Family Resources

Family & Student Information Database

The MSD Family Portal is where you can access your family's and your child's information and make any edits that are necessary. There are resource boards with easily accessible materials related to your child's experience at MSD. You can also access signed contracts, tuition payment records, etc.

Student Health Forms

Health Assessment Form- Prior to Orientation, the below form must be submitted for all new students along with the child's most recent records of immunization or exemption. The child's doctor’s own form will also suffice if it covers the same information. 

Permission to Administer Medication Form- All medicines must be taken to the MSD office, not given to teachers or students. Provide the office with the below form, listing dosages, instructions and any associated requirements. This information and the medicine will be given directly by the office to the teacher in charge, to be kept secure

Student Academic Forms

Learning Styles Form- We value your knowledge of your child, and welcome your comments about their learning style and characteristics.  Please share with us your observations of your child in a few phrases with the below form. 

Permission to Release Student Information- All requests for student records, recommendations, evaluations, and other forms should be given to the office rather than to the teacher. Many schools now send the requests via email directly to the teacher. Please inform the requesting school that the records/recommendations must be sent by email to moriah@msdurham.org. Records and recommendations will not be transmitted until the office receives the below record release permission signed by the parent(s)/guardian(s).

Family Education
 
MSD’s parent/guardian education program is designed to promote an understanding of the Montessori philosophy
and method in relation to the children’s day-to-day experiences. We recognize parents/guardians as important
educators of their children and strive to create a partnership through the exchange of information and
ideas. Meetings are held several times a year to address issues of interest to parents/guardians, such as an
overview of the classroom, one aspect of the curriculum, or child behavior. A Curriculum night is offered
each year to give parents/guardians a look at where their child is moving on to in the higher levels. We strongly
encourage parents/guardians to participate. We offer free childcare for children of all ages (including non-MSD
siblings).

Montessori Resources & Recommendations

The school maintains a small lending library for parents in the office. Books on Montessori philosophy, parenting, child development, and discipline may be borrowed at any time. The most popular titles in our lending library include:

Parenting Books-
How to Raise an Adult: Break Free of the Overparenting Trap and Prepare Your Kid for Sucess by Julie Lythcott-Haims
The Gift of Failure: How the Best Parents Learn to Let Go So Their Children Can Succeed by Jessica Lahey
NurtureShock: New Thinking About Children by Po Bronson and Ashley Merryman
No Bad Kids by Janet Lansbury
A Whole New Mind: Why Right-Brainers Will Rule the Future by Daniel Pink

Montessori Books-
We have Maria Montessori's works available and also suggest:
At Home with Montessori by Patricia Oriti
Math Works- Montessori Math and the Developing Brain by Michael Duffy
A Parents' Guide to the Montessori Classroom by Aline Wolf

The American Montessori Society provides a wealth of information about Montessori education to parents. Visit their website at www.amshq.org