Contact Information

If you have any questions regarding the program or if you would like to call and schedule a tour:

Julie Powers, the Program Director and Principal of Lockwood Elementary at 663-8194.

Karie Hein - Preschool Teacher

Stacey Brown - Preschool assistant

Ellen Hecksel - K-1 Teacher

Gayle Betz - K-1 Assistant 

 

 

Eaton Rapids Montessori Programs are housed at Lockwood Elementary and are open to all students. The preschool program, along with the kindergarten and first grade runs five days a week, following the district calendar. Preschool offers two different sessions with one in the morning and one in the afternoon. Preschoolers may begin at age 33 months and children range through the age of young fives.  There is a cost for preschool which is $250 a month unless your child is of school age, turning five before Dec. 1 of the current school year, then the program is free. Our preschool program has two adults with 20 children, one is a certified teaher with Montessori training, and the other is a childcare assistant. Both rooms are multi-age following in line with the Montessori method. Our next room is for Kindergarteners and First graders.The K-1 room has a certified teacher with Montessori training and an assistant as well. These students are charged no cost as they are school age. We do allow our graduating preschoolers to have the first available slots into the Kindergarten room and then we open up the Kindergarten to those students from a different preschool program.

The decision to put your child in a Montessori classroom is about you learning how your child learns best. Each preschool in Eaton Rapids has a different style and your job as a parent is about finding out which preschool is right for you and your child. Montessori teaches children through life skills and practical knowledge and hands on manipulatives. Large portions of their day involve them making choices regarding what they will learn and who they will work with. Children learning responsibility is a large theme in Montessori and it is taught through everyday life skills. We also use the Zoophonics curriculum, Lucy Calkins writing program, and we do test our children using Dibels and DRA.

We think of parents as our partners and welcome a relationship with each and every parent!