Privacy Statement

The Portland Montessori School (the “School”) respects the privacy of parents, guardians, students and other visitors to its web site. This Privacy Policy (this “Policy) describes the information collected through the School’s web site at www.portlandmontessori.org (the “Site”) and how the information is used. If you have any questions about this Policy, please contact the School using the contact information provided at the end of this Policy.

The School reserves the right to modify, add, or remove portions of this Policy at any time and will notify you of such changes by posting the modified Policy on the Site and indicating the date the Policy was last updated. Your use of this Site indicates your consent to the collection and use of data including Personal Information as described herein.

Information The School Collects

“Personal Information” is information that can be used to identify you individually. The School collects Personal Information in connection with its services, but only when you provide such information voluntarily. Individuals may voluntarily supply certain Personal Information, including but not limited to name, address, phone number, and email address, in connection with registering for an account on the Site, updating contact information through the Site, enrolling a student in the School through the Site, or other activities related to the School’s services. If you have signed a media or photo release form, your photographic image may be included on the Site.

The School may provide you the opportunity to pay enrollment fees or to donate to the School through the Site. The School contracts with third-party service providers for payment services (the “Payment Providers”). The School does not collect or store your credit card information in connection with these transactions. By using the online payment or donation option, you provide your information directly to the Payment Providers, and are subject to their privacy policies and terms and conditions. If you have questions regarding your transaction, please review the Payment Providers’ policies and terms, or contact the Payment Providers directly. The School is not responsible for the actions of the Payment Providers, including their use or disclosure of Personal Information.

How The School Uses Information

The School uses Personal Information provided by you to register you for an account through the Site, to update your contact information, to enroll your student in the School, or to provide you with other services you request. The School may use your Personal Information to contact you in connection with the School’s services.

Your contact information, as provided by you, may be included in a directory that will be distributed to other families, School staff, and others as appropriate. The School may disclose your Personal Information to third parties with whom the School has contracted to provide services through the Site, or when such disclosure is otherwise necessary to provide you services you request.

The School may also disclose Personal Information when we believe such disclosure is appropriate to comply with law; enforce or apply this Policy and other agreements; or protect the rights, property, or safety of the School, our students, or others.

Data Security

The Personal Information you provide and we collect is stored within databases that we control directly or through our service providers. As we deem appropriate, we use security measures consistent with industry standards to protect your information. In addition to technological security measures, access to the databases is strictly limited to necessary School personnel.

Information About Minors

The Site is not designed nor intended to collect personal information from children. The School cares about the safety and privacy of children online and complies with the Children’s Online Privacy Protection Act of 1998 (COPPA). Children under the age of 13 should not provide any personal information on the Site. If a parent or guardian has voluntarily provided information about a student in connection with the student’s enrollment in the School, information about that student may be accessible on the Site through that parent’s or guardian’s registered account.

Cookies

Like most Internet sites, this Site uses “cookies.” A cookie is a small piece of information stored on your computer’s hard drive by your browser. When you access the Site, the cookie indicates to the School whether you have visited the Site before or are a new viewer. The cookie does not acquire any Personal Information about you or provide the School with any means to contact you. Further, the cookie does not extract any information from your computer. Cookies are used to determine what Site features are of the greatest interest to you so that we may improve and maintain the Site and its features.

Aggregate Information

The School or its service providers may collect general, non-personal, statistical information about the use of the Site, such as how many visitors visit a specific page on the Site, how long they stay on that page, and which hyperlinks, if any, they click on. This information represents a generic overview of our users, including their collective viewing habits, and allows us to modify the Site based on user traffic and behavior for a better visitor experience.

Contacting The School

For all requests, questions or concerns about your Personal Information or this Policy please contact us at:

The Portland Montessori School
205 NE 50th Ave
Portland, Oregon 97213
info@portlandmontessori.org

Last updated February 21, 2013

We always knew that our daughter’s curiosity and tenacity led her to love exploration

“We always knew that our daughter’s curiosity and tenacity led her to love exploration and learning, but since she’s been with The Portland Montessori School we’ve seen her develop personally in ways we hadn’t imagined. She is all the better for the love, respect, friendship and encouragement she receives there.”

The Portland Montessori School has given my children such an appreciation for learning

“The Portland Montessori School has given my children such an appreciation for learning and an extensive fund of knowledge. It has been a nurturing, appropriately challenging environment for them to reach their potential.”

When our son started kindergarten at The Portland Montessori School

“When our son started kindergarten at The Portland Montessori School, his behavior problems stopped almost immediately. That’s because he had interesting, engaging work to do. He’s so proud to show us the work he’s done when we pick him up after school.”

My second grade daughter, in her fifth year with The Portland Montessori School

“My second grade daughter, in her fifth year with The Portland Montessori School, constantly surprises me with the lessons she brings home. Last week, after the whole class spent 3 days in Opal Creek, she showed me the impact of a clearcut on a variety of plant and animal species.”

The school community at The Portland Montessori School creates a truly inspiring environment

“The school community at The Portland Montessori School creates a truly inspiring environment that is nurturing and encourages independence and a desire to learn. We see the results of this in our daughter every day.”

I could write an essay on how my daughter joined PMS

“I could write an essay on how my daughter joined PMS in the last year and graduated from her primary class reading chapter books and doing long addition and subtraction with multiple numbers. She’s well beyond her kindergarten peers, and my younger son’s pride in his work and love of learning has grown beyond expectation.”

At The Portland Montessori School, our kids learn to use buttons

“At The Portland Montessori School, our kids learn to use buttons, tie their shoes, juice an orange, crack nuts and cut bananas, clean up after themselves, identify odd and even numbers, sew, set their place at the table, pour their own milk, understand the value of numbers into the thousands, and identify continents and countries on a map—and have fun doing it all!”

I am so happy that my son is spending his kindergarten year in a Montessori environment

“I am so happy that my son is spending his kindergarten year in a Montessori environment where his knowledge, self-control, kindness, sense of purpose, and confidence have all grown by leaps and bounds.”

Our son’s vocabulary, spelling, reading and social skills

“Our son’s vocabulary, spelling, reading and social skills have grown by leaps and bounds under the Montessori method.”

Our son sincerely loves his guide

“Our son sincerely loves his guide, who shows him authentic kindness, warmth, and non-judgmental acceptance. Under her guidance, he has become a self-directed, competent, and curious learner who cares about the world and others around him.”

We’ve been a part of this amazing community for seven years

“We’ve been a part of this amazing community for seven years. Not only are our children getting a fabulous education, but they receive personal care and attention every single day.”

The outdoor play area offered at The Portland Montessori School

“The outdoor play area offered at The Portland Montessori School is by far the best we saw in the city, and is a daily source of inspiration for imaginative play for our son. It is a beautiful, secluded-feeling wonderland and the children use it daily, rain or shine!”

Having entered our third full year at what is now The Portland Montessori School

“Having entered our third full year at what is now The Portland Montessori School, we have been moved by not only Mr. Curt, whom Beck looks up to a great deal and thinks is the smartest person in the world, but also by the entire staff’s commitment to each child’s development.”

The Portland Montessori School is a school with a heart

“The Portland Montessori School is a school with a heart. Each year, parents raise money to sustain scholarships that make the dream of a Montessori education a reality for families who could not otherwise afford it. That shows the true spirit of community at our school.”

If it’s true what Maria Montessori said

“If it’s true what Maria Montessori said, that the test of the correctness of an educational approach is the happiness of the child, then this school is succeeding beyond our wildest dreams. Both our boys are so happy to go to school and so proud of their work.”

I have taught in public schools for the past ten years

“I have taught in public schools for the past ten years, including six years in kindergarten, and I can attest that Montessori is different, special, and provides an optimum setting for children’s growth and development.”

What takes me aback every day is the exceptional commitment

“What takes me aback every day is the exceptional commitment of every single staff member to the nurturing environment that this school provides. The care, understanding, and compassion that they show is and unwavering and is unique to each and every child.”

As parents, our ultimate goal is for our child to make independent

“As parents, our ultimate goal is for our child to make independent, healthy and confident choices so he can be a happy and productive person wherever he is in life. We are thankful he is with Miss Jennifer’s elementary class and The Portland Montessori School community, where he is developing those traits.”

Yesterday my second grader added 61 plus 61 in her head

“Yesterday my second grader added 61 plus 61 in her head and she’s zipping through the Harry Potter series. So while the school doesn’t measure her progress with test scores, I can see how much she has learned, but more importantly, I can see and feel her excitement about learning.”

My wife and I can’t thank the school enough

“My wife and I can’t thank the school enough for helping not only our son, but also us as we try to provide a consistent learning environment in our home.”

As the mom of identical (yet nothing alike) twins

“As the mom of identical (yet nothing alike) twins, we wanted a school community that would nurture their individual curiosities and interests and provide them the same lifelong love of learning that I have experienced as a Montessori student many years ago. We found that in The Portland Montessori School.”

School History

The Portland Montessori School, formerly Providence Montessori School, was founded in September 1962 under the direction of Sister Francella LaFramboise, who studied extensively at Montessori institutes in both the United States and Europe. In 2012, the school celebrated its 50th birthday, and we have the proud distinction of being the first Montessori school in the Northwest.

THE TRANSITION TO THE PORTLAND MONTESSORI SCHOOL

On January 1, 2013, Providence Montessori School officially became The Portland Montessori School, an independent, non-profit school. This successful transition resulted from the dedicated efforts of the school community, and the hard work of many parents, teachers and staff. Providence Health Systems, the organization that previously operated the school, also provided significant support throughout the transition. Now operating independently, the school is guided by a board of directors with active involvement and input from an engaged parent advisory committee (PAC). Our school retains its former character and community, including its rich history of providing a Montessori education to Portland-area children.

AN APPROACH TO EDUCATION DEVELOPED BY DR. MARIA MONTESSORI

At The Portland Montessori School, we educate children according to the Montessori method of education developed by Dr. Maria Montessori, the first female physician in Italy, and a pioneer in the study of child development. This method is based on her work with developmentally challenged and underprivileged children in Italy, which she began after graduating from medical school in 1896. The approach quickly earned worldwide acclaim and became a standard approach to educating children.

THE MONTESSORI APPROACH

In a Montessori education, children learn concepts while working in a carefully prepared environment designed to stimulate each child’s interest and understanding. Children work independently and in small groups with mixed-ages ranging approximately three years. Because a Montessori education instills the value of caring for our earth, the classroom often extends to the outdoors. The Montessori approach helps each child develop according to his or her inner clock. The guide, or teacher, acts as a catalyst in each child’s unique journey of development and aids them in their natural process of growth and learning.

The time-tested principles, methods and materials used in a Montessori education are scientifically supported and researched. After more than a century, this method continues to work because of its foundation in both observable and inherent human developmental principles that Dr. Montessori explored during her many decades of scientific observation and practice.