Meadow Montessori School: Third-Year Seniors

The Senior Third-year is different than any other program for ninth grade students. Instead of just offering a "transition year," we offer the "icing on the cake." Our students can afford a year of special learning and opportunities for two reasons:

MMS students are already extremely well prepared for high school course work.
As independent learners, Montessori students have no difficulty transitioning and meeting the demands of high school and can forgo the traditional transition year.

By combining challenging academics along with opportunities for leadership, hands-on learning, travel, and career internships, this is a year unlike any other program offers. And your son/daughter has earned it. And a year of education is too much to waste.

Curriculum
The third-year senior program focuses on African History, geography, and literature, in the same way the second-year program studies Asia. However, the literature offerings are expanded to include an introduction to world literature, Shakespeare, and poetry. The students complete a high school level biology course. The students continue to work at their own level in mathematics; however we expect students to complete either a year of algebra, algebra II, or geometry--depending on their level. Some students are advanced in math and others struggle. Whatever a student's level, an individualized math program far surpasses what other schools can offer.

Addtional Opportunities
Third-year students are given the chance to hold additional leadership roles for younger MMS students. Also, third-year senior students and their families can choose to return to Crow Canyon for another week of archeology (the third-year students do the adult program which offers more advanced work), with another week tacked on for backpacking and hiking in the Grand Canyon.

Travel
Travel has always been an important component of what we do at MMS, so it should be no surprise that we include and expand travel for our Third-year students. In the past, third-year students have gone on amazing trips, including two weeks in China, visiting both Beijing and Xian. Other destinations are possible as well, and again, this is a decision made by the group. We can talk about travel in Europe, North Africa, or Central America.

Internships
As the students' year comes to an end, we arrange a two-week internship in the "real" world. The experience of working along side professionals in an occupation of interest is irreplaceable. In the past students have worked in medicine, public relations, publishing, historical archives, and law enforcement. Because the MMS community is so supportive, there seems to be few limitations on the opportunities we can offer for internships.