Preschool Enrollment Considerations and Requirements
Enrollment Considerations
Laramie Montessori Charter School determines the target number of students based on the recommendations of the Head Teacher and the physical capacity of the learning space. Considerations for granting enrollment include:
Registration Criteria: Children must meet the Registration Criteria found below.
Current Siblings in Laramie Montessori Charter School: Preference will be given to families that have students currently enrolled in preK-6th grade education at Laramie Montessori Charter School.
Children of Staff Members: Preference will be given to the children of staff members entering preschool
Parent Commitment to Montessori Education: The parent and child are highly encouraged to visit the school for a pre-enrollment meeting (which may include a tour, observations in the classrooms, and meeting with the Head Teacher and child) to ensure the program will meet the needs of the child and to better understand the philosophy and program.
Maturation Level: The child must be able to participate and substantially benefit from this program without risk to self or other children and must also be emotionally capable of participating in classroom activities. These assessments will be made by the Head Teacher.
Adult: Child Ratios: We are required by law to follow the adult: child ratios for 3-6-year-old children in our classroom under the variance given to us by DFS.
Parents and guardians (hereafter referred to as parents) interested in enrolling their children are encouraged to familiarize themselves with the Montessori Method. The Montessori Method focuses on the whole child to best support your children’s social, emotional, and academic development.
Laramie Montessori Charter School does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, creed, religion, ancestry, national origin, sex, age, or disability in admission or access to, or treatment or employment in, its educational programs or activities.
Laramie Montessori Charter School Preschool offers school day and half-day learning, five days a week during the school year, excluding federal holidays and as per a set annual school calendar that follows the K-6th grade school year of LMCS. LMCS Preschool reserves the right to limit the number of half-day slots.
Times and days may not be split between children.
Enrollment times may be extended for half or school-day students at the discretion of Laramie Montessori Charter School. Extensions to enrollment times will be in 30-minute increments and are only available on a monthly basis (no daily or weekly schedules). Enrollment times may be extended for a student by ½ hour increments, for a maximum of 2 increments, at a monthly cost of $40 per ½ hour. As with other changes to tuition packages, a 15 days notice must be given when beginning or ending extended hours. All requests for extended hours will be approved in writing on a first come first served basis, dependent on staff availability. No extensions will be granted when they fall outside normal business hours (7:30 to 5:30).
Age Criteria
LMCS Preschool accepts students who are 3 years old and older. We do not provide preschool or childcare services for students who are younger than 3 years old. We can accept preschool students who turn 3 years old throughout the year as long as we have the space to accommodate them.
The Montessori Primary consists of three years: Pre-K 1 (3-4 years old), Pre-K 2 (4-5 years old), and Kindergarten (5-6 years old). Because the state requires that Kindergarteners be 5 on or before August 1st we are aligning our preschool program along similar lines to allow students to be prepared for Kindergarten while remaining flexible to parent’s needs. Preference is given to siblings of current students and employee children. LMCS will have a wait list for alternate schedules and will have lotteries to fill spaces if there are more applicants for a preschool year than spaces.
Pre-K 1: This is the first year students are eligible for Preschool. Preference is given to children who are 3 years old on or before August 1st. Because of the variance that we have with DFS, 3-year-olds are limited to half days only. We have a limited number of half-day spaces both in the morning and afternoon.
Pre-K 2: This is the second year students are eligible for Preschool. Preference is given to children who are 4 years old on or before August 1st. Because of the variance we have with our DFS certification school day slots will be reserved for this age group to prepare them for their Capstone year (Kindergarten). We have a limited number of school-day spaces available.
On August 13th we will evaluate what our enrollment is and adjust full and half-day openings. Depending on the number of openings available and interest we may offer half days to 4-year-olds or open more half days.
If there are openings available during the year then children who turn four will be allowed to move to school/full day and children who turn 3 will be able to enroll in half-day openings.
At this time we are looking at the following distribution for the primary classroom:
Kindergarten (5-6 years old): 16 spaces
Pre-K 2 (4-5 years old): 7 school/full-day spaces
Pre-K 1 (3-4 years old): 14 half-day spaces (7 mornings, 7 afternoons)
If your child does not get an opening and you would like to be on the waiting list for an opening throughout the year or if you would like to be on a waiting list for an alternate schedule for your 4 year old please indicate this on the registration form.
Our preschool cost for the school year is based on a 9-month tuition cost that is broken down into 9 equal payments due September through May. We will follow the Laramie Montessori Charter School Kindergarten through 6th grade school year calendar including all half days, professional development days, and vacations. Preschool will be in session every day that K-6th grade school is in session, Monday through Friday barring holidays, professional development days, and scheduled half days.
Variance
LMCS applied for a variance from DFS teacher: student ratio requirements based on our unique curriculum. We are allowed to have 30 3-year-old - 6-year-old students in our Primary classrooms with one Montessori Head Teacher and two trained assistant teachers, but 3-year-olds can be only half-day or full day depending on our numbers.
Potty Training
Children must be fully potty trained when they begin our preschool program. If they are not fully potty trained then they will not be allowed to continue.
Required Paperwork
Laramie Montessori Charter School Preschool requires that the following paperwork be completed and turned in before Registration can be completed.
Registration Form
Copy of Birth Certificate
Copy of Proof of Immunization or Exemption, or the Immunization Release Form so that LMCS can request their immunization record.
A birth certificate or other legal documentary evidence of birth is required for enrollment and proof of immunizations or exemption is required under Wyoming State law.
Papers transferring guardianship are required for any child living with someone other than biological or adoptive parents. Custody agreements between parents and/or guardians are also required for the student's permanent record.