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Frequently Asked Questions

What ages does Seneca Village Montessori serve?
Seneca Village Montessori serves children ages 2 to 6 years old. We offer Toddler, Preschool and Kindergarten Programs. See our Programs page for more information.
What does a typical day look like?

Experience a day of active learning at Seneca Village Montessori, where our little ones thrive through hands-on exploration. We embrace the philosophy that children learn best by engaging in activities. Our daily routine includes the Harambee Circle, a time for collective discussion, songs, and affirmations, as well as African Heritage Lessons and the Montessori Work Cycle. During this cycle, children delve into areas such as Literacy, Mathematics, Sensorial, and Practical Life Activities. Our comprehensive program also incorporates Outdoor/Indoor Play, Music & Movement, Arts & Crafts, and Quiet Time.

At Seneca Village Montessori, we provide a well-rounded educational experience. Our little ones actively participate in stimulating activities, fostering growth and development. Our engaging curriculum includes activities like Gardening Classes, African Drumming Classes, and Cooking Lessons, ensuring a holistic learning experience for your child.

How many teachers are in each classroom?
Maintaining a low child-teacher ratio is important to us so that we can give each child our undivided attention. At any given time, there will always be two adults present in each classroom. In our Toddler Classroom, there are two teachers and 12 little ones. In our Preschool & Kindergarten Classrooms, there are two teachers and up to 13 little ones.
Does my child have to be toilet-trained to attend Seneca Village Montessori?
No, little ones do not need to be toilet-trained to attend Seneca Village Montessori. We will meet your child where they are and support you with your toileting goals as needed.
Do you offer financial aid?
Seneca Village Montessori does not have a formal financial aid program. We do however accept all childcare subsides and voucher programs. Families using these programs and/or vouchers are offered scholarships to cover the remaining cost in base tuition.
Do you offer meals?

At Seneca Village Montessori, we are dedicated to ensuring your child's well-being and nutrition. As part of our commitment, we provide a wholesome and balanced menu that includes breakfast, lunch, and afternoon snacks. Additionally, we offer water and fruit throughout the day to keep your little one refreshed and nourished. The cost of all meals and snacks is conveniently included in your child's tuition, providing you with peace of mind about their nutritional needs.

Does Seneca Village Montessori follow the Department of Education’s calendar?

Seneca Village Montessori is committed to providing continuous educational support, and we remain open throughout the entire year. Families have the flexibility to choose between our 10-month program (September to June) or our 12-month program (September to August). In an effort to accommodate families with older children, we strive to align our calendar with the Department of Education. For a detailed overview of our academic calendar, please refer to our provided schedule here.

What schools do children attend after Seneca Village Montessori?

After their time at Seneca Village Montessori School, our students typically continue their education at some most well-regarded schools across the city. We're proud to say that our distinctive curriculum prepares them well for these challenges and has helped many to secure scholarships based on their outstanding performance. Here’s a look at where some of our alumni have headed:

  • BASIS Independent Brooklyn: Known for its STEM-focused curriculum that prepares students for top universities.
  • Brooklyn Friends School: Blends Quaker philosophies with rigorous academics and a commitment to social justice.
  • Brooklyn Heights Montessori: Offers a continuous Montessori education that nurtures self-directed learning and a comprehensive curriculum.
  • Ember Charter School: Renowned for its innovative approach, focusing on entrepreneurship and leadership.
  • Lefferts Gardens Montessori: Provides a traditional Montessori setup that emphasizes independent learning and moral values.
  • P.S. 11 and P.S. 21: Both public schools are celebrated for their dynamic programs and community involvement.
  • Poly Prep: Prepares students for the nation’s best colleges with its demanding academics.
  • Saint Ann’s School: Unique for its emphasis on the arts alongside traditional academic subjects.
  • Saint Saviour Catholic Academy: Combines rigorous academics with a strong foundation in values-based education.
  • The Dalton School: One of the top private schools nationally, known for its challenging curriculum and fostering intellectual curiosity.

Our students' successful transitions are a testament to the solid start they get with us at Seneca Village Montessori, setting them up for a bright future.

How do I enroll my little one at Seneca Village Montessori?
Interested families should book a tour. If no tour dates are listed, feel free to Contact Us and request a visit. Once you have visited the school, you can complete our online application on our Apply page.
How many spots are available?
Each year is different. We give currently or previously enrolled families priority for their currently or previously enrolled children as well as their siblings. Once all of our Seneca Village Montessori families have had the opportunity to enroll, we typically have 3-7 spots available for new families.
Why is an African Centered approach to education important?

Black students continue to be exposed to many negative interpretations of what it means to be Black. The distinctive purpose of African Centered Education is to develop self-consciousness, self determination, positive self-concept, a sense of Africa as it applies to the upliftment of the community, and an understanding of Africa as it to applies to personal growth and development. It is the overall goal of African Centered Education to offset the pervasive educational challenges caused by cultural amnesia and self hatred.

  • The African centered school experience provides a sense of freedom and confidence.
  • The African centered learning experience fosters an intellectual maturity earlier in life than might otherwise have taken place.
  • Daily African centered interactions prepare students for global citizenships as they develop the skills to deal with all types of people with a clear awareness of “who I am and where I am from.”
  • African centered instructional models develop critical thinking skills and provide the tools for advanced synthesis, and research analysis.
  • The intellect and cognitive skills developed from African centered learning experiences translates through all things and throughout life.
What is the Montessori Method?

The ​Montessori method is a unique educational approach that nurtures a child’s intrinsic desire to learn. Montessori focuses on the whole child—her cognitive, social, emotional, and physical development. Montessori is designed to help all children reach their fullest potential at their own unique pace. A classroom whose children have varying abilities is a community in which everyone learns from one another and everyone contributes. Moreover, multiage grouping allows each child to find his or her own pace without feeling “ahead” or “behind” in relation to peers. The Montessori method:​

  • Fosters the growth of functional independence, task persistence and self-regulation
  • Promotes social development through respectful, clear communication and safe, natural consequences
  • Contains a large variety of materials for the refinement of sensory perception and the development of literacy and mathematical understanding
  • Offers opportunities for imaginative exploration leading to confident, creative self-expression

According to Dr. Amos Wilson, the Montessori system “has been demonstrated to provide a viable approach to education of African American children. It can produce high levels of academic and cognitive achievements of children that have been exposed to the program. This is due to the fact that Montessori method achieves a good match between children’s cognitive capacity and the educational materials used by the program and the individually paces self correcting choices made by the children in interaction with their teachers.”– Awakening the Natural Genius of the Black Child.

What does Montessori learning look like?
In a Montessori environment, children learn by exploring and manipulating specially designed materials. Each material teaches one concept or skill at a time, and lays a foundation from which students can comprehend increasingly abstract ideas. Children work with materials at their own pace, repeating an exercise until it is mastered. The teacher may gently guide the process, but her goal is to inspire rather than instruct. Throughout the classroom, beautifully prepared, inviting curriculum areas contain a sequential array of lessons to be learned. As students work through the sequence, they build and expand on materials and lessons already mastered. And all the while they are developing qualities with which they’ll approach every future challenge: autonomy, creative thinking, and satisfaction in a job well done. Montessori classes place children in mixed age groups, forming communities in which the older children spontaneously share their knowledge with the younger ones.

Still have questions? Contact us.