School Profile

Soldotna Montessori Charter School

Vision

Our vision for Soldotna Montessori is to deliver a three-year curriculum at both the primary and intermediate levels based on a unified understanding of Montessori philosophy. We will nurture and celebrate each students’ unique abilities in order to develop the whole child.

Additionally, students will attain high levels of academic proficiency. As life-long learners, students will develop environmental, global, and cultural awareness to influence a personal understanding of their role in a community.

Mission

Our mission is to create kind, confident, self-reliant learners who are globally aware and impactful in and beyond their community. We enrich students’ academic excellence, social and emotional learning based on the philosophy of Dr. Maria Montessori.

Contact

907.260.9221

Email SMCS

158 E Park Ave
Soldotna, AK 99669

kpbsd.org/schools/Soldotna-Montessori

SMCS Facebook

Demographics

  • Principal Tenure:
    • 9 Years | SMCS Principal
    • 10 Years | SMCS Teacher
    • 25 Years | KPBSD Educator
  • 12 Certified Teachers
    • 9 Masters Degree
    • 3 Bachelors Degree
    • 6 with Montessori Certification
  • 9 Classified Staff
    • 4 Associates or higher
    • 2 Paraeducator Trained + College
    • 3 Paraeducator trained
    • 7 with Montessori Certificate
  • 13.21 Years – Avg. Staff Service
  • 164 Student Enrollment
  • 23:1 P/T Ratio
  • 89.89% Attendance Rate

Intervention Support

  • Reading Tier 2 = 15%
  • Reading Tier 3 = 13%
  • Math Tier 2 = 4%
  • Math Tier 3 = 13%

Academics Assessment

MAP – Math (23-24)

  • Grade 3 = 78% Proficient
  • Grade 4 = 96% Proficient
  • Grade 5 = 83% Proficient
  • Grade 6 = 88% Proficient

MAP – ELA (23-24)

  • Grade 3 = 91% Proficient
  • Grade 4 = 96% Proficient
  • Grade 5 = 91% Proficient
  • Grade 6 = 84% Proficient

Elementary Specific – Reading

  • 70% mCLASS Kinder at benchmark or above on EOY
  • 58% mCLASS 1st grade at benchmark or above on EOY
  • 54% mCLASS 2nd grade at benchmark or above on EOY
  • 70% mCLASS 3rd grade at benchmark or above on EOY

Afterschool Programs

  • Band
  • Choir
  • Lego Robotics

School Projects/Initiatives

  • Soldotna Montessori Garden & Orchard
  • Annual Farmers’ Market sale to the community of student-grown vegetables
  • Soldotna Montessori Food Pantry
  • 3rd Quarter Community Outreach Work
    • Grade 3 – Heritage
    • Grade 4 – Preschool / Daycare Visits
    • Grade 5 – Food Bank Work
    • Grade 6 – Soldotna Assisted Living Visits
  • Spirit of Kindness – Supporting SMCS Families in Need
  • Student Stores for Community Fundraising
  • Soldotna Creek Stream Ecology Work
  • Soldotna Creek and City Park Clean-up

Honors, Awards and Recognitions

  • 2024 US News & World Report “Best Elementary Schools”
  • 2021 National Blue Ribbon School

School Climate and Mindset Key Data

What our 2024 exiting 6th grade students said about SMCS on Climate and Mindset Survey with 90%-100% agreement:

  • 100% Agreement
    • I feel safe at school
    • Adults at my school treat students with respect
    • At this school, students are encouraged to do their very best
    • The school is a welcoming place for students and families like mine
    • I care about my community
    • I have at least one teacher who makes me excited about the future
    • My teachers care about my health and well-being
    • I work hard to achieve my goals
    • I have goals for my future
    • I can learn how to solve tough problems
    • I can finish tasks, even if they are tough
    • I can find many ways around problems
    • I can make ethical and constructive choices
    • I am actively involved in clubs, athletics, and school activities
    • I come to class prepared
  • 95% Agreement
    • I care about my school.
      My teachers are fair
    • I believe I can excel in all my classes
    • I think it is important to participate in community service
    • I have a great future ahead of me
    • I believe that I can personally make a difference
    • I believe I will graduate from high school
    • I have a great future ahead of me
    • I know what I am good at
    • I know what is hard for me to do
    • I can work in a team with other students
    • I meet the goals my teachers set for me
    • I can do well on tests, even if they are tough
  • 90% Agreement
    • Recognize and compliment others’ accomplishments
    • Stand up for myself without putting other people down
    • The principal frequently asks students about their ideas
State Report Card to the Public

School Culture Highlights

Montessori Philosophy and Environment

Dr. Maria Montessori placed emphasis on following the child, being aware of the spirit of the individual. To inspire students to pursue knowledge should be the goal of the effective educator. In addition to satisfying the academic needs of the child, the emotional and physical aspects of development should also be addressed. Our Montessori educational program provides a holistic, integrated approach that attempts to meet the needs of the whole child while attending to the curriculum. Our educational programs promote independence and interdependence. Montessori educators nurture individuals to become physically, intellectually and spiritually aware of their human potential.  It is with this in mind that SMCS staff strive to achieve the following:

  • Implement an individualized, child-centered curriculum that includes movement, manipulation and discovery within a multi-age classroom.
  • Facilitate the delivery of that curriculum in a manner that instills a sense of wonder about the universe and the child’s place within that universe.
  • Engage families in the education of children; Parent support is key to a quality Montessori program. The parent and teacher unite in a partnership of school and home that fosters the complete development of the child and young adult.
  • Extend the classroom out into the community, creating an exchange among community members, family, and educational staff.

Montessori Primary Preparatory Program

As a public charter school, our primary program offers an introduction to the Montessori learning environment for students in their kindergarten year. We have developed a rich curriculum, which contains all of the essential learning materials commonly found in a traditional Montessori primary classroom, to support our youngest student learners. Our kindergarten students develop their scholarly learning habits under the direction of the teacher and through active participation in the environment.

Montessori Lower Elementary Program

All of the essential qualities of an authentic Montessori program are evident in our Lower Elementary learning environments; students in grades 1-3 form a community of learners who gain precision with specialized materials through large blocks of uninterrupted work time, under the direction of the teacher and the support of a classroom assistant. Students are expected to hone their scholarly skills through responsible participation in the academic environment, and are provided with experiences in collaborative learning where they develop leadership qualities.

Montessori Upper Elementary Program

Students in our upper elementary learning environments exercise their growing independence by means of increased responsibility, through peer collaboration, and by exhibiting follow-through with independent studies. Our upper elementary program is organized using the traditional Montessori model; students in 4th – 6th grade form the learning community, and they are provided blocks of uninterrupted time to access the curriculum. The upper elementary teachers share responsibility in presenting lessons, and the classroom assistants serve as tone keepers in the learning environments, and also support instruction at the direction and guidance of the teacher.

Family and Community Engagements/Highlights

SMCS Families are always welcomed as a part of our learning community. We are a small school family who appreciate being together. We develop many opportunities for family engagement and encourage every member to participate in our school efforts. It could be assisting with instructional or organizational needs, attending school-wide events, leading an activity, or supporting a class field trip. Even a short, simple visit is a great way to engage with the school. We love having our families join us. Below are just some ways our families may choose to participate.

APC Meetings

Parents may wish to run for and serve as an APC (Academic Policy Committee) member or attend APC meetings to stay up on the work of the school.
Charter Schools are required to be governed by an Academic Policy Committee. The SMCS APC is made up of 6 parent members, 2 teacher representatives, and the school principal. The primary responsibilities of the APC are to: oversee the curriculum, maintain the mission of the school, and hire/retain the school principal. The APC meets Monthly (minimum of 6 meetings) during the school year. Meetings are subject to the Open Meetings Act and are open to the public.

SMCS Parent Teacher Organization (PTO)

The Soldotna Montessori Charter School Parent Teacher Organization (PTO) is an organization whose purpose is to strengthen, enhance and encourage the educational and social environment of SMCS. Its goals are to complement the school curriculum with additional opportunities for parents, teachers and students to learn, socialize, communicate and grow.
The members of the PTO are all those families and staff members who are associated with Soldotna Montessori Charter School. All families and staff members are encouraged to participate in PTO activities throughout the year, even if unable to attend monthly meetings. The PTO Board represents the membership. This Board is composed of PTO members who are either elected or appointed to Board positions. The Board meets on a monthly basis throughout the school year and Board members, along with other appointed PTO members, manage the organizational and financial aspects of all the PTO functions.

School Events & Class Supports

SMCS holds the following school-wide events which invite parent participation and engagement. All families are encourage to attend these events:
Peace Night (September) – Celebrating the International Day Of Peace.
Winter Concert (December) – A fun evening enjoying a student performance.
School Picnic (Last day of school) – A celebration of a successful year and to connect as a school family.

Other ways to engage are to support the classrooms with field trips as chaperones or drivers, provide supplies for events, or spend time assisting students with work.

Goals for the year

  1. By May 2025, All students in grades 3-6 will meet or exceed their Spring projected Math proficiency RIT score as measured by the Winter or Spring MAP Math assessment.
  2. By May 2025,the APC will have completed oversight of the SMCS Charter Renewal effort resulting in a final draft ready for presentation to the school board for approval in the fall.