Frequently Asked Questions

We are licensed to serve children 33 months through six years of age. We offer both preschool and kindergarten programming. Children must toilet independently before beginning school at Monarch.

Though we are licensed for 20 children, we limit our enrollment to 16 children. (We occasionally go above 16 in order to maintain full enrollment throughout the year.) We feel strongly that this enables us to serve the individual needs of all of the children while providing enough friendship opportunities.

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The required child-adult ratio in the state of Minnesota is 10:1; however, we typically have a maximum child-adult ratio of 8:1.

We are open Monday through Friday. We offer a full-day and half-day option. Full day runs 8:30 a.m. until 3:30 p.m., and half-day runs 8:30 a.m. until 12:00 p.m. Extended day programming is available on a monthly or as-needed basis. Extended day runs until 5:00 p.m. Unfortunately, we cannot offer partial weeks.

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We are a year-round school with breaks for holidays, conferences, classroom refurbishment, and staff training. Through our school runs through the summer, families have the option of opting out of summer programming. A copy of our school calendar is available upon request.

We are a Montessori school. Dr. Maria Montessori developed her namesake philosophy and pedagogy, or style of teaching. The Montessori Children’s House responds to the specific developmental needs of children ages three through six with individualized lessons, purposeful work, and hands-on learning materials. The variety of ages in one classroom results in children helping and learning from each other. A Montessori environment offers a place for every personality to belong and thrive. 

The educators at Monarch value open-ended creative play, which is not always prioritized or even allowed in Montessori settings. Dr. Montessori observed that adults must present children with reality. Therefore, we are careful to not initiate "play-pretend" games. That said, research demonstrates the vast benefits of child-directed open-ended play. In our classroom, we incorporate non-Montessori materials such as wooden blocks, trains, vehicles, magnet tiles, baby dolls and accessories, and loose parts. We frequently overhear the children "play processing," or applying their new learning through play. Our educators guide the children to make productive and balanced choices, ensuring that they have a comprehensive "menu" of activities in a given day.

We strive to spend a great deal of time outside (weather permitting). We are outside for a minimum of two hours daily during the summer and a minimum of 1.5 hours daily during the winter. If the temperature is below zero degrees Fahrenheit (including wind-chill), we are unable to play outside as per DHS regulations. On those days, we still engage in gross motor play while remaining indoors.

We focus on prevention over reaction by integrating social-emotional curriculum. We teach children how to share, take turns, solve problems, apologize, receive an apology, identify and cope with strong emotions, and recognize the emotions of others. We use tools such as the Peace Chair, Zones of Regulation, and Positive Discipline framework. If dysregulated behavior does occur, we handle it privately, calmly, and respectfully. Our educators communicate with families regularly about any challenges their children experience at school in order to hear what works well from those who know them best. Children are people, and, like all humans, they will make mistakes. We offer compassion and understanding while equipping them with the skills to navigate life.

Families provide lunches, and we provide a morning and afternoon snack every day. Water is available at all times, and we serve 1% milk with lunch. You can find a sample menu here.