School Information Series-Sterling Montessori

*Post from Sterling Parent-Maureen  (FYI-Since it has a Morrisville address, I wanted to see how far away it was from my Durham house, and it was only 17 minutes from my address in S. Durham.)

Sterling Montessori Academy and Charter School
202 Treybrooke Drive

Morrisville, North Carolina 27560

Website:   http://www.sterlingmontessori.org

Sterling Montessori Academy and Charter School is a diverse educational community built on the Montessori philosophy that fosters curiosity, creativity, and critical thinking in its students. At Sterling, teachers follow students’ individual needs to achieve personal academic excellence and to become life-long learners who respect themselves, others and their environment.

Montessori education, based on children’s developmental needs for freedom within limits, mandates a carefully prepared environment. The prepared environment guarantees exposure to materials and experiences that develop intelligence as well as physical and psychological abilities. The materials are self-correcting, interesting to children, and developmentally appropriate.

Our school is comprised of two separate educational entities. The Academy serves children 3 and 4 years of age, and is a tuition based program. The Charter School serves children ages 5 – 14, which includes Kindergarten through 8th grade. Each institution has individualized admissions procedures.

Sterling Montessori Academy (Preschool Ages 3-4)

Sterling Montessori Academy is a tuition based preschool program educating three and four year olds. The program is Monday through Friday full time instruction only. We offer a variety of options for tuition payment.  These classes are mixed age including 3, 4 and 5 (Kindergarten).  The Academy has a separate fenced in playground for use of Academy students only.  Please note, Kindergarteners are part of the Charter School and do not pay tuition.  http://www.sterlingmontessori.org/admissions/tuition-and-fees/

Students must be completely toilet-trained and able to clean themselves in all areas associated with the bathroom to gain enrollment. Diapers and pull-ups are not permitted.

Children in the Academy Building (A Building) but be walked into the school and picked up at the classroom door each day by a parent or guardian.  Carpool begins in first grade.  Sterling does not offer any bus service.

Sterling Montessori Charter School (Kindergarten-8^th Grade)

The charter school is broken into three sections; The Lower Elementary (1^st-3^rd grade mixed age classrooms), the Upper Elementary (4^th-6^th grade mixed age classrooms) and the Middle School (7^th and 8^th grade mixed age classrooms).  Students stay in one classroom with the same teachers for three years.  Students participate in art, music, physical education and Spanish (starting in 3^rd Grade).  The school offers the following extracurricular activities: Sterling Stars (Middle School chorus), Upper Elementary Chorus (4^th-6^th), Beginning Band (4^th-6^th), Sterling Band (5^th-8^th), Violin lessons, Chess Club (1^st-8^th), Math Counts Team (6^th-8^th), Spanish Class (Ages 3-7), Intramural Soccer (2^nd and 3^rd) and Upper Elementary Theater Club.

Enrollment Requirements

Students at Sterling Montessori Academy and Charter School are accepted in a lottery process. All Academy children must be three years of age before beginning classes at Sterling Montessori Academy. All Kindergarten students must be five years old prior to August 31. (No exceptions)

Current Sterling parents requesting enrollment for siblings into the Academy (our preschool program) or to the Charter School (grades Kindergarten through 8th) must submit a lottery application. Parents with students enrolled in our preschool program requesting entry to Kindergarten must also submit a lottery application. Priority admission is given to siblings and children of faculty.

The lottery will be held in March 2015.  

2014-15 Open House

On Saturday, January 25th, Sterling Academy and Charter School will hold its annual Open House from 9:00 A.M. to 12:00 P.M. for new parents interested in enrolling their students for the 2014-15 school year. An orientation meeting is scheduled from 9:00 to 9:30 A.M. in D-Building. Visitation of the classrooms will follow afterwards until 12 noon. RSVP is not required.

Applications, Contracts and Forms

Applications for the Academy must be filled out completely, signed and the following documents must be presented along with the application and all fees paid, if applicable.

• Birth Certificate
• Proof of Residence (Must be a NC Resident at time of applying). Documents that can be accepted to verify proof of residence in the State of North Carolina are the following:
• Valid NC Driver’s License
• Current Lease Agreement
• Deed of Trust Purchase Agreement
• Current Property Tax Bill
• Utility Bill- no more than 30 days old. (Gas, Water or Electric)

Lottery Applications for 2014-2015 will be available January 30, 2014. You will be able to download on our website, or you can pick up a copy in our school’s Main Office.

Hours of Operation:  Monday- Friday

Before School Care- 7:00 A.M. – 8:30 A.M.

School Day- 8:30 A.M. – 3:12 P.M.
Doors in the A-Building (Preschool and Kindergarten only) open at 8:25 A.M. and again at 3:07 P.M.
All other buildings, doors open at 8:30 A.M.

After School Care-   A-Building- 3:27 P.M. – 6:00 P.M.
B-Building  3:32 P.M. – 6:00 P.M.

Office Hours- 8:00 A.M. – 4:30 P.M.

For more information or to schedule a tour, we ask that you call the main office at 919-462-8889.