A young boy with blonde hair wearing a black T-shirt and beige shorts, sitting at a table in a classroom, holding a circular woven basket with a red string inside. He appears to be engaged in a craft activity involving the basket.

Primary
(Preschool & Kindergarten)

At Staunton Montessori School we currently have two Primary classrooms that are called the Bluebird and Chickadee learning communities. In August 2026, we will be opening our third Primary classroom.

Montessori Primary classrooms serve children ages 3-6 (traditionally the PK3, PK4 and kindergarten year). Our Morning Primary Program is available for children ages 3 and 4 and goes until 11:45 AM. Students in the Morning Primary program may stay after 11:45 AM in our Aftercare Program. The third year of Primary (Kindergarten) is called Extended Day and is a full day.

The Extended Day year is a pivotal, culminating year where the foundation built in the previous two years solidifies. The Extended Day students have added opportunities for exploration, leadership, discoveries and field trips. 

As a three-year program, students start their first year during the school year that they are 3 by September 30th. Families interested in completing the three-year cycle should begin the admissions process when their child is 2.

In Primary, children are guided through a carefully prepared environment that fosters independence, curiosity, and care for others. Montessori guides thoughtfully observe each child’s interests while ensuring exposure to the full curriculum. Children explore language, math, science, geography, art, and practical life through hands-on materials. In the Montessori Primary Program, the curriculum is nicknamed “keys to the world”, in that it offers fundamentals in all subject areas. This includes academics as well as care of self, care of others, and humanities.

A classroom scene with children and a teacher. A young girl is sitting at a small table with a teacher, engaging in a conversation. A girl in a red dress is sitting at another table, focusing on an activity. The room has wooden furniture, educational materials, and a world map on the wall.
Two children playing a wooden game with pegs on a table.

Key Goals

• Build confidence and a strong internal drive to learn.

• Develop functional independence, self-regulation, and decision-making skills.

• Understand personal responsibility for both learning and behavior.

Typical Daily Schedule

Morning Session (3–4 year olds)
8:15 AM – 11:45 AM

Extended Day (Kindergarten)
8:15 AM – 2:45 PM

8:15 — Arrival and independent work

8:30 — Group time (phased out after the first month)

8:45 — Independent and small group lessons

11:15 — Group songs, poems, or sharing

11:30 — Outdoor play

11:45 — Dismissal (Morning students)

12:00 — Lunch (Extended Day)

12:45 — Afternoon work period and lessons

2:45 — Dismissal (Extended Day)