Swannanoa Valley Montessori School
Preschool in Black Mountain, NC 28711
Swannanoa Valley Montessori School was founded as a non-profit school in 2003 by parents who sought a creative active learning environment for their young children. In the fall of 2004 we opened our lower elementary class of six- to nine-year olds. In 2007 we added an upper elementary program of nine- to twelve-year olds.
At SVMS we believe that excellent education is built around nurturing and supporting the whole child. Starting in preschool our teachers help students learn personal responsibility through peaceful resolution of minor conflicts and encourage a positive outlook regarding self and others. The core values in each classroom are respect for oneself, for others, and for the environment. The small size of our school allows close involvement among teachers, students, and parents, creating a powerful sense of community. Children feel valued for who they are, and parents become an important partner in the educational process.
As a Montessori school we understand that children really learn more by touching, seeing, smelling, tasting and exploring, than by just listening. Children learn by doing, not by passively accepting preexisting knowledge. Our developmentally appropriate approach has been designed to fit each individual child, instead of making the child fit the program.
- Child Ages:
- 3 years - 12 years
- Licenses & Accreditations:
- North Carolina Division of Child Development and Early Education
Member of American Montessori Society - Vouchers:
- This provider does not accept vouchers
- Preschool:
- Yes
- Children per Teacher:
- Infant: -/-, Toddler: -/-, Pre k: 10/1, Afterschool: 10/1
- Hours of Operation:
- Monday - Friday 8:15am 3:00pm
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A Montessori school is a learning center based on the whole child educational approach of Maria Montessori (1870-1952), the first female physician to graduate from the University of Rome. She believed that children have a natural, spontaneous interest in learning. A Montessori program is directed at helping each child reach full potential in all areas of life. Every Montessori classroom is a carefully prepared environment to promote the childs development of social skills, emotional maturity, independence, and physical coordination, in addition to intellectual growth. An essential feature of the method involves the mingling of ages within each classroom, over a three year range. The resulting atmosphere allows for flexibility for each child to learn at his/her own pace in a home-like environment where younger children learn from their slightly older peers, and older children reinforce their own achievements by helping the younger ones.
