welcome
About The Sundrop School
The Sundrop School is a tuition-based learning center for young children, which blends Montessori and Forest School philosophies to nurture young children toward self-realization, independence, and connection with the natural world.
Located at Good Shepherd Methodist Church in Roscommon, The Sundrop School runs Monday through Friday throughout the school year, and is not affiliated in with any religion or religious group.
The Sundrop School is a registered 501c3 non-profit. There are no “owners,” and there is no profit being made from running the school. Our teachers and assistants are our only paid staff, and our tuition costs were created based on the minimum amount needed to pay our staff.
The Sundrop School was created in 2021, and is run by a group of volunteers from the community who saw the need for more preschool opportunities in our area.
Current yearly tuition costs for The Sundrop School are $7,068 per student ($38/day). There is a 5% discount if you pay in full at the start of the year, and we also offer income-based scholarships. Tuition costs go directly towards paying our Lead and Assistant teachers.
The Sundrop School is currently the only preschool program in the Roscommon are running 8am-3pm, Monday through Friday. It operates on an Extended Learning Year calendar.
The Sundrop School is open to all children ages 3-6 years old.
Mission Statement
The mission of The Sundrop School is to provide a nurturing, educationally-rich, early childhood environment that meets the developmental needs of the whole child, while initiating children into a lifelong, meaningful relationship with the natural world.
Program Philosophy
The Sundrop School develops resilient, thriving children by nurturing their innate passion for learning, independence, and the natural world. We believe that early childhood is a precious time of tremendous growth – a time that should be cherished and unrushed. We also believe that what children are exposed to during their early childhood years, and how they are taught to engage with their world, are of utmost importance to their future. This is why The Sundrop School is: Child-Centered, Nature-Based, and Montessori-Inspired.
who we are
Nature-Based Montessori for Young Children
The Sundrop School maintains that children are complete beings who are naturally driven towards learning, independence, and interest in the natural world. This means that each child’s individual interests and pace are respected, and deep appreciation for the early childhood years is a constant underpinning of all that we do. Children at Sundrop are encouraged to respond to their own natural curiosities. Skilled adults trained in early childhood education and the Montessori method, and/or environmental education serve as guides who help children go deeper into their individual interests, provide a safe container for learning, exploration and risk-taking, and nurture them through this critical period of development.
A Balance of Play and Structure
The Sundrop School believes that allowing children to play freely is what they need most in this fast-paced, tightly-scheduled world. We also believe that gentle guidance and a nurturing environment are crucial for their development. Because of this, The Sundrop School utilizes a harmonious blend of play and structure, where children have the opportunity to play freely each day, and also spend uninterrupted time exploring nature and the Montessori-inspired classroom of materials. These materials are specifically designed for children to learn the five key elements of the Montessori curriculum: practical life, sensorial, language, math, and social studies.
Daily Schedule
Each day will include each of the following:
- Work period and snack (indoors or outdoors, approximately 3 hours)
- Lunch time
- Rest time
- Outside free play and nature-based learning (at least 2 hours)