General Info:
Housed on a quiet residential street in the beautiful mountain town of Carbondale, Colorado, Mount Sopris Montessori School serves 95 preschool children from 18 months through age 6. Founded in 1981 by Kathryn and Mark Ross, the not-for-profit school is the only Montessori preschool in the Roaring Fork Valley and is recognized as an exceptional environment for preschool learning.
In its 32 years in the community, through the caring efforts of its staff and families, the school has expanded its facilities twice & increased its enrollment. While the school has evolved, its mission & focus have remained constant.
Mission & Goals: Mount Sopris Montessori School is dedicated to cultivating children's respect for themselves, their community and their natural environment through the insightful application of Montessori principles. The mission is to provide the best early childhood Montessori education to each child.
Curriculum: MSMS classrooms offer age appropriate traditional Montessori learning materials that are designed to cultivate the child's desire to learn by generating self-direction, concentration, independence & coordination. Each classroom is organized into sections representing the following areas of study: Practical Life, Sensorial, Language, Mathematics, History, Geography & Science. Individual work is also supplemented with activities such as group singing, story reading, creative arts, second language, games & gardening.
Toddler Program: 18 months to 3 years
The toddler program is designed to lovingly address the toddler's need for safe, independent exploration. The environment offers each child the opportunity to explore at his or her own pace.
Preschool Program: 3 to 6 years
The preschool program offers a non-competitive environment, which nurtures self-directed activity & fosters independence. There is also the opportunity to learn from peers, as children can work collectively in small groups.
The Montessori Method
The Montessori Method is