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For
information
POB
682384 Executive Director
Director, Park Avenue Campus Director, Jeremy Ranch Campus
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Soaring
Wings Montessori School is a private school for children 11/2
through 8 years of age (toddler - 3rd grade) and has been educating
students in Park City, Utah since 1987.
Soaring Wings provides a comprehensive curriculum that exceeds national standards in mathematics, science, literacy, social studies, practical life, sensorial, penmanship, computer technology, fine arts, foreign language and healthy lifestyles. Distinguishing Characteristics of Soaring Wings: Credentials: We require that all employees hold at least a Bachelor's degree. All teachers must also hold an American Montessori Society teaching credential. Experience: Soaring Wings has been under the same ownership and management for 22 years and has graduated hundreds of happy, successful children. Our graduates stand out as leaders in academics, fine arts, sports and leadership. This also results in more consistency; parents, teachers and students know what to expect from one year to the next. Focus: We do not offer daycare, so we can focus our energy on providing a quality educational program. We know from first hand experience and from anecdotal reports from other schools that it is not possible to provide children with a superior education if the staff is distracted by the endless anomalies of a daycare program. Financial Stability: Soaring Wings is fully funded with commitment fees and tuition. We do not "nickel and dime" parents with other fees or charges. Parents and grandparents are sometimes reluctant to become involved in their child's private school due to expectations of contributions beyond tuition. This is not the case at Soaring Wings, so feel free to participate to your heart's content. Eligibility: Normally children begin school at Soaring Wings by age two or three. If a child has attended a day care, preschool or another school, s/he may have developed behaviors and/or work habits which are not compatible with the Montessori approach to education; therefore, children over age three must visit with the teacher and spend a day in class before being admitted. Low Student/Teacher Ratios: Health & Safety : Assessment: At Soaring Wings we practice Mastery Learning. A student works on a concept until it is mastered and then moves on. This is equivalent to an "A" level of performance in a traditional school. We insure the quality and effectiveness of our programs by administering Stanford Achievement Tests (SATs) in the Spring of kindergarten and third grade. Our students score well above average on these tests. Effective Curriculum: At Soaring Wings children learn more. Each classroom is equipped to offer learning opportunities for children at an advanced level compared to what peers are learning in the other schools. Since each lesson begins with a concrete experience and progresses logically, children are able to grasp concepts more easily and quickly than with other teaching methods. Also, those who have trouble with a subject are afforded the time to work on the concept from many different angles until they have mastered it and are ready to move on. Each member of the class works at an individual pace rather than having to move along with the group. Our SAT scores show that the typical Soaring Wings graduate tests far above average. The Prepared Classroom: The first thing you will notice that differentiates a Montessori classroom is how carefully it is prepared. Everything in the classroom is designed to address the academic and developmental needs of the child rather than for the convenience of the teacher. There are no teacher desks, bulletin boards or white boards. The classroom truly belongs to the child. Children are in charge of, and take great pride in, caring for plants and animals, keeping the room orderly, even cleaning and polishing wood. Fine art and music are selected for the children's enjoyment. Exquisitely crafted equipment and materials are precisely placed on shelves from easiest to hardest, left to right, top to bottom like words on a page. This reinforces the left to right movement of reading and enables the child to see her progress as she masters each activity. More Than Academics: "Education for Peace" is our slogan. In addition to learning literacy, math, science, fine arts, geography, etc., students learn conflict resolution skills, to share limited resources and to appreciate and respect other cultures and religions. These skills are key to raising a peaceful generation. Become one with the Earth: The latest news in child development is about "Nature Deficit Disorder" (Last Child in the Woods, Richard Louv). There is a growing concern that today's children do not have adequate access to nature because parents are overly worried about the dangers of being outside. At Soaring Wings our students have plenty of opportunities to work outside with sand, water, dirt, snow, rocks, ice, etc. After all, these are elements of the Earth from which we came and depend on for sustenance. In so doing, we hope our graduates will have a well-balanced educational foundation and become good stewards of our precious planet. Smaller Carbon Footprint: With the high cost of gas, traffic congestion and global warming, it has become important to place services near population centers in order to avoid excessive driving. With this in mind, Soaring Wings has two locations; one in Park City proper and one near I-80. School of Good Karma: Many refer to Soaring Wings as the "School of Good Karma." The atmosphere is happy, positive and upbeat and things always seem to work out for the best. International Montessori Council: The IMC is a worldwide umbrella organization of Montessori schools. Soaring Wings is a member and follows the IMC Code of Ethics and Principles of Good Practice. Click on the IMC logo for more information. Utah Montessori Council: The UMC is a professional association of Utah Montessori schools and holds an annual conference focusing on professional development. The UMC also administers annual Health, Safety and Green school certification programs. Click on the UMC logo for more information.
Certifications: The certifications above are administered annually by the Utah Montessori Council. Click on the logo to see a list of criteria our school is required to meet in order to receive that certification. |
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