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The History Of Montessori 

Maria Montessori was Italy's first woman physician.  She began her work
at the turn of the twentieth century.  Montessori developed a scientific
approach to facilitate early learning and to encourage the development of
a well-rounded person.

Her approach was to create a 'prepared environment' which allows the
child to select activities from a "smorgasbord" of attractive, hands-on
learning materials available to the child on low, open shelves.

She found that young children are capable of a great deal more than
many believe.  By using concrete, manipulative and stimulating sensory
materials, the young child can grasp abstract ideas at an earlier age.
  Piaget, who was a contemporary of Montessori developed the
theoretical aspect of this view, while Montessori developed the practical
educational framework.

Montessori, Maria:

The Absorbent Mind
The Montessori Method
The Secret of Childhood

Kramer, Rita:

Maria Montessori:  A Biography

Our School

Long Beach Montessori School was founded by Barbara Stalle McClean, M.A.  She completed her B.A. degree in 1962 and the American Montessori Society teacher training course in 1964 at Mount Saint Mary's College in Westwood.  She received an M.A. degree in 1969 in Educational Psychology with an emphasis in early learning from California State University, Long Beach.

Mrs. McClean opened, taught for and directed the first Montessori school in Long Beach in 1965.  She has continuously operated various Montessori programs in the city since that time.

We are dedicated to operating a top-quality, year-round preschool which is state licensed and an elementary school which is registered with the appropriate state, county and local agencies.

Admission

Long Beach Montessori School is operated on a non-discriminatory basis.  We welcome students of all racial, ethnic and religious backgrounds.  We comply with ADA requirements insofar as possible.  Registration is accepted on a first-come, first-served basis, except that reference is accorded to returning and continuing students, siblings of current students and alumni.  We offer an academic term and a summer session as well as a year-around enrollment options.  Regular school hours are 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. with extended care offered from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m.  LAUP hours are 9:00 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.  Extended hours available for these students also.

Tuition Fees are always due IN ADVANCE.  Fees may be paid monthly or semi-monthly (on the first and fifteenth days of the month), so long as payments are always made in advance for each period.  A 5% late fee is applied to payments received after the 7th or the 21st (for 2nd installment).  Semi-monthly payment schedule requires a 1/2 month prepayment.

A thirty-day WRITTEN NOTICE OF WITHDRAWAL is required in the event that a child must be withdrawn from the school before the end of the enrollment term.  Please refer to our PARENT HANDBOOK and the "Preschool Admissions Policy" for details and further information.

For further information on the Montessori Method, please consult your library or bookstore for books written by or about Maria Montessori including:

Application is accomplished by completion of our "Student Application" and "Enrollment Agreement" along with the non-refundable $50.00 registration fee.  Consult these forms for holidays and fee schedules.  Following this, you will receive a packet of medical and information forms to complete, including a physician's statement and you will be asked to provide an immunization record including a current TB test or exception.