Reston Montessori School

Reston Montessori School was established in 1986. It is an American Montessori Society Full Member school. The school grew from one primary classroom to serving students from age 3 months to 12 years. As the oldest Montessori school in Reston serves the Reston community and much of its surrounding area. The founder of Reston, Robert E. Simon was a visitor to the school and a firm believer in the Montessori philosophy. He said "I'm particularly concerned with our country's education policy, because there's nothing right about it. It makes no sense to talk about white, black, urban, suburban, poor, or rich, because in each one of those categories, you'll find all kinds of different skills and abilities. So, we should be focusing on the individual. Yet we put all these kids in the same grade based on age alone, and that's crazy. A third of them are bored because the class is going too slow; a third of them don't know what's happening at all; and a third find that the class is just right. We should be focusing on individual IQs, and they should be learning what they enjoy and what they do best. The Montessori method is the closest to that." RMS has one Infant classroom (3 months to 18 months), three Pre-Primary classrooms (18 months to 3 years), four Primary classrooms ( 3 years to 6 years), one Lower Elementary classroom ( 6 years to 9 years) and one Upper Elementary classroom (9 years to 12years). The Infant classroom's team consists of two Montessori co-teachers and four assistants. It has a 1 to 3 ratio with each group of three children having a primary caregiver. The Pre-Primary and Primary classrooms work with a team of four members: a Montessori teacher, her assistant, the afternoon teacher and her assistant. This gives your child a strong and consistent group of people to interact with throughout the school day and the afterschool period. The Elementary classroom has a Montessori teacher and two assistants. The Upper Elementary classroom has a Montessori teacher and an assistant. RMS involves the parents in their child's education in many ways. They are invited to listen to the kids read, observe in a classroom, participate in Parent's week, attend parent education evenings such as Montessori insights and much more. RMS has an active PTA that organizes many programs and activities throughout the year to support the school. The RMS PTA views its role as a community builder. Powered by the volunteer participation of parents, it seeks to provide events and activities that connect students, teachers and families. Here are just a few examples of the things the RMS PTA does throughout the year: Pizza Fridays, PTA-sponsored programs-like the ever-popular Family Yoga Night and Parent night out, school-wide community service projects, Social events-like Skate Nights and Family Dinners Out at local restaurants, Spring Staff Appreciation Week, and The "Best Ever" School Carnival.