Admissions
We’re glad that you are interested in enrolling your child at Turtle River Montessori! We are confident that we provide the finest learning experience available today and are excited that you and your child are joining us in this journey!
Admissions Policy
All applicants must tour our facility and meet with our Director before entering the enrollment process. The Admission policies, procedures, curriculum and faculty at Turtle River Montessori have been approved by the State of Florida Board of Education. Turtle River Montessori is accredited by the Association of Independent Schools of Florida and we are a Full Member of The American Montessori Society.
Criteria for Eligibility
Pre-Primary Program
- Children must be at least 18 months old by September 1st of the desired school year.
- If a child has had previous school experience, recommendations, and narratives are required. The “Parent Narrative"section asks if the child has had any professional assessments, evaluations or an IEP. Failure to disclose such may result in separation from TRM.
- An Ages and Stages Assessment will be completed by the parent(s) prior to starting to document the student's developmental milestones thus far.
- Children must have the skill of walking mastered (ie. not falling down or holding onto something to stand, and walking on multiple surfaces).
- Children must be able to get in and out of their own child-sized seat independently.
- Children must be able to independently feed themselves (finger foods are acceptable) and use a sippy cup with a straw (bottles are not permitted).
- Children must be able to understand and consistently follow simple safety instructions such as “stop,” “no,” “come here.”
- Admissions determination is made by the School Director and admissions team.
Primary Program
- Children must have completely mastered independent toileting.
- Children must express or communicate needs and/or frustrations verbally, not physically.
- If a child has had previous school experience, recommendations and narratives are required. The “Parent Narrative" section asks if the child has had any professional assessments, evaluations or an IEP. Failure to disclose such may result in separation from TRM.
- Children must participate in a classroom visit(s) during an active work cycle to meet the teacher, interact with his/her peers, and explore the classroom environment. In certain circumstances a second or third visit may be requested.
- Admissions determination is made by the School Director and admissions team.
Elementary
- All official records, recommendations, narratives, standardized test scores and professional assessments (where applicable) from previous school including, but not limited to, private, public and homeschool must be submitted prior to acceptance into the program. The “Parent Narrative" asks if the child has had any professional assessments, evaluations or an IEP. Failure to disclose such may result in separation from TRM.
- Children are required to participate in one or more full day classroom visits to meet the teacher, interact with his/her peers, and explore the classroom environment. In certain circumstances a second visit may be requested.
- Admissions determination may be made after one visit, or a repeat visit may be required.
- Admissions determination is made by the school director.
Application Process
- An appointment is made to meet with the Head of School and or the Administrative Director to understand the Montessori philosophy and method of education, followed by a tour of the school. At this time all questions may be addressed. Please note: tours are scheduled Monday through Friday mornings. Every effort is made to schedule tours for the first convenient date.
- An enrollment agreement and registration packet will be provided upon approval as requested by applicants. A tuition schedule will be reviewed and included with the registration packet.
- A release form for new students requesting school records will be signed by the parent and sent to the child’s previous school (where applicable).
- For new students, a classroom visit will be scheduled (where applicable).
Enrollment Procedure
Students are enrolled on a first come first serve basis, given the following priorities:
- Returning students are given first priority until the registration deadline date has expired.
- Siblings of Turtle River Montessori students are given priority over new students until the registration deadline date has expired.
- All enrollment paperwork must be received along with the registration fees without which a student is not considered enrolled.
- New students must go through the application process prior to being invited to enroll at Turtle River Montessori.
- When space is unavailable at the time of application, children may be placed on a waiting list at the parent’s request provided the parent agrees to follow TRM enrollment protocol prior to acceptance.
- The registration fee will hold a place for your child and is non-refundable.
- Specific policies contained within the enrollment agreement are binding.
Class Placement
- All class placements are made by Turtle River Montessori Administration. Children returning will remain with their classroom teacher (unless a change is in the best interest of the child) until they are ready for placement in the next three-year cycle.
- Turtle River Administration reserves the right to place children in order to maintain balanced classes with respect to class size, age, gender, and individual needs of the student. We will give consideration to requests for placement, however, it is not guaranteed.
Turtle River Montessori welcomes children of all races, colors, creeds and religions.