FAQs

Based on informal communication and formal surveys conducted over the years, it has been discovered that graduates of CVMS transition excellently both academically and socially to larger, traditional schools. The feedback from teachers and administrators has been exceedingly positive, with many considering our students as a valuable asset to their communities. They note their superior academic preparation, enthusiasm for learning, organizational skills, leadership qualities, and kindness towards others. These skills have proven to be valuable for our graduates, not only for college admission but also later in their careers.

CVMS offers a distinctive education that fosters curiosity, self-motivation, and self-discipline in every student. At our private, nonprofit school, we provide individualized education with the help of our exceptional faculty and small class sizes. Our focus on fundamental academic skills and developing independent, skilled, lifelong learners encourages innate curiosity, creativity, responsibility, and self-confidence in our students.

We employ the Montessori philosophy, methods, and materials, backed by decades of research, to provide a combination of structured learning and independent work time. Our teachers act as enthusiastic guides, observing students' activities, monitoring their progress, and directing efforts towards meaningful results.

Our multi-age classrooms group students for each subject where they can progress at their own pace. Individualized lesson plans allow for students to pursue their interests when they are developmentally ready to do so. Activities are sequenced, ensuring a solid foundation of understanding in each subject. Mastery of each task builds confidence, promotes independence, and encourages experimentation and creativity.

Our teaching focuses on developing thoughtful and thorough understanding of concepts and critical thinking. We incorporate Spanish and the arts throughout our integrative curriculum. As a non-religious school, our core values include respect for oneself, others, and the environment; compassion and empathy for others; appreciation of diversity; cooperation with others; responsibility and independence; and a broad worldview focused on peace and understanding. Explore our philosophy and culture to learn more.

At CVMS, discipline is firmly rooted in our values and culture. Our primary goal is to foster self-discipline in all our students. Clear expectations for acceptable behavior are established throughout the school, and students are held accountable for their actions. We teach our students to respect and take care of themselves, others, and the environment.

Our classes operate under the principle of freedom within limits. In cases where a student is being destructive, disrespectful, or using materials aimlessly, our staff quietly and calmly redirects them towards purposeful work. Our teachers and older students model proper behavior for everyone in the classroom. In rare cases where a student is consistently disrespectful or disruptive despite our efforts, we may remove the student from the school to prevent a negative impact on others.

Yes, absolutely. At CVMS, we firmly believe that a Montessori education can benefit children at any age. As a result, we consider applicants of all ages, as long as we have available space. Once we have an opening, the applicant is given the opportunity to visit a class to ensure a smooth and successful transition. Our staff works closely with new students to help them adjust and become proficient with the Montessori materials and concepts.

As we do not receive any local, state, or federal aid, we do not have the necessary staff or facilities to cater to the needs of children with serious challenges. However, we carefully evaluate each applicant's circumstances on a case-by-case basis. If we believe we can provide the necessary support for a student to thrive, we offer them a placement in one of our CVMS classrooms.

We strive to provide suitable accommodation for students who have previously attended Montessori schools.

At all ages, we consider physical education a crucial aspect of our curriculum, and we ensure that students attend weekly classes. Our primary objective is to kindle their passion for a healthy and active lifestyle, which encompasses both nutrition and physical activity. On our campus, we have a well-equipped gymnasium, a vast outdoor area with play equipment and space, as well as a garden that our students cultivate. Additionally, we have integrated cooking into our curriculum to enhance their culinary skills and nutrition knowledge.

Absolutely! We highly encourage parental involvement and have even incorporated it into our tuition program. We believe that the active participation of parents is vital for the operation, growth, and development of our school. Families are kindly requested to contribute their time and talents through various volunteer activities. We deeply value the diverse skills and abilities of our parents and warmly welcome their meaningful involvement. There are numerous opportunities for parents to engage, such as assisting with fundraising efforts, collaborating on in-class projects, serving on committees, and joining our Parent-Teacher Organization (PTO).

At our school, parent-teacher meetings are scheduled twice a year as part of our planned events. However, we also extend an open invitation to parents to observe their child's classroom informally at other times. Moreover, we actively encourage parents to maintain open communication with their child's teachers, especially if there are any significant changes in the family or concerns they wish to raise.

We begin introducing the concepts of computers and technology to our lower elementary students, and we continue to advance these skills throughout their CVMS education. Our curriculum provides practical instruction in keyboarding, which is tailored to the appropriate age level of each student. In addition, we teach students how to utilize widely used software programs, including Microsoft Office and the Google Suite. Furthermore, students also work with specialized programs that pertain to subjects such as history and geography. Lastly, we teach our students how to conduct comprehensive research for their school projects on the Internet, ensuring that they are proficient with a range of valuable technological tools.

For the convenience of our families, we offer an exceptional before- and after-school program for Early Childhood, extended day, elementary, and middle school students during school term. Our program, CVMS+, provides a wide range of supervised activities, including art, music, drama, dance, games, and opportunities for socializing both indoors and outdoors. Our elder students are offered a peaceful environment in which they can concentrate on completing their school-related work. We offer Kaleidoscope before school between 7:00 a.m. to 8:30 a.m. and after school from 2:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. Students are free to leave the program at any time, but it is imperative that they check out with a parent or designated adult.

During the summer, we provide a comprehensive camp program that runs throughout the entire season, with the exception of the first week of July and the first week of August. Our camp welcomes children aged three to thirteen and is operated by our dedicated CVMS+ staff. The program offers a fantastic blend of cognitive, social, and physical activities, ensuring that children have enjoyable experiences while also gaining valuable learning opportunities. For more detailed information, please refer to the CVMS+ tab on our website.

To clarify, CVMS is not connected to any other schools in the surrounding area. While any school may use the Montessori name, it's crucial to note that there can be significant differences in both educational approach and quality. At CVMS, we adhere to a curriculum and teaching methods rooted in the best practices of the American Montessori Society. Furthermore, most of our educators have gone through AMS training and received certification.

CVMS has introduced a new Sliding Scale Tuition Rate policy as a recent development. This policy replaces the concept of "tuition assistance," rendering an income and resources-based system to determine the tuition for each family. At CVMS, diversity is a perennial value, and we aim to foster a learning environment where students can be introduced to, embraced, welcomed and celebrated regardless of their differences. While some families will be subject to the maximum tuition fee, others with lesser financial resources will pay a smaller yet fair percentage of their income. This sliding scale discount is restricted to full-day students.

Upon parental request, bus transportation is accessible through the local school districts, including Horseheads, Elmira, Elmira Heights, and Corning. Typically, children must be at least five years old; however, the bussing policy may differ among various districts.

We highly recommend parents to apply between January and April for the upcoming school year starting in September. We evaluate applications in the order in which we receive them, with admission decisions mostly made by May. We welcome students to transfer into CVMS throughout the academic year, subjected to availability.

To apply, parents can visit CVMS for a tour, followed by an application submission. If there isn't space for your child, we will place him/her on the waitlist. However, if we do have a vacancy that fits your child's age group and educational needs, our team will contact you to fix an appointment. During this session, our teachers will evaluate and determine appropriate placement for your child.

To obtain more information or to schedule a tour, kindly contact Admissions at (607) 562-8754, extension 110. Alternatively, you may fill out an application here.

At CVMS, we conduct CTB/McGraw-Hill TerraNova tests and administer a variety of Regents Examinations. Our educational philosophy prioritizes imparting knowledge rather than teaching to tests. However, we are proud to report that our curriculum equips our students with a solid foundation that enables them to excel in standardized tests beyond high school. Our students consistently surpass state standards and outperform their peers from public and private schools in the area.