To Our Valued Parents

At Montessori Academy of New Jersey (MANJ), we believe that a partnership between parents and the school is the vital ingredient for a successful and true Montessori experience. Children do not learn and grow in the vacuum of school or home; both environments must encourage, mirror, and support each other to allow optimum growth, development, and learning for children of all ages. This includes showing mutual respect, demonstrating appropriate support, and communicating clearly and honestly with one another.

• Parents should be aware of what is happening in the classroom and communicate with the teacher if there are concerns or questions. Trust in the teacher and school is of the utmost importance, as is communication with an open mind, assuming the best intentions from both the parent and teacher perspectives.

• Parents must know how to support their child’s learning at home, and teachers are available to help offer ideas or make suggestions.

• The child must know that both their family and MANJ are on the same page. 

Parents can get involved by:

Reviewing Your Child’s Progress

MANJ utilizes Transparent Classroom (TC) as a single source for parents to gain a better understanding of the child’s day. This program can be conveniently accessed online and provides information on lessons received and/or practiced, the purpose of specific materials, pictures, and notes (including progress reports and comments) about your child’s work.

Transparent Classroom gives you a glimpse into your child’s day. Often, reviewing pictures on TC together will lead to conversations about how the day went, even for those children who typically don't share. It offers a different angle from the usual "What did you do/learn today?" to "Can you tell me about this picture?" 

The additional information about our lessons also offers deeper explanations of individual works, along with "How to help/support at home" suggestions. We hope this may inspire parents to engage their children in similar activities to enhance the educational experience beyond the classroom.

Incorporate Montessori at Home 

Montessori is based on the principle of free choice (with clear limits) and allowing the child to be independent to the extent that it is developmentally appropriate. Montessori Academy publishes weekly blogs to address challenges that may arise surrounding activities, organization ideas, and best practices. This will enable parents to create a home environment that is in harmony with what the child experiences at school. Consistency between school and home greatly benefits child development, as the environments complement each other and provide an optimal backdrop for holistic child development.

Attend School Events

MANJ offers multiple opportunities for families to learn more about Montessori, including school-led parent education nights, guest speakers, and a parent library at your disposal. In addition, parents are requested to participate in at least one “Silent Journey & Discovery,” which is typically held in January. This is a Friday evening/Saturday morning event that allows parents to have a hands-on experience of their child’s work.

Volunteer

Parent involvement is a crucial part of enriching children's education. Everyone has a talent or skill that they can share. Additionally, parents know other adults who can share their skills and talents. Whether it is your heritage, culture, customs, interests, hobbies, or expertise, we encourage parents to share with our students. Providing real-world, hands-on context enhances the authentic Montessori experience, allowing children to see how differences are to be celebrated and embraced as part of life.

Parent Association (PA)

Any parent, legal guardian, or caregiver of enrolled students is automatically a member of the Parent Association (PA). The purpose of the PA is to support activities above and beyond the scope of classroom instruction, as well as community building within the parent body. The PA organizes in-school presentations, such as Ceder Run Wildlife presentations, philharmonic orchestra performances, author visits, etc., to enhance the student’s experience. In addition, they organize various events such as Back To School Potluck, Hayride, Field Day, facilitate fundraisers (i.e., Popcorn sale, Adopt a Family, Toys for Tots, etc.), and strive to build a vibrant community.