Claudia M. Mann:
claudia@chaffeemontessori.com
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Douglas E. Mann: Lead Primary Teacher and ADD
doug@chaffeemontessori.com
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Dear Parents and Friends of Chaffee County Montessori School,

            It is with a great deal of pleasure that I am assuming the role of Head of School for Chaffee County Montessori School. As a long-time member of the Montessori community, I have seen the amazing results that a quality Montessori education can bring to the development of every individual who is involved with the program.

            The primary goal of a Montessori program is to help each child reach full potential in all areas of life. Dr. Maria Montessori developed an understanding of the biological, social and emotional needs of children that had to be met for them to grow into well-developed adults. As a scientist, she was constantly testing her theories, observing the results and formalizing her practice. Over and over again, her work has been questioned and validated through “modern” scientific and psychological inquiry.  We are pleased to be able to bring the opportunity that is Montessori to the children and families of Chaffee County. 

            There are many questions to be answered as we prepare to open our doors in August, 2007. It is important that the inquiries of our parent body and the community at large are met with careful reflection and thought. To that end, I will write periodically to keep interested individuals informed of our plans and our progress.

            For anyone considering our program, as either a parent or a contributor, it is important to know what we are doing to create an organization that will be stable and long-lasting. We have carefully researched and considered several options for our organizational structure. While each option offered some positive aspects, we have agreed on an organizational structure which we feel creates the foundation for long-term stability and educational success.

            Our legal counsel is helping us develop and establish policies and procedures that will last through many generations of students and families and will allow us to create a program that will be self-sustaining long after we are gone. Fortunately, we collectively bring years of experience and success in multiple educational settings and business creations. We have determined that for the needs of our community, a non-profit corporation will support the strongest possible growth potential. 

Our school will be a non-profit corporation (501(c)(3)) managed by a Board of Directors who have no ownership interest. The by-laws will set forth the intentions of the school to continue in perpetuity to operate as a world-class Montessori school in Chaffee County.  The Board will be responsible for the educational program and financial stability of the school. The Board, which includes myself, Rebecca Adelman and Doug Mann, has spent countless hours considering our goals for CCMS and has created a corporate structure that allows for stability, longevity and growth. Those goals will be expressed broadly in our Mission and Vision Statements and more specifically in our short-term and long-term strategic planning goals.

            In addition to operational protocols, we will create a Family Handbook that outlines policies and procedures that more specifically address the school program. This Handbook will assist families in understanding how our program aligns with Montessori philosophy and methods. Most importantly, it will share details of the daily routines and expectations so parents can plan for smooth transitions between home and school. The Handbook will be available for review and announcement of its availability will be made by email. Of course, all enrolled families will receive their personal copy as part of their enrollment packet.

            In order for CCMS to support its vision and mission, it is very important that our parents and extended families be an active part of our program. The school’s stability and success are dependent on deeply involved families and community members who consistently contribute in a variety of ways to the growth and development of the school. To provide a means for this involvement, we will create a Parent Volunteer Group (PVG) once we have established our first class of students. The PVG will organize parent and community volunteerism, organize a program of Parent Ambassadors for supporting new families, and provide organizational structure for managing parent discussions and projects. The PVG will work with the director to address the goals, needs and concerns of the families of CCMS.

            At this time, we are developing various scheduling options to create a stable Montessori program while addressing a diverse set of parent needs. Each of the schedules offered will have, as its primary goal, meeting the developmental needs of the child, providing a consistent, stable and high-quality program, and offering some flexible options to support families. The constant is always the child and the child’s developmental needs which progress on a more or less similar path according to ages and stages. Fortunately, Montessori has given us strong direction in this area, so we are confident that we can address those needs for each child.

            I look forward to meeting and talking with each of you throughout the process of creating CCMS. I hope you will find time to attend our educational meetings and to read about the Montessori Method. Rebecca Adelman has graciously purchased a number of books to begin our Montessori Lending Library. To check out a book, please contact Rebecca at 719.539.3944.  Our first educational program will take place on Friday, January 12 at 5:30 p.m. in our building at 1040 I St. in Salida. I will share some of the foundational points of Montessori’s educational insights and how they translate into daily practice in the classroom.

            Finally, thank you for your interest and enthusiasm for bringing Montessori to Chaffee County. I am thrilled to be able to share this amazing journey with you.

Sincerely,

Claudia Mann, Head of School