December 11, 2023

The article Time Well Spent to Find the Right School was originally published in the 2022 annual edition of The Guide, Serving the Communities of Coweta and Fayette Counties. The painting of the girl reading was painted by our school founder, Brenda Erickson. Enjoy!

Time Well Spent to Find the Right School
by Karen Minvielle

When a parent calls our Montessori school for information, my role as admissions counselor is to see if there’s a match between the family’s priorities for their children’s education and our offerings. To determine if there’s a match, this process takes time.

Most parents who contact us have searched online for private schools with great reviews and see our name listed. Approximately 90% of the callers are not familiar with Montessori so the first conversation typically takes 30-45 minutes as the parent shares their goals and I explain the basics of Montessori: mixed-age classes, materials-based learning, small group lessons, and individualized curriculums based on each child’s strengths, challenges, and passions. Our goal is to build each child’s independence and love of learning. Since we have a non-traditional approach to education, parents are encouraged to come to tour the school; the tour typically takes two hours.

Why does the tour take so long? Even though we are a small school, we want parents to observe in each classroom to see the students and staff in action, understand the Montessori philosophy from age 3 through the 12th grade, witness our integrated fine arts and wilderness programs, and ask all their questions. In other words, we want parents to be fully informed about our offerings so they can then make the best decisions for their family.

During tours, parents are most often struck by how independent the children – even the 3-year-olds – are, choosing work without being directed by an adult. Each student knows what work they are expected to do and how to do it, then they’re given independence to manage their time and get their work done. This works since students master each piece of work and are held accountable for it. To generate more excitement about learning, students are encouraged to incorporate their interests into the curriculum and initiate projects and internships to explore their interests.

Parents of young children (ages 5 months – 4 years) are also grateful to learn about our simple way to ease children into reading at home. Most parents start with the ABCs, yet Souns starts before the traditional ABCs. Counterpane’s Souns program for early childhood literacy is a simple 3-step, playful process to build the foundation for our written language. Souns, which is celebrating its 20th birthday, is the basis of many Rotary International grants for early literacy both locally and globally through support from the Rotary Club of Peachtree City, Rotary District 6900, and The Rotary Foundation.

Once parents are intrigued by the tour, the final step of the admissions process allows the student to experience this unique environment for themself.

So, enrollment takes time – the phone conversations, tours, and student visits – but it’s worth it for families to be clear about how Counterpane can fit their educational goals. The families who make the time for this process end up making the best decisions for their families, then watch their children thrive in school.

To learn more about Counterpane School and the Souns literacy program, contact us at 770-461-2304, info@counterpane.org, and souns@counterpane.org.