Thacher (TMS) was founded in 1971 in the town of Milton; since its formation, TMS has been dedicated to the principles and philosophy of the Montessori system of education.
Maria Montessori, the first woman to receive a medical degree in Italy, lived from 1870 to 1952; her first Casa de Bambini was established in 1907. Through her work in medicine, she spent much time observing children and out of those observations came several conclusions. The first was that the child learns best in a homelike setting in which the learning environment is filled with developmentally appropriate materials. Secondly, these materials provide experiences which contribute to the growth of self-motivated, independent learners. In conjunction with these basic beliefs, she developed the following premises:
· Each child should be respected as different from adults and as individuals different from each other
· Each child creates herself or himself through purposeful activity
· Each child possesses unusual sensitivity and mental powers for absorbing and learning from her or his environment
· Learning takes place naturally in mixed-age groupings because experienced children can share what they have learned while reinforcing their own learning
· Children flourish and their self-confidence is enhanced when they are guided toward doing things for themselves
There are approximately 4,500 Montessori schools in the United States, including over 400 public Montessori schools, as well as thousands more around the world. Each Montessori school is an independent school but all are based on the Montessori principles of a child-centered education.
Founded in 1971, with an initial class of 16 children, TMS has grown to serve over 200 children aged 3 to 14. TMS has been at its present location since 1990. We have four program levels: the Children’s House (3 – 6 year olds), Lower Elementary (6 – 9 year olds), Upper Elementary (9 – 12 year olds), and an Adolescent Program (12 - 14 year olds). In addition, we maintain enrichment programs in the areas of music, art, science, and languages as well as a strong wellness and fitness program.
All of our Montessori guides are certified by either the Association Montessori Internationale or the American Montessori Society and the Association of Independent Schools of New England has accredited the school.
Arrival and Dismissal
Our Lower and Upper Elementary, and Adolescent students arrive between 8:00 and 8:15. Our Children’s House students arrive between 8:20 and 8:40. Unless your child is enrolled in our Before Care Program, he or she may not be dropped off early. Before Care Program students enter the building through the double doors in the Art Room (the third set of double doors toward the south end of the building). Elementary/Adolescent program children arriving between 8:00 and 8:15 with a Children’s House sibling are expected to walk the younger sibling to the Before Care room.
Since independence is a large part of the child’s work in a Montessori school, please respect your child’s ability to be guided by the staff to walk to his or her classroom, take off shoes, coat or sweater, put on slippers, and walk into the classroom. You can help your child develop a sense of empowerment and self-sufficiency by encouraging a brief and peaceful good-bye at morning arrival time when a staff member opens your car door to help your child out and again by letting staff help your child into the car at dismissal time. It should not be necessary for you to get out of your car to assist the staff at either time. In case of inclement weather the staff will have umbrellas. Please do not send umbrellas with your children.
Our Children’s House students are dismissed between 2:55 and 3:15. Our Lower and Upper Elementary, and Adolescent Program students are dismissed between 3:20 and 3:40. Lining up before your designated time makes it difficult for the appropriate parents to get in and out of the circle. Please be courteous in line and respectful of others. Also, please do not use cell phones while waiting in the line for the safety of the children.
If your child is in the Aftercare Program, dismissal will take place at 4:45. If your child is staying later than that, please come to the Adolescent Program Door at the far north side of the building to pick up your child any time between 4:50 and 6:00. Tardiness picking up your child from Aftercare will result in additional charges.
Please follow the traffic pattern.
Please remember that left turns are prohibited when leaving the parking lot. All traffic turns right and those going north then make the first left onto Canton Avenue. Take the next left and then a right turn at the light to return to Route 138. Left turns from northbound Route 138 are also prohibited.
Attendance/Punctuality
The Montessori curriculum at TMS is cumulative; therefore punctuality and daily attendance is necessary for a thorough understanding of subject areas and continuity of the program. Tardiness impacts a child’s ability to assimilate into the routines of the classroom as well as slowing the development of socialization skills so important at this age. Parents of children who arrive late more than five times will be required to meet with the administration to discuss the seriousness of the situation.
Before and Aftercare
Before Care begins at 7:00AM and Aftercare Extends until 6:00PM.
Vacations
Although we recognize that opportunites for extsive travel sometimes happen, we encourage parents to schedule family vacations during school vacation times. It is difficult for children to catch up on their work if they miss time with their classes; therefore, it is important, if it all possible, for children to attend school every day. If you take extended vacations, your child's guide will help you and your child plan a journal project of the trip.
Lunch
Please provide your child with nutritious lunches that he or she will eat and in easily opened containers. Prepackaged food is generally difficult to open and is impossible to reseal to bring home leftovers. We suggest packing food in plastic containers and zip-type bags. Due to numerous allergies, children may not trade food. TMS is a nut-free school (including no peanut butter.)
Library Use
All students are encouraged to utilize the TMS library. Each student receives a library card and is free to visit the library on a daily basis. Students are responsible for returning all library materials in a timely manner.
Clothing
Simple, loose, easy to manage clothing is best for the younger children. Elementary children bring a pair of plain slippers, and Children's House children bring indoor shoes to wear in school which will be left in the child's cubby. Sneakers with white or non-marking soles are worn on gym days. Children's House children keep a complete change of clothes at school; each item is labeled with his or her name (even socks). Snow boots should be large enough for the child to put on and take off himself or herself without difficulty. Since outdoor play and work is part of the curriculum for all the children at TMS, all children should dress to go outdoors year round.
Dress Code
Children care about what they wear and through our philosophy concerning attire, we encourage students to respect themselves and others. This means that bare midriffs, clothes bearing suggestive or inappropriate messages, too-short skirts, or badly soiled or torn clothing is unacceptable. In addition, costumes can be distracting and are discouraged. We also strongly suggest that most jewelry, including watches and bracelets (esp. for younger children) be left at home as they are easily lost, broken or create a distraction when worn in the classroom.
Toileting
State childcare licensing standards require that all children must be toilet trained before admittance to TMS. We consider a child to be toilet trained if not more than one accident occurs during a week's time.
Birthdays
Birthdays are celebrated in each classroom; your child's teacher will give you specific information on how and when the celebration will be held. In general, the celebrations are low key and do not include regular party activities, party treats or balloons. Many of our students donate a book to the school library as a way of celebrating their birthdays. Our librarians will send you a letter prior to your child's birthday explaining this tradition along with a list of recommended books.
Skating
Beginning in January each winter we take all the children to a skating rink nearby once a week. Specific dates will be provided prior to the winter break. Skates are not available for rental, so ice skates make a great holiday gift if your child does not already have them. Helmets and gloves are mandatory. Although we travel to the rink by bus, we need lots of help from our parents. However, no siblings may attend with the classes, so please don’t volunteer if you would have to bring a sibling. Instead of skating, the Adolescent Program students go skiing.
Field Trips
Field trips are part of each child’s learning experience. They can also be a very special time for you and your child. Each Elementary and Adolescent class takes three to five trips per year and parents are encouraged to participate in at least one. Advance notice of each trip is given and a signed permission slip for each trip must be returned to the school for the child to participate. For insurance reasons, no siblings may accompany a parent while on a field trip.
Camping Trips
All Elementary children participate in an annual overnight camping trip as a culmination of their cultural curriculum. The Lower Elementary overnight trip traditionally takes place the first week in June. The Upper Elementary students have an extended camping trip in the fall, and adolescents take a yearly trip in the spring.
To ensure an educational environment where children feel safe and are able to express their ideas without imposing on the space and boundaries of others, safety and respect for all children and adults is our priority. We believe that each child, in order to learn how to live with others, must be given responsibilities for caring for themselves and their environments. Guides model this by speaking quietly, maintaining a calm and explanatory tone, and using positive language. No corporal or humiliating punishment is ever used; positive reinforcement for appropriate behavior is incorporated into daily activities to promote self-discipline.
At all levels, disciplinary problems will result in parental involvement, possible disciplinary action, and may result in testing recommendations.
TMS has a registered nurse on site for limited times during the week.
TMS will follow the schedule of the Milton public schools for all-day school closings due to weather, etc., and announcements will be made on the following TV stations: WBZ (channel 4), WCVB (channel 5) and WRKO (channel 7). TMS alone will make decisions about mid-day or early closings and notify parents. You may also call the TMS cancellation and information phone number: (781) 897-5720.
If a storm should start while school is in session, please call us if you are not going to be at your listed phone numbers. We must be able to reach you in case of early dismissal.
The following list of books is suggested as recommended reading for Montessori parents. Many of these books are available in our Parents’ Library in the front hall.
Rita Kramer, Maria Montessori – A Biography
Angeline Lillard, Montessori: The Science Behind the Genius
Paula Polk Lillard, Montessori – A Modern Approach
Paula Polk Lillard, Montessori Today
Maria Montessori, The Absorbent Mind
Maria Montessori, Secret of Childhood
Maria Montessori, To Educate the Human Potential
Maria Montessori, From Childhood to Adolescence
Maria Montessori, The Montessori Method
Maria Montessori, Advanced Montessori Method (2 volumes)
T. Berry Brazelton, Touchpoints Three to Six: Your Child’s Behavioral and Emotional Development
Jo-Ann Deak, Girls Will Be Girls
David Elkind, Parenting Your Teenager
Robert Evans, Family Matters
Daniel Goleman, Emotional Intelligence: Why It Can Matter More Than IQ
Brooks Goldstein, Raising Resilient Children
Dan Kindlon and Michael Thompson, Raising Cain
Sara Lawrence-Lightfoot, The Essential Conversation
Mary Pipher, Reviving Ophelia, Saving Selves of Adolescent Girls
William Pollack, Real Boys
Madeline Swift, Getting It Right With Children
Jim Taylor, Positive Pushing
Parent/Guide Conferences
Conferences with parents are scheduled twice during the school year. An additional conference with your child’s guide is always possible by calling your guide for an appointment.
Phone Calls
If you need to reach your child’s guide during the day please leave a voicemail message for the guide and she will return your call at her earliest convenience. In case of an emergency, please call the front desk at Extension 10.
Progress Reports
Written reports are prepared twice a year for each child by his or her guide/s. They are sent at the end of January and at the end of school in June.
Staying Informed
Notices concerning weekly activities are sent home in folders each Friday. Please check with your child on Friday evening so you will not miss important dates and information.
Approximately every six weeks you will receive a copy of Branching Out, The TMS parent-produced newsletter. It will include news and information from each classroom as well as from the Board, the Library, and the Parent Association.
In addition, check the website, thacherschool.org, regularly for information about upcoming events.
Testing
Each spring, students in the third year of Lower Elementary, all Upper Elementary students, and students in the Adolescent Program spend a week completing Standardized Tests. These are nationally used standardized tests that indicate language, math, problem-solving skills, science, and social studies levels relative to the country. We recognize that the results of any standardized tests are inherently misleading and famously inaccurate. They gauge only a very small band of the wide spectrum of knowledge/ intelligence that each child has. We therefore urge parents to view the test as we the staff do: a practical life exercise designed only to prepare the child with test-taking skills.
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