Popular Questions Parents Ask Us | Montessori School of Wellington Guelph

What is the ratio of teacher to child?

As a licensed program, we are required to maintain a 1:8 ratio of teachers to children. However, at our school we maintain a 1:6 ratio. A smaller ratio enables our teachers to spend more one-on-one time with each student.

What do the children eat?

The children receive a nutritious snack each morning and afternoon. A typical snack might be apples and cheese, carrots and hummus or cucumber and cream cheese. We offer a hot catered lunch, provided by the Lunch Lady. Children over 3.8 years can bring a packed lunch, but can still opt for a catered lunch. All food that we provide for the children is approved by the Ministry of Health, which inspects our school twice a year.

How often do they go outside?

When the weather is good, we take the children outside at least once, and usually twice, a day. We go on neighbourhood walks and trips to Exhibition Park, which is just a ten-minute walk from us. We also take the children on walking trips to City Hall splash pad/ice rink, Guelph Public Library and Guelph Civic Museum.

How do you handle discipline?

We believe in fostering children’s self-discipline and their desire to do what is best for them and/or their community. We use a number of effective tools for developing self-discipline, including Grace-and-Courtesy lessons and the Peace Table. Children at our school are taught how to interact appropriately with others, how to control their impulses and how to manage conflict between them and their peers. For more detailed information, please see our “Approach to Discipline” page.

What are the teachers’ qualifications?

All of our teaching staff is AMI (Association Montessori Internationale) or MACTE (Montessori Accreditation Council for Teacher Education) accredited. These qualifications mean that our teachers have received comprehensive training in educational theory, child developmental psychology, classroom observation, teaching practice and material preparation. Both AMI and MACTE accreditations are internationally recognized standards for authentic and quality Montessori training.

Glynis Hamilton

I am Glynis Hamilton, the owner of the Montessori School of Wellington. When I had my children I knew exactly what I wanted for them in terms of early childhood education. It was only when I visited a beautiful Montessori school in Toronto that I knew I had found what I was looking for. I became intrigued by Montessori and so, at the ripe old age of 44, I went back to school and then switched career from legal secretary to Montessori teacher. Since that time, Montessori has become a way of life for me. The past 20 years have been a joy rather than a job. I have moved from being front line in the classroom to the office doing more administrative work. But, my office door is almost always open to the classroom where I can hear the children’s laughter and welcome them in for a visit. I truly love what I do.