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Go to child profileEstablished in 1966, OMS Montessori is a non-profit, independent organization accredited by the Canadian Council of Montessori Administrators (one of only three schools in Ottawa). We serve around 300 students from 18 months to grade 12, with Francophone and English programs. We were the first Montessori school in Ottawa and we continue to be an educational leader by creating and implementing education beyond the ordinary.
What learning looks like now: OMS Montessori is fully operational online during this unprecedented time. We are very happy to see our students continue to flourish through our virtual online classes. Their Montessori autonomy allowed them to adapt without any difficulty to this alternative educational solution. Our teachers do a remarkable job of creating a Montessori environment online. We are available to answer your questions and tell you more about our programs. Contact us through our websites or by email.
Our award-winning natural playground.
Our award-winning natural playground.
OMS Montessori Gymnasium
OMS Montessori Art Room
The main entrance of OMS Montessori, located on 335 Lindsay Street in Ottawa, Ontario.
An arial shot of the OMS Montessori campus.
Casa student picking apples in the garden
Computer Room
OMS Montessori Library
Upper Elementary Students playing Ukulele in the common area
Established in 1966, OMS is one of the older dedicated Montessori schools in the country. It’s also one of the larger Montessori environments, something that is in part a function of the school’s long success. Size is certainly not a bad thing, and the principal benefits are diversity within the student population and the breath of program offerings. That said, with a student population divided between two schools, OMS is able to have the best of both worlds, with each location feeling very close-knit in all the ways that we imagine Montessori programs to be. OMS grew from offering instruction in the primary years into the middle and high school years. In 2015, the high school grades became The Element, a school of its own. So, while the locations may be separate, the continuity across all grade levels is understandably attractive to the families that enroll at OMS.
Program | offered |
---|---|
Montessori toddler | |
Casa | |
Elementary | |
Middle School | |
High School |
Focus |
---|
Academic |
DIBELS Testing: This school does not use DIBELS testing to assess reading progress.
Subject | offered |
---|---|
Evolution as consensus theory | |
Evolution as one of many equally viable theories | |
Evolution is not taught |
Subject | offered |
---|---|
Biology | |
Chemistry | |
Ecology | |
Geology | |
Meteorology | |
Physics | |
Physiology | |
Zoology |
Subject | offered |
---|---|
Acting | |
Dance | |
Drama/Theatre | |
Graphic Design | |
Music | |
Visual Arts |
Expressive | |
Disciplined |
Subject | offered |
---|---|
Computer science | |
Robotics | |
Web design |
Toddler | Primary | Lower Elementary | Upper Elementary | |
---|---|---|---|---|
Age groupings How children are grouped by age for each class.' |
18 months to 36 months | 36 months to 6 years | 6 years to 9 years | 9 years to 12 years |
Uninterrupted work periods The longest uninterrupted work period for each class.' |
2 hours | 3 hours | 3 hours | 3 hours |
Tests and assignments How often students are given tests or assignments in each class.' |
Never (Orthodox) | Never (Orthodox) | Occasionally (Moderate Orthodox) | Occasionally (Moderate Orthodox) |
Graded work How often students have their work graded in each class.' |
Never (Orthodox) | Never (Orthodox) | Occasionally (Moderate Orthodox) | Occasionally (Moderate Orthodox) |
Arts and crafts The percentage of a typical student's day that is spent on arts and crafts in each class.' |
25% | 20% | 15% | 10% |
Whole-class lectures should only be given occasionally (e.g., at the beginning of a term or unit). Students usually learn best through small group lessons, interaction, and independent work.
External special education support is only rarely necessary. For instance, a psychologist might be brought in to help out a student with a severe developmental disorder.
We have a fairly wide range of specialist teachers and classes (for instance, in languages, music, and art). Core teachers are well-equipped to teach most subjects.
Modern-day technology is very rarely used in class, since it can be a distraction and interfere with development. Students at the upper levels, though, might be permitted to use a computer or a tablet to do research for a specific project.
Overall approach : Which option best describes your overall curricular approach?
Schools that adhere to the original Montessori program and principles. On occasion, though, they supplement it with modern curricular approaches or materials.
Flexible pacing style | offered |
---|---|
Subject-streaming (tracking) | |
Multi-age classrooms as standard | |
Ability-grouping (in-class) as common | |
Frequent use of cyber-learning (at-their-own-pace) | |
Regular guided independent study opportunities | |
Differentiated assessment |
Students remain in a regular classroom for most of the day, but are pulled out for extra support from a qualified special education teacher.
Subject Type | offered |
---|---|
Learning strategy and study counselling; habit formation | |
Extra support and minor accommodations for children experiencing subclinical difficulties |
Subject Type | offered |
---|---|
Accommodations | |
Modifications | |
Extra support |
Read our guide to special needs schools and special education
Program | offered |
---|---|
Full-time gifted program (parallel to rest of school) | |
Part-time gifted program (pull-out; parallel to rest of class) |
Curriculum delivery: Acceleration and enrichment (There is an equal emphasis on acceleration and enrichment.)
Program | offered |
---|---|
Custom subject enrichment (special arrangement) | |
Custom curriculum compacting (special arrangement) | |
Guided independent study (custom gifted arrangement) | |
Cyber-learning opportunities (custom gifted arrangement) | |
Formalized peer coaching opportunities (specifically for gifted learners to coach others) | |
Custom subject acceleration (special arrangement) | |
Career exploration (custom gifted arrangement) | |
Project-based learning (custom gifted arrangement) | |
Mentorships (custom gifted arrangement) |
English - 50% | French - 50% |
In grade Gr. 6, OMS Montessori students perform an average of No homework of homework per night.
NS | PS | JK | SK | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
OMS Montessori | 0 mins | 0 mins | 0 mins | 0 mins | 0 mins | 0 mins | 0 mins | 0 mins | 0 mins | 0 mins |
Site Average | 0 mins | 2 mins | 6 mins | 7 mins | 15 mins | 17 mins | 23 mins | 30 mins | 35 mins | 40 mins |
Lettered or numbered grades | Nursery/Toddler to Gr. 12 |
Parent-teacher meetings | Nursery/Toddler to Gr. 12 |
Competitive sports: 6
Recreational sports: 11
OMS Montessori offers 9 clubs and extracurricular programs.
NS | PS | JK | SK | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | |
Day | $21,384 | $16,152 | $14,664 | $18,840 / day | $17,208 | |||||||||||
Day (Half day) | $12,864 |
Discounts
Discount Type | Enrolment Type | Amount |
---|---|---|
3rd child (sibling) | all students | 10% |
Grade range that need-based aid is offered: | NS to 6 |
Percentage of grade-eligible students receiving financial aid | 10% |
Average aid package size | $2,500 |
Percentage of total enrolment on financial aid | 10% |
Total aid available | $25,000 |
This school works with Apple Financial Inc. for processing financial applications
1. Families will go to the Apples Financial Services website at www.applefinancialservices.ca.
2. Families will create a parent account registration.
3. After the email address provided is verified, a response will be sent with the subject line “Account Set-up”
Families will then go into the online application.
4. At the end of the process, requests will appear for the uploading of tax information, i.e. T4s, current year’s pay statements, etc.
5. Once the information is uploaded the payment section will appear and the $100 application fee will be required. Please note, it is an additional $30 for a secondary application for the same student by the other parent. 6. Payments can be made by credit card (Visa & MasterCard).
Grades | Gender | Living Arrangement | Enrolment | |
---|---|---|---|---|
Group 1 | Nursery/Toddler to Gr. 6 | Coed | Day | 300 |
Total enrolment | 300 |
Average class size | 16 to 25 |
% of international students (total enrolment) | 25% |
Number of different nationalities within student population | N/A |
NS | PS | JK | SK | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Day Enrollment | 15 | 16 | 16 | 31 | 24 | 25 | 24 | 19 | 23 | 21 |
Assessment | Required | Grades |
---|---|---|
Interview | 4 - 6 | |
SSAT | ||
SSAT (out of province) | ||
Entrance Exam(s) | ||
Entrance Essay |
Day students: Rolling
Offer mid-year entry:
Yes
Application fee: $300
Registration fee: N/A
Deposit:
N/A
The first step in the Admissions process is to attend a school tour to learn about Montessori education in general and OMS Montessori in particular. Tours are hosted with only one family only, and we recommend for your first visit, to try to arrange child care for your son or daughter. This will provide you with an opportunity to answer any questions you may have, and determine if OMS Montessori is the best fit for your family before your child builds a rapport with our community. Information packages and application forms are distributed during your tour. If you are able to attend a tour in the morning, you will have the opportunity to tour the school and observe a number of active classes. If you attend an evening tour, we ask that you make arrangements to visit OMS and observe the students in their classes before completing an application.
This is the percentage of applicants typically accepted into the school. So if 50 students are admitted out of 100 applicants, the school has an overall acceptance rate of 50%.
Student Entry Points
This shows approximately how many openings there are likely to be in each grade in a typical year, as well as the estimated acceptance rate for each grade level.
Student Type | NS | PS | JK | SK | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Day Acceptance (Acceptance rate) | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Alumnus | Grad Year | Accomplishment |
---|---|---|
Emily Brecher | 1995 | Emily Brecher works as a Family Physician with a special focus on women, young families, and sexual health. |
Jonathan Estabrooks | 1995 | Jonathan is a successful opera singer. He has performed for Presidents and Prime Ministers and has worked with great conductors such as Steven Reineke and Pinchas Zuckerman. |
Naomi Kirshenblatt | 2010 | Naomi is currently studying Actuarial Sciences in the Asper School of Business, a discipline that applies mathematical and statistical methods to assess risk. |
Dominic Bradford | 1983 | Dominic is Head of School at Yukon Montessori School (YMS), after working at the attached preschool for 6 years prior to starting the Montessori school. |
Thomas Shepherd | 1983 | Thomas left his career as a federal public servant to establish a firm in Whitehorse that assists Self-Governing First Nations to design, implement and evaluate their own programs. |
Lauren Peirce | 1993 | Lauren is a full-time Analyst with the Department of Aboriginal Affairs and Northern Development Canada (Aboriginal Affairs). |
Morgana McKenzie | 2012 | Morgana is a Filmmaker & Visual Artist. Here latest film, GIFTS, has won 8 awards and screened at 21 festivals. |
Christopher Macies | 1997 | Christopher is a Manager in the Advisory practice of Deloitte Transactions & Business Analytics LLP in New York City, who said he is "eternally grateful" for OMS. |
Cathy Nguyen | 2008 | Cathy is a first year student at the University of Ottawa for the Biomedical Sciences Program. She is currently debating between a career in pharmacy and pediatrics. |
Tamlynn Bryson | 2005 | Tamlynn won "Emerging Artist Award" for her original one woman play, “Working Title: Undecided” at the 2015 Ottawa Fringe Festival. |
Juliana Neufeld | 1987 | Juliana is the illustrator of the popular children's book series, Treasure Hunters by James Patterson and My Brother the Robot by Bonny Becker. |
On behalf of the OMS Montessori community, thank you for visiting our profile. As School Director, I have the privilege of working with a proficient team of parents, alumni, faculty and staff who are dedicated to offering their best to each of our students. We work tirelessly to realize our mission by delivering an educational experience designed to inspire and challenge students to discover the best of who they are, while year after year reaching to achieve their full potential.
As a parent, you recognize that choosing a school for your child is one of the most significant decisions you will make. We need specific criteria by which to choose the ideal educational approach for our children. It is clear that the school years help to form the core foundation of our approach to learning and problem-solving, as well as who we are as contributing, global citizens. We ,at OMS, are here to support you.
At OMS, we provide our students with an educational foundation from which they can achieve personal and academic goals, while building independence, self-confidence and self-esteem. The unique Montessori methodology, with its child-centered approach, encourages the development of personal responsibility and thinking skills, as well as fostering a love of learning. Each child is guided in the exploration of his or her own learning style and the development of work habits most suited to individual interests and needs.
Please browse our website and discover how we work together with OMS parents to empower students to become self-regulated, engaged and lifelong learners. As trained experts in education, we understand that observation is an essential component in the decision making process. As such, we would like to invite you to visit us for a tour of our spacious and peaceful learning environment. This is the most personal way to see what OMS Montessori has to offer your child and family.
OMS Montessori is a not-for-profit school. For over 50 years, we have offered exceptional education to families in the city of Ottawa. OMS welcomes you to call and chat with our friendly staff (613-521-5185) or email ([email protected]) regarding your child’s education. Share with us how we can partner with you and your family to further explore Montessori education and philosophy.
It is with great anticipation that we embark on the next 50 years at OMS Montessori. Please join us on this journey of promise and excitement.
April 29, 2020
What virtual learning at OMS Montessori looks like during COVID-19
OMS Montessori is fully operational online during this unprecedented time. Here's a look at what our students are up to.
Read full article
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