The Early Childhood Division aligns with the Maria Montessori Program standards and was an early foundation of the French Institute, founded in 1912 as the initial name of Notre Dame de Sion in Kansas City. The program offers families with young children the choice between a three or five-day Montessori Preschool program for children aged two to five. 

The Montessori classroom provides an opportunity for each student to reach his or her maximum potential through experiential learning. Our students learn through hands-on concrete experiences and investigation. Most Montessori work is designed to be completed at the student’s pace. Students progress as they master new skills. Montessori encourages freedom with responsibility, self-discipline, self-direction and an internal sense of purpose, motivation and independence. Teachers communicate progress and milestones and provide progress reports in October, February, and May.

 

Montessori Petites: This five-day program for two-year-olds, the Montessori world’s "toddler program,"  supports families as they begin or continue speaking more clearly, potty-training, and interacting well with other children. Youngsters in this program become acquainted with Montessori's five stations. The children experience an introduction to the library, reading, art, music, and movement. Students transition to the next level at three if they are potty-trained and meet the criteria for following directions and interacting age-appropriately with others. The Petite classroom has up to 12 children, one instructor, an assistant, and the shared "specials" teacher.

 

Montessori - Three to Five: The grouping for students from three to five years of age, often called "the Children's House" in the Montessori world, is a robust program on our campus. Sion offers a three or five-day program to support the diverse needs of parents.  For two to three years, students engage independently through a structured series of stations in Culture, Language, Math, Practical Life, and Sensorial, which aim to nurture their innate desire to learn, following the Montessori tradition.Teachers create "mini-communities" fostering self-discovery and essential life skills via their standards and rotations in French, Library, Art, Music, Movement, and Swimming. There are three classrooms with up to 12 students and one teacher each, and one "double-classroom" in the Montessori tradition, with  up to  24 students and two teachers.

 

Request More Information:

We encourage you to get to know Sion better. Please contact our Director of Admissions Tricia Johnson at tjohnson@ndsion.edu or 816‑683-7063 to request more information or to schedule a parent visit to campus.