Program

For children two-years-and-nine-months to five-and-a-half, The Mountain School provides:

A place of beauty and simple pleasures. Because young children are so greatly influenced by the mood of their environment, our sunlit classrooms are designed with soft colors, pleasing textures and simple toys made of natural materials. With activities such as bread-baking, building, beeswax sculpting and storytelling, we encourage creativity rather than consumption.

A grounding in nature and enduring values. To help children understand their place in the world, our curriculum centers on our connection with nature, our need for community, and the importance of respect for oneself and for others. Our activities and materials encourage play that comes from within, drawing on the child's own imagination rather than on the world of adults or the media. Through songs, classic stories, and puppetry, we help children develop a fertile store of imagery that they can use to appreciate and understand real-life experiences.

A nourishing fare of story and song, work and play. Music is woven into the texture of the day, keeping it smooth and cheerful. Singing games and adventures enliven "circle time," and songs ease all of our transitions, making activities such as tidying the room and handwashing simple and fun. The children help prepare healthy, delicious snacks and serve their classmates. Gratitude is fostered with the mealtime verse. Fresh air and outdoor fun are two of the main ingredients of the day. We encourage the running, jumping and climbing that help support the growth of strong and healthy bodies. At day's end, a classic fairy tale, puppet show or play provides imagery that enlivens each child's fantasies.

A program in tune with the seasons. Our teachers offer the children daily and weekly rhythms that fill the season with magic and wonder. Pumpkin muffins scent the classroom in Autumn, while in Winter, children craft lanterns or orange and clove pomanders, as a pot of vegetable soup bubbles in the kitchen. In Spring, the wind and budding flowers inspire us to fashion pinwheels or magic wands. Each day, the teachers create a rhythmic, safe, and beautiful place for the children to work and play. Every season of the year, the children are surrounded by love, magic, and dedication. The Mountain School is a nurturing world that cultivates each child's imagination and individuality and fosters self-respect and compassion for the world around them.

Attendance schedule
Daily routine
Enrichment