Is DMS/Montessori a College Prep School?

Our goal is to prepare students for life. We strive to prepare children to learn to meet challenges, mistakes, and all the little bumps along the road with humility, perseverance, and an attitude of “what can I learn from this?” We focus on independence within a community and executive functioning.

Yes, they get an excellent academic foundation at DMS. Our goal, however, is that when they leave the world of academia, stepping out into their careers, relationships, and all the challenges that come with being an adult, they will be equipped to thrive. High school and college are important, but they are just the beginning of their lives.

What do DMS/Montessori students do after they leave DMS?

The students who have graduated from our 8th-grade program usually transition to Lincoln Academy in Newcastle, ME. We also have students who have attended the Maine School of Science and Mathematics, Medomak Valley High School, Oceanside High School, the Maine Arts Academy, and others.

Our students go all over for college. DMS alumni have earned degrees in art, engineering, environmental science, political science, many other science-related fields, psychology (and related) fields, opera/music, and more. The variety of focus illustrates how they each follow their own passion. DMS alumni are individualistic, life-long learners. Many go into fields that aim to make the world a better place.

Is Montessori a Free for all…or too strict?

These are both common misconceptions. Montessori is about freedom within limits. We strive to allow the children an abundance of choice and movement within appropriate boundaries. Our students develop strong executive functioning and social-emotional skills alongside their academic growth. Students who need greater support, receive it, and those who are ready for more freedom get to stretch their wings.

The classrooms are set up to support this fine balance of freedom and support. They appear somewhat like the cross-section between a living room and a classroom. Students move about the room as adults move about an office. They have lessons, meetings, tasks, and projects. They work independently, with peers, and sometimes as a whole group. There is usually a hum of productivity and a variety of activities. Montessori classrooms are vibrant and full of movement.

Montessori is a classroom-based, hands-on curriculum. Do the students get to go outside?

DMS students spend a great deal of time outside. Yes, many of the materials are nice wooden items that should not go outside, but many can be taken outside. On a nice day, you will see children doing work at picnic tables, gardening, running in our fields, examining a bug, and eating their lunches outside. Early care and late care are also often outside, even when it’s cold. The students love building things out of snow (at all ages!).

The middle school students run a greenhouse mini-business which integrates into most of the academic areas. They plant, harvest, water, and sell their produce.

Starting in kindergarten, the students participate in a P.E. program. We use our woods and fields for this wonderful program. Students younger than kindergarten may nap in the afternoon. If they are not nappers, they may do quiet activities or go outside with a teacher.

Finally, we have regular recess, just like other schools. Unlike other schools, the length of recess does not get shorter as the kids get older. Our middle school students have at least 45 minutes of recess daily. If the weather is such that going outside is impossible, they do inside recess (chess, art, games…etc.). During recess, we offer an adult-facilitated game, but students are free to relax, engage in creative play, explore nature, or climb on our playground structure. They run, jump, climb, dig, and build.