Discover Montessori School

About

Discover Montessori School is located at 3460 Jingle Pot Rd, Nanaimo, BC V9R 6W9. It is a non-profit, BC-certified independent school and licensed child care facility that follows Dr. Maria Montessori’s educational model through Association Montessori Internationale (AMI) methodology. The school emphasizes hands-on, self-directed learning in mixed-age classroom communities, with a unique curriculum shaped around each child’s interests and learning style. The school also highlights personal and collective responsibility, community, and care for the Earth, and respectfully acknowledges the traditional and unceded territory of the Snuneymuxw First Nation.

At a Glance

School type: Independent School (Nanaimo-Ladysmith)

Education language: Discover Montessori School provides Montessori programs taught by AMI-trained and BC-certified teachers. The school offers specialist instruction in French as part of its Elementary and Middle School programs, but the sources do not clearly state the primary language of instruction for the core curriculum or describe an immersion/bilingual program. No English language learning (ELL) services are described in the provided sources.

Religious affiliation: None / Secular

Grades: K-10

Phone: 250 591-4450

Email: office@dm-school.ca

Principal: Cynthia Dyer

Education Languages

Discover Montessori School provides Montessori programs taught by AMI-trained and BC-certified teachers. The school offers specialist instruction in French as part of its Elementary and Middle School programs, but the sources do not clearly state the primary language of instruction for the core curriculum or describe an immersion/bilingual program. No English language learning (ELL) services are described in the provided sources.

Programs and Services

Montessori programs (Toddler, Casa, Elementary, Middle School) Discover Montessori School offers multi-year Montessori programs (5 days per week) for Toddler (ages 1.5–3), Casa (ages 3–6, with Kindergarten as the third year), Elementary (grades 1–6), and Middle School (grades 7–9). Students learn in mixed-age communities with hands-on, self-directed work guided by Association Montessori Internationale (AMI) trained teachers, and the Elementary and Middle School programs follow the BC Curriculum. French / Music / Dance / Art (specialist instruction) In the Elementary and Middle School programs, instruction is supplemented by specialist teachers who provide French, music, dance, art, and other assistance programs for students. Outdoor, farm-based and experiential learning The Middle School program describes a unique farm-based environment with experiential opportunities connecting learning with nature, and involvement from local industry professionals (examples listed include geology, astronomy, horticulture, coaching, and theatre). Technology support (Middle School) Middle School provides a 2:1 MacBook environment to support research, coding projects, presentations, and written expression. After school care After school care is available for enrolled students: Casa after school care is offered by the school, and Elementary after school care is provided by Camp Narnia. Admissions process (service) The school outlines an admissions process that includes an adult observation, a child’s tour, and then paperwork and fees if a space becomes available.

School Culture and Expectations

The school emphasizes “freedom & responsibility,” encouraging students to move through the curriculum at their own pace while contributing positively to their classroom community. It describes classrooms as kind and caring mixed-age communities where students mentor one another and everyone is a valued member. The school states it values diversity and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, gender, religion, sexual orientation, or national or ethnic origin. In Middle School, cell phones and smart watches are not permitted in the classroom, and participation in the annual Odyssey trip is a required commitment for grades 7–9.

Enrollment

The school states that entry typically occurs at age 1.5, age 3, grade 1, and grade 7 to align with Montessori developmental cycles (with transfers from equivalent Montessori programs considered space permitting). When programs are full, families are directed to join the waiting list by using the school’s “Apply Now” button; spaces may open during the year and are filled in waiting-list order. The school also describes an admissions process: adult observation, child tour, then paperwork and fees if a space becomes available.