With Increased Enrollment, Daycroft Montessori School of Ann Arbor Opens Another Preschool Classroom

Daycroft to Begin 2011-12 School Year with Four Preschool Classrooms, Each with Two Full-time Teachers; Elementary Enrollment Remains Strong

Ann Arbor, MI (August 29, 2011) – Increased enrollment has led Daycroft Montessori School of Ann Arbor to add another preschool classroom for the 2011-12 school year beginning September 6.

Daycroft will have four preschool classrooms, each with two full-time teachers, in session this year. All of Daycroft’s preschool classrooms are at the school’s preprimary campus on Oakbrook Drive, in the Briarwood Mall area. The preprimary campus also has a kindergarten classroom.

“Opening another preschool classroom,” said Michele Buchanan, Daycroft’s preprimary education director, “gives us a preschool student-to-teacher ratio of under 10 to one. Parents know this as an important part of the personalized learning experience their children get at Daycroft.”

Daycroft’s enrollment at the elementary level also remains strong. The school’s elementary campus on Zeeb Road, just north of I-94, has classrooms for kindergarten through grade 6. Daycroft anticipates that total enrollment, covering both campuses, will exceed 200 for the 2011-12 school year.

The Daycroft Difference

Diana Mukkala, Daycroft’s head of school, sees the healthy enrollment as testament to the school’s student-centered approach to learning.

“At Daycroft we share Maria Montessori’s belief that children learn best when they learn in their own way, at their own pace,” Mukkala said. “Our students make choices in the classroom. They are fully engaged. And this simply motivates them to explore and learn even more.”

Another Daycroft distinction: its teachers. “When we ask parents what they like best about Daycroft,” said Mukkala, “the most common answer we get is: ‘Two teachers in every classroom!’ Parents see not only how committed and effective our teachers are, but also how they can give individual attention to their child.”

The results of Daycroft’s educational approach, per Mukkala, are well recognized in the community. She noted, “When we talk to teachers at middle schools in the area, they often say they can tell which students came from Daycroft. Our graduates are organized and responsible. They love to learn!”

Daycroft continues to enroll students for kindergarten at both campuses and for grades 1 to 6 at the elementary campus. Parents can learn more by contacting Samantha Gilson, the school’s admissions director at (734) 662-3335 or samanthag@daycroft.org.

About Daycroft Montessori School

Daycroft Montessori School is one of Washtenaw County’s leading private schools. It began as a preschool program in 1968. Daycroft has since grown to also include a full-day kindergarten program, an elementary school program through 6th grade, before-school and after-school care, summer camp programs, and enrichment classes.

Daycroft blends the distinctive student-centered teaching methods of Maria Montessori with traditional and progressive teaching methods. Daycroft thus accomplishes its educational mission: to provide a personalized learning environment that appreciates individual differences, nurtures the whole child, and enables students to develop at their own pace and achieve to their full potential.

Daycroft has earned accreditation from the Independent Schools Association of the Central States (ISACS; www.isacs.org). It is a member of the National Association of Independent Schools (NAIS; www.nais.org), and is affiliated with the American Montessori Society (AMS; www.amshq.org).

Daycroft Preprimary School (preschool and kindergarten) is at 100 E. Oakbrook Dr., Ann Arbor, MI 48104. Phone: (734) 930-0333.

Daycroft Elementary School (grades K through 6) and Daycroft’s administrative offices are at 1095 N. Zeeb Rd., Ann Arbor, MI 48103. Phone: (734) 662-3335.

Media Contact:
Chris Kochmanski
DesignHub, Inc.
(734) 944-8705
chris@design-hub.com

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