staff in April or May. The child will work in the classroom for a period of 1 ½ hours while parents wait in the office or hallway.

B. If you have applied for the Elementary program, your child may be invited to spend a day in the appropriate elementary classroom. The parent is not expected to attend on this day as the child will remain for the entire school day.

5. Parents of each Elementary level candidate will be required to sign a record release form. This authorizes your child’s present school to send us a copy of school records.

6. Admissions decisions are made by administration and teaching staff. These decisions are based on an evaluation of the child’s school visit, school records and the needs of the existing classroom with regard to balance of age, gender and ethnic diversity. The staff of Harbourview Montessori School will endeavour to accept only those families who will prove to be supportive of the Montessori philosophy and the school community in general. If a position is offered to your child, a non-refundable “holding fee” of $200 will be due at the time of acceptance. This holding fee is to ensure that parents have carefully considered their responsibility in committing to attend after acceptance has been granted. Upon receipt of this holding fee, parents will be contractually obligated for the year’s tuition fee.

7. If a place is not immediately available, you may wish to be placed on our waiting list. You will receive notification of waiting list status by the end of April prior to school commencement.

8. If it is our judgment that your child would have a difficult time in a Montessori environment, we will inform you immediately after the interview.

9. We will endeavour to accept families who are committing to a minimum of three years, noting that we follow a three-year curriculum at each level. Harbourview Montessori School offers a full and complete education beginning at age three and continuing to age twelve. If a family is not committed to enrolling for the complete program, they will be offered a space only after spaces have been offered to all long-term families that have applied. As well, it is noted that children who do not attend for the full program will not get the full advantage of a Montessori education.