Montessori School

This morning (9/11, Saturday) we went to Justin and Darian's new school - Montessori School of Beaverton (MSB). It is a new parents orentation, target at people who is new to the school. Steve and I were lucky because we had CJ (my friend Shelley's 16 year-old boy as a baby-sitter). So we went together.
It is really a beautiful school, which located at half way in a hill (which I don't know the name yet). Each of the classroom has its' own backyard growing things. Then further back of the school is the forest. There was a stream somewhere as well, lots of birds and giant banana slugs (according to Justin, he is really good at finding them). The school is built by private fund and for non-profit. I wonder how that works out for a private school? The school is extramely proud of themselves as a pure Montessori school. They probably should be, since I haven't found another one "purer". They insist that no daycare is provided at school site because they want the kids to have the sense that when they come to school, it is a place to learn. In a way, I understand. The Montessori classroom is so unique that it is hard to have the classroom confused with after school. Since they are non-profit school, it is hard to build more rooms at the site. They had a vision for how many students are enough. They really don't want to be any bigger than they are, 190 student total. So as of the result, it is really hard to get into this school. It is a pure lottery system. There are 30 spots a year and 90 applications. There is also a waiting list. I haven't figured out how that works with the lottery system. You wonder how we are so lucky to get in?
Steve has put so much effort into getting the children into this school. His hard work did pay off without even see these people face to face. It did take a lot work on both side to reach to where we are at. I told my friends before that I thought I was doing a college application for the boys. Steve did a lot of talk on the phone back and forth to convince them to take the boys. Of course, Woodland Montessori children's house in California also helped us along the way. Both Justin and Darian's teacher had put the words for the boys. With this, MSB still could not make up their mind if they wanted the boys, since they couldn't interview the boys. The final straw was on me. The school was wondering why I was not in the picture, even I was the one doing all the beginning writing on the boys' "college application". They needed to talk to me. So I made the phone call and talked to the school assistant Carol. Now we are here. I finally realize that we are lucky to get in as everyone is telling us. So it meant to be then. With Steve getting a job here and boys are accepted into a lottery only school, we should really appreciate our choices and make the best out of it.