Magic Lantern
-Montessori School-

Our Montessori program provides a nurturing and engaging learning space for children ages 2.5–6 years old. We currently have three preschool classrooms: the Manatee Room, the Ginkgo Room, and the Hummingbird Room. Each classroom is a mixed-age environment designed to support collaboration, mentorship, and individualized learning at each child’s developmental pace. Children typically remain with the same teacher and peer community for the duration of their enrollment, allowing for strong, trusting relationships to form between teachers, children, and families. This continuity fosters emotional security, deeper learning, and a true sense of belonging within the classroom community. Our program is structured around maintaining traditional Montessori work in the classroom at all times, ensuring children have consistent access to carefully prepared materials that support independence, concentration, and mastery of foundational skills. In addition, we incorporate monthly thematic studies to deepen children’s learning around specific topics, enriching their curiosity and expanding connections across areas of study.

Manatee Room: The Manatee Classroom has a capacity of 20 students.
The Gingko Room: The Gingko Classroom has a capacity of up to 15 students.
Hummingbird Room:The Hummingbird Classroom has a capacity of up to 15 students.
                                            
Spanish Immersion Classroom
Out of our three classrooms, we are especially proud to offer our Hummingbird Room Spanish Immersion Montessori classroom. This program provides children with a rich, authentic bilingual learning experience within a prepared Montessori environment. Through daily, natural exposure to the Spanish language, children develop communication skills through meaningful interaction, hands-on materials, songs, stories, and practical life activities. Language is not taught in isolation but is woven into every part of the day, allowing children to acquire Spanish organically while engaging in purposeful work alongside their peers. This immersive approach also supports cognitive flexibility, cultural awareness, and a deeper appreciation of diversity, helping children build confidence as global learners from an early age.    

Extended Day: Mid-day there is an option for children 4 years-1/2 and up to join the Extended Day Program. This program allows the older children to dive deeper into the extended Montessori lessons. This program also focuses on Kindergarten Readiness.  

Enrichments
Our Music enrichment program nurtures rhythm, coordination, memory, and emotional expression while building early foundations for language and mathematical thinking. We also proudly host seasonal concerts inspired by our music program, giving children the opportunity to share their learning, build confidence, and celebrate with their families and community. Our Spanish enrichment class further supports language development and cultural awareness by offering children additional opportunities to engage with Spanish in a playful, interactive setting through songs, games, and conversational experiences. Our Art enrichment program, hosted in our dedicated art room, encourages creativity, fine motor development, problem-solving, and self-expression as children explore a wide range of materials and artistic techniques that build confidence and individuality. Our Mindfulness enrichment program supports emotional regulation, self-awareness, and social-emotional growth through developmentally appropriate practices such as breathing exercises, guided focus, and calming strategies that help children build inner awareness and empathy.                                                                                                                                                                                    
Community Garden & Outdoor
Here at MLM we are also proud to care for a dedicated plot in the community garden, where families and children actively participate in planting, tending, and harvesting. This shared responsibility helps children develop a sense of stewardship, connection to nature, and appreciation for the cycles of growth. In addition, we regularly take learning outdoors—enjoying lunch under the willow tree, exploring nature, and extending classroom lessons into the natural environment. We deeply value outdoor play and believe it is essential for physical development, creativity, social skills, and overall well-being. Outdoor time is intentionally prioritized each day, allowing children space to move, explore, imagine, and engage freely with their environment. We believe play is a vital part of childhood and a powerful foundation for learning, problem-solving, and emotional development.       
                                                                                   
Afternoon Program
Our afternoon program is a play-based extension of the Montessori day, offering children a more relaxed, child-led environment where imagination, social interaction, and creative exploration are at the center. During this time, children engage in open-ended play, collaborative projects, outdoor experiences, and enrichment activities that support joy, connection, and continued growth in a less structured setting. The afternoon program also intentionally incorporates science and STEM exploration through hands-on experiments, building activities, nature inquiry, and problem-solving challenges that encourage curiosity, critical thinking, and early foundations in scientific reasoning and engineering concepts.

FOOD
Here at MLM we strive to provide an appropriate, healthy diet centered on whole, organic foods. About two days a week we will serve a meat protein, while three days a week we serve a vegetarian meal providing ample protein in the form of beans, legumes, diary products and whole grains. Refined sugars are avoided. Children help prepare their snacks and lunches each day and are asked not to bring food from home into the classroom. We are a nut-free school can accommodate certain food allergies.

SCHOOL CALENDAR
Magic Lantern operates a 12-month program, September through August. We plan four breaks each year: Two weeks at the end of December/beginning of January, one week in April, one week in July, and one week at the end of August. Holidays generally follow the Seattle Public Schools schedule. 
 
EMERGENCY/UNSCHEDULED CLOSURES
If the Seattle Public School System closes schools due to snow or inclement weather, Magic Lantern will close as well. If there is an emergency during the school day, parents will be called. School closure information can be found on the Seattle Public Schools website.