Empowering young minds to
play, learn, and grow
AMI-Accredited Montessori School in St. Paul
A lifelong love of learning begins in the Children’s House
Children’s House helps your child develop the tools they need to lead their own learning. As an AMI-accredited Montessori school, we encourage children to seek knowledge, explore their curiosities, sharpen their focus, and build community.
To allow ample time for exploration and learning, we follow a five-day week schedule through half-day and full-day programming. With a prepared environment designed for their developmental needs, your child will thrive as they joyfully discover the world around them.
Half-Day Programs
Morning Half-Day Program
(8:30 am to 11:30 am)
Each morning is a buzz of purposeful activity and social interaction as children work with energy, concentration, and joy. While engaging in independent learning, your child will freely choose activities based on their interests and seize opportunities to teach other children what they have learned.
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As children arrive between 8:20-8:30 am, they will greet their friends, Guides, and staff. Throughout the morning, children choose work that builds practical life skills while engaging in sensorial learning, mathematics, language, art, music, geography, and biology. The Guide presents new activities to the children individually or in small groups, helping children learn to cooperate, assist others, and resolve conflicts.
Children can also choose restful activities, such as reading a book, talking to friends, or having a snack, as they feel the need. At the end of the morning cycle, each child completes their classroom work, which helps to make sure their environment is organized and prepared. At 11:30 am, the morning children leave our West St. Paul preschool for the day.
Lunch & Play Program
(11:30 am to 1:00 pm)
Following the morning work cycle, children are invited to explore nature and play outdoors, rain or shine. With direct access to our vast backyard area and gardens, they will have an abundance of space to roam, run, and play with their peers before lunchtime.
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When the weather permits, the children love going outdoors to play in our beautiful backyard until 12:20 pm. While outdoors, they can engage in a variety of open-ended play, including riding bikes, sledding, digging in our sand pit, and engaging in imaginative play. In case of inclement weather, we also have access to a private, on-site indoor gym.
At 12:20 pm, children return to their classrooms to eat with the Guides and their peers. Lunch is a leisurely time for conversation and nourishment. We encourage parents to provide low-processed, balanced food options. After lunch, the children wash their dishes and clean up. Children enrolled in Lunch & Play leave for the day at 1 pm.
“I’m not sure our family will ever be able to find adequate words to convey how grateful we are for MVMS. We are so grateful to feel safe sending our son to school each day, knowing that he is seen, nurtured, encouraged, and celebrated for who he is and who he is becoming.”
Kind Words from Families
Full-Day Programs
FULL-Day Program
NAPPING
(8:30 am to 3:00 pm)
During the full-day program, some children may need a dedicated nap period. Since sleep is paramount to a child’s development, we emphasize midday naps for any children who will benefit, complete with story time, tranquil music, and a peaceful environment.
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Our nap program is a time of establishing sleep routines. Your child will be comforted as they read stories and listen to light music before napping. However, this time is flexible enough to include children who may need to occasionally rest after a busy morning. At 1 pm, children who take naps do so in the nap room.
Full-Day Program
Second Work Cycle
(8:30 am to 3:00 pm)
Non-napping children spend their afternoons in a second work cycle, diving back into independent learning and collaborative small group lessons with enthusiasm and wonder. We also encourage outdoor work cycles during the afternoon, giving children substantial time to explore our natural surroundings.
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We have a beautiful, expansive yard with raised garden beds, a rain garden, and a shaded large group area. We also have a wooded area with access to a natural pond. Our West St. Paul preschool’s proximity to Dodge Nature Center means we can take advantage of the many trails, farm animals, pond docks, reptile rescue center, and woods.
What Families Love About
Children’s House
Child-led learning through a series of independent work cycles
Calm, prepared environment that fosters belonging, respect, and confidence
Outdoor exploration through our vast backyard area and Dodge Nature Center
AMI-accredited education with trained Guides and staff
Accessible, consistent care that’s flexible for all families
Convenient location for families in West St. Paul and the surrounding area
