Welcome to the All Roads Learning Community!

We are looking forward to getting to know you and your family. Here is a guide we've prepared as an introduction.

Parent's Guide

Our mission at All Roads is to provide a loving, nurturing space where children may develop their full potential. We provide an environment consistent with the developmental needs of your child and offer opportunities for your child to experience success.

What follows are some guidelines that when followed, will make our journey together a positive and successful one. Please contact us with questions and comments you may have.

History of the Montessori Infant Community

In 1948 Adele Costa Gnocchi, a philosophy professor and student of Maria Montessori, developed an interest in the awesome abilities of children from birth to three years of age, and developed the Assistants to Infancy course in close consultation with Maria Montessori. The training courses have continued and expanded until today; there have been training courses in many countries, including The United Kingdom, The United States, Japan and Australia. The training course includes an intense lecture schedule on educational theory, obstetrics, nutrition, and child development, guided practice in creating and presenting the educational materials, 150 hours of observations, and thorough written and oral examination.

All Roads Learning Community was founded in 2003 by Mercedes Paine Castle, in close consultation by Katy Pine. All Roads was founded due to the need for quality care and an enriching experience for the youngest children of Portland, Oregon. Mercedes has a passion and understanding of the important work of the very young child, and brings this understanding and commitment to her work at All Roads. All Roads is located in a quiet, beautiful home setting. All Roads is an Oregon state certified family child care, and maintains memberships with professional organizations such as the Oregon Montessori Association, the North American Montessori Teacher’s Association, the American Montessori Society, and the Oregon Association for Early Childhood Education. Mercedes serves on the Board of Directors for the Oregon Montessori Association, and is a member of the Child Care Improvement Project, sponsored by Neighborhood House. Thank you for choosing All Roads as the first step in your child’s educational journey.


Enrollment


In order for us to process your enrollment, you must fill out and return the following forms. Forms, relevant fees and tuition must be received prior to acceptance.

  • Enrollment Application with the $90.00 enrollment fee
  • Deposit of $250.00 (refundable)
  • Emergency contact form
  • Questionnaire
  • Feeding plan for children under twelve months old
  • First month’s tuition

In addition, Immunization forms or exceptions must be returned within thirty days of attending.

If there is not currently space in the program to accommodate your child, you may choose to apply to the waiting list. We will accept your deposit with the anticipation of enrolling your child within two months. When a space becomes available, you will get thirty days notice to either enroll or forfeit your deposit. If space does not become available within two months, you will have the option of colleting your deposit and exploring other child care options.

Schedule

All Roads offers a year round program. The monthly tuition is based on an annual fee and broken down into twelve payments due on the first of each month.

All Roads offers a five percent discount for those who wish to pre pay their tuition. Pre-paid tuition may not be refunded. Please click here for the tuition and fee schedule

All Roads is open Monday through Friday from 8:00 a.m. until 4:30 p.m. We are closed for the observance of Labor Day, Veteran’s Day, Thanksgiving Day, and the following Friday, Christmas Eve, Christmas Day, New Year’s Eve, New Year’s Day, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s Birthday, President’s Day, Memorial Day, Independence Day, and Labor Day. Should any of these holidays fall on a weekend, the closure will be on a weekday closest to the holiday. The day before Holiday breaks (Thanksgiving, Winter, Spring, Summer) are half-days, with dismissal for the entire class at 12:30 p.m.

In order to best prepare the classroom to meet the ever-changing needs of the community, All Roads closes for Staff In-service days four times each calendar year. These dates may be found in the Calendar.

Additionally, All Roads will close completely for two weeks in December (we follow the Portland Public School calendar for this closure), for Spring Break (again, following PPS’s schedule), and during the week before Labor Day.

During closures we do not offer interim care. Please see the accompanying school calendar for the complete listing of school closures.

Arrival and Departure


Montessori education maintains that children must undergo a process of attachments and separations from birth, in order to become an individual: separate and independent within the society and environment. Life is a continual process of attachment and separation; the child strives toward independence from the beginning. In order to best assist children toward independence, we must provide a strong base, loving and supportive, for attachment. It is only from this strong loving base that the child can reach out into the world, and to return a healthy, confident individual.

Transitioning into and out of school can be a challenge for both parents and children. Arrivals and departures can also add stress to the group. What follows is offered as a proactive guide to keeping this stress minimal.

We suggest that you and your child establish a routine for arriving and departing. A nice ritual is to assist your child in removing their coat and shoes, and then signing your child in on the Attendance Roster. The more confidence you have in leaving your child, even if they are sad, the more confident your child will feel in being left.

Our experience dictates that a quick transition is usually the best. If your child is upset, be assured that s/he will get love and support from the teachers as well as the other children. Lingering adults serve to remind the other children of their own parents and may set off a chain reaction of sadness.

Once you leave PLEASE DO NOT RETURN. You may call as many times as you like during the day, but returning is confusing, and causes anxiety in both your child and the rest of the community.

When picking up and dropping off it is important to be sensitive to the community by creating the least amount of disturbance in the room as possible. When other children see you, they are reminded of their own parents, and may feel sad. Please use a quiet voice and keep your body as small as possible.

Please turn off your cell phone, as this creates a disturbance for the entire community, and takes away from the focus that should be on your child during the transition. As well, street shoes are not permitted in the classroom in order to reduce noise and cut down on dirt and illness. We ask that all shoes be left outside or in the kitchen.

Paying close attention to the volume of your voice and the space you are occupying is crucial in determining the impact your presence has on the group.

The kitchen is where drop-off should happen. A teacher may help in this transition, and will use her skill and expertise to help lessen the tragedy of the transition. Don’t be surprised if your child enters the classroom independently after a few weeks; it has been our experience that most children come to this on their own after a very short time. Typically children departing after lunch or nap can be picked up outside. If we are not outside, please do not enter the classroom, but rather wait for your child to find you in the kitchen.

For safety’s sake, please do not allow your child to touch or close the door.

We ask that parents make every effort to not enter the classroom during morning hours.

There are several philosophical, pedagogical, and practical reasons why we ask this, and are happy to answer any questions you may have about this policy.

Parents may have access to the building at any time during business hours. We do request that you arrive and depart at times consistent with the schedule as to cause the least amount of disturbance in the classroom.

Arrival time is between 8 and 9 am. If there is a special occasion in which you may arrive late or have to pick up early, we prefer that your child not attend school that day, rather that disturb the community. If this is not possible, we ask that advance notice be given so that we can prepare the community for the disturbance that this causes. Consistently arriving or departing off schedule may result in you being asked to find alternate care for your child.

When transitions are difficult, we will brainstorm and experiment with different approaches until we find one the works for your family.


Visits & Observations

We encourage visits at mealtimes. This is the most social time of our morning, and typically the best time for parents to visit. You and your child may choose to dine with the group or at a quiet table for two. Please let us know in advance when you would like to come.


Mealtimes

“We must support as much as possible the child’s desires for activity; not wait on him, but educate him to be independent.”

Montessori, Maria. The Child in the Family: The Clio Montessori Series Vol. 8. Clio Press, 1989. p 57

There comes a time when the child is ready to reach beyond the food of the mother toward the food of the environment. As in all things, we should not hamper the child’s burgeoning curiosity. Instead, we should offer these new experiences with patience and wisdom.

As the child begins to explore the world of food, every effort should be made to present this new exciting subject as a lesson in culture and care of the self. In our society, we eat at a table, from a plate, with a fork, and we drink from glasses. The child should also be taught to eat this way. This is the perfect time to cement the habit of healthy, whole foods, instead of trying to break the junk-food habit later. This is also a great opportunity to involve the child in the process of food preparation. To familiarize the child with simple actions such as spreading butter or slicing a banana not only gives him/her these abilities, but it gives him/her the pride of taking care of one’s own needs, and contributing to the community.

Children under six months will have a feeding plan on file. As the child reaches towards the food of the community, the parents and staff will work together to create a dynamic feeding plan. All Roads prepares our own purees and baby foods from fresh and organic produce, meat and dairy. Children who are not yet on solid food will be allowed to establish their own feeding schedule.

All snacks and meals are prepared on site. The children are offered an opportunity to help with the preparations by washing and slicing fruits and vegetables, stirring and pouring, and setting the table. The children assist with the cleanup as well.

All Roads participates in the USDA food program, and you will be asked to submit an application to our sponsor so that we may be reimbursed for your child’s meals. If your child has a food sensitivity or allergy to wheat or dairy, a doctor’s note is required designating appropriate alternatives.

All Roads provides a rich variety of meat, produce, and whole grains for a balanced diet. A weekly menu may be found posted on our bulletin board.

Please be sure that your child finishes their snack or breakfast before entering school. A nutritious snack is provided for your child between nine and ten a.m. Breakfast is not served at school, and special snack times cannot be accommodated. Please make sure that your child finishes any food or drink BEFORE walking though the door in the morning. Please do not bring food into the school at pickup times.


Toileting

Just as we model and clarify other socio-cultural information (how and when we sleep, eat, interact, etc.), we must also offer the appropriate information about elimination of bodily wastes.

We do not have to “train” the child in the sense of external rewards and punishments, or imposing the knowledge of the sphincters. This is a natural process. We show the child how to take care of these processes, and how to understand this part of the body.

We offer an aid to natural development. Like any other action, we demonstrate the proper method and the child sees and learns. A great aid in this education is the proper information. Cloth diapers/underpants give the child immediate feedback (feeling of wetness), in response to the feeling of release.

We have learned that children as young as three months old are able to recognize their need to eliminate, and so we offer the toilet to all children while changing diapers. With the aid of training pants (cloth underwear with multiple layers to minimize leakage) and a patient and attentive adult, the child can learn to use the toilet much earlier than is currently expected.

There is, of course, no reward or punishment imposed by the adult. The ultimate reward for the child is independence.

We imagine you chose All Roads based on the common goals we share for our children and the earth. This is why we ask that you continue to use cloth diapers and cotton underpants at home. We hope that the supplemental literature will help you make an informed choice.

Clothing

Infants will need at least one change of clothing, and a warm coat and hat. We have found that Robeez are ideal for the mobile infant and child who is just beginning to walk. The infants may wear their Robeez both indoors and out.

The toddler wardrobe is a bit more extensive:
Please bring the following labeled changes of clothing for your child’s permanent All Roads wardrobe. We’ll launder these items as needed. Your child will also need a small box or basket so that everything may fit neatly into the small cubby we provide. Please choose clothing and shoes that your child may independently operate. Velcro fasteners or slip on shoes are good choices for toddlers. Pants free of buttons, zippers, or straps at the top or elastic at the bottom are ideal.

Your child should have:

  • 3 pairs of socks with rubber grips on the soles
  • 6 pairs of training type underpants (we recommend the brand Wee Essentials, found at J.C. Penny)
  • 1 pair of rubber boots (that fit your child well)
  • 1 pair of Robeez, or similar inside slipper
  • 2 pullover short sleeved shirts
  • 2 pullover long sleeved shirt
  • 3-5 pairs cotton pants with an elastic waistband and non elastic ankle cuffs
  • 1 sweater
  • 1 rain coat and 1 pair of rain pants (see REI)
  • 1 warm hat
  • mittens or gloves

We encourage clothing that is colorful and vibrant, but insist that cartoon characters, super heroes, and toy themes be kept at home.

While it is very difficult to keep up with a child who is constantly outgrowing clothes, it is also important to provide your child with shoes and clothing that fit properly. This is especially important in the case of shoes and boots; shoes that fall off your child’s feet are a frustration to both your child and their teacher.

Guidance & Discipline

In order for a child to develop an inner, or self-discipline, they must be allowed the freedom to explore limits. While children at All Roads test the boundaries of acceptable community behavior, they will be met with consist responses and gentle yet firm redirection.

Above all, we show the child that they are loved and accepted, no matter what they may have done. We do not punish children with ‘time-outs’ but rather view misbehavior as a disharmony within the child, and an opportunity to keep the child close so that the cause of their behavior may be more closely examined.

All Roads does not provide external rewards for positive behavior. We share in the delight and pride that comes with the feeling of accomplishment and the knowledge of a job well done.

Naptime

In our common goal to educate the child toward independence, no opportunity should be overlooked. The ability to soothe one’s self to sleep must never be undervalued.

Sleep is very important in the child’s ultimate task of discovering the world. At a certain moment, when the child has absorbed all she can, the child must sleep to assimilate and categorize the new knowledge, and to refresh for renewed efforts. The child should never become dependent on the presence of another person, or object, to be able to relax into revitalizing sleep.

If the child relied on such things, would it not be traumatizing if they were not available? This is why we always offer the child a comfortable area to rest in, if the child feels the need; and at a special time during the day, we offer a subdued environment conducive to rest, but allow the child to be in charge of his/her own resting cycle.

This is also why we ask parents to provide comfortable sleeping materials from home, but discourage the use of security blankets or stuffed toys. Pacifiers are not allowed at All Roads.

Illness & Medication

All Roads cannot care for your child if she is ill. If your child becomes ill at school, we can care for him or her only temporarily while arrangements for pickup are being made.

IF YOUR CHILD LEAVES SICK, YOU MUST WAIT 24 HOURS BEFORE RETURNING.

The following guidelines for illness are set forth in the CCD guidelines. All Roads is obliged to enforce them.



A provider shall not admit, or retain in care a child who:

  1. Is diagnosed as having or being a carrier of a child care-restrictable disease, as defined in Department of Human Services administrative rules, OAR 33-19-0010; or
  2. Has one of the following symptoms, or combination of symptoms, of illness:
    1. Diarrhea (more than one abnormally loose, runny, watery, or bloody stool);
    2. Vomiting;
    3. Fever over 100 degrees F taken under the arm;
    4. Severe cough
    5. Unusual yellow color to skin or eyes;
    6. Skin or eye lesions or rashes that are severe, weeping, or pus-filled;
    7. Stiff neck and headache with one or more of the symptoms listed above;
    8. Difficult breathing or abdominal wheezing; or
    9. Complaints of severe pain

A Note About Colds: While it may seem like your child is constantly sick, with a perpetual runny nose, their immune system is gaining strength. Usually your child is most contagious before they present with any symptoms and for the first day or two, while their mucus is still clear. Ideally, this is the time to keep your child home. We have found that children who remain at home, engaged in low-level activities recover far sooner than their colleagues who are not afforded this opportunity. It is also a kind way to spare the community of your child’s illness.

We will go outside daily. Requests that your child be kept inside cannot be accommodated. Please keep in mind that when your child doesn’t have time at home to recuperate, they will remain sick for a longer period of time.

If your child is on antibiotics, we can medicate at school. An ‘Authorization to Medicate’ form must be filled out before we can administer any medicines. Please be aware that items like toothpaste and sunscreen are considered medication and cannot be administered without the appropriate consent form. We ask that you wait 48 hours after the first dose of antibiotics before returning to school.

When your child receives vaccinations, we ask that you notify us immediately. The reasons are twofold; we are in a unique position to observe adverse reactions, and there are children at the school who are not immunized. Although we always practice the utmost care in handling waste and bodily fluids, knowing which vaccine is present in the school helps us to take extra precautions in ensuring everyone’s health and safety.

Birthdays & Holidays

Because we strive to create an environment that is as consistent and ordered as possible, All Roads does not celebrate birthdays or holidays. We believe that a very young child’s exploration of special occasions should happen within the context of the family environment, and is only confusing and frightening in the context of the learning environment.

We do, however, encourage children to talk about the experiences that they have at home, and facilitate an understanding of these experiences. We also draw attention to the change in the seasons, and encourage the children to make observations about the changing landscape of the natural world.

Connecting Home & School

We offer formal conferences twice a year, once in October and again in April. Childcare is available during your conference only. As issues arise, we are available to discuss them between 2 p.m. and 5 p.m.during the week.

Transition times are generally not appropriate times for lengthy discussions. We do not like to talk about a child while they, or other children, are in earshot. Often times, we may not be able to get to the phone before 2 p.m. We ask that you always leave a message, while opportunities to check messages do come up throughout the morning.

While a phone list is provided with the home numbers of the staff members and director, please do not call after 6 p.m. or on the weekends, unless there is some kind of emergency. Email is an effective way to reach us during these times.

It is important to communicate major events such as moving, a parent going out of town and other such issues with one of the staff members, either in writing or verbally. Advance notice of someone other than a parent or an authorized person is required before we can release your child.

Daily ‘Notes about my Day” should accompany your child home with information about their appetite, sleep, and toileting throughout the day. Please check the counter or clothesline for artwork created by your child as well.

Should you have any questions about any of the policies or information outlined in this handbook, do not hesitate to contact the Director, either by phone or email.

A note on independence

“The most important [principle] is to respect all the reasonable forms of activity in which the child engages and try to understand them.” Montessori, Maria. The Child in the Family: The Clio Montessori Series Vol. 8. Clio Press, 1989. p 54


Mercedes Castle
All Roads Learning Community
503-939-8235
3230 SW Vermont St
Portland, Or. 97219