About Us
Escuela del Sol Montessori was founded by a group of parents
in 1968. The strong sense of community formed then persists
today. We are a nonprofit, 501(c)(3) corporation governed
by a Board of Directors consisting of parents, members
of the community at large and staff representatives. Together
with our art center, the school has a wonderful reputation
for excellence, inclusion and diversity. Through our outreach
programs and service learning, Escuela del Sol is active
in the community and partners with organizations such as
Health Care for the Homeless.
Community Outreach
Service Learning and Awards
Service
Learning and community outreach are integral to the education
at Escuela del Sol. Our students, in ways appropriate to
their age and development, are involved in a variety of
service projects. Senior Elementary students (ages 9 – 12)
participate in leadership training and service workshops.
For many years we have worked with organizations such as
St. Martin’s, the Brothers of the Good Shepherd and
Healthcare for the Homeless (HCH). Much of our work and
a service partnership has been formed with Healthcare for
the Homeless. Students and parents participate in stocking
and running a holiday store, providing homeless families
the opportunity to shop (everything is free) for their
own holiday gifts. The idea for this project came from
students’ suggestions and observations some six years
ago. Students suggested that people in need would be empowered
by the ability to make their own choices at a store rather
than having pre-wrapped gifts provided to them. While parents
are shopping, Escuela students work and play together with
homeless children in the Art Street facility.
Escuela del Sol faculty have been recipients of PNM Foundation
classroom innovation grants for several years. One of the
projects is the study of solar power, and includes the
design and construction of a solar chicken coop to add
to our gardening and orchard project in the elementary
school garden space. “For Friends We Haven’t
Met”, another innovation grant was given for a wonderful
art education and service learning project. This project
included the study of the history of dolls (as religious
figures, those made from clay, fur, bone and wood as found
in Egyptian and Babylonian tombs) to the creation of dolls.
Bringing to life a two-dimensional design and auctioning
their creations to raise funds for the HCH clinic was culmination
of this project.
Escuela del Sol was the 1995 recipient of The Bravos
Award for support of the arts. This award as well as
a variety
of community and foundation grants have been presented
to us, enabling Escuela del Sol to further its community
outreach through The Harwood Art Center.
Convenient Location
Escuela del Sol is located in a quiet residential neighborhood
close to Wells Park Community Center (map).
We are only minutes from Historic Old Town, a block or
two from Albuquerque’s Down Town, just south of I-40
(exit 6th street), and five minutes west of the University
of New Mexico.
Affiliation
The school has, since its inception, been an affiliate
of the American Montessori Society (AMS). Our teachers
are certified by either AMS or AMI (the Association Montessori
International). We are licensed by the State of New Mexico’s
Children, Youth and Families Department and hold memberships
in NAEYC (National Association for the Education of Young
Children), NMANS (New Mexico Association of Non Public
Schools), NCA (North Central Association), IMC (International
Montessori Council) and NAMTA (North American Montessori
Teacher's Association).
Hours
Our school is open from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. For details of
various Toddler and Primary schedule options, please contact
the school and/or see the fee schedules in “Admissions”.
The Elementary school day is from 8:15 a.m. to 3:15 p.m.
Extended care is available before (from 7 a.m.) and after
(till 6 p.m.) school.
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Faculty & Staff
Escuela del Sol’s excellent reputation is a direct
reflection of the caliber of educators who create the wonderful
learning environments our children enjoy. Each classroom
has at least one trained and certified Montessori teacher.
Our school is also an internship site for AMS, occasionally
giving us interns as assistant teachers. The Administrative
Team and Board of Directors understand the need to support
the teachers by providing a good work environment. For
this reason and others, our teachers tend to stay at our
school for many years. Our Program Director, Ms. Dana McCabe,
has been with us 19 years, our Head of School celebrates
her 25th year in 2005.
Working as mentors and guides, EDS teachers help to provide structure
and set high, but individually tailored, expectations. Working
together, students are mentored toward academic excellence, respect
and service. Escuela’s teachers guide children to think,
to find new solutions, ask questions, and discover answers on their
own. Staff hiring is based on academic qualifications as well as
warmth, openness, a strong respect for children and good communication
skills.
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Our Head of School, who is Executive Director of the organization,
is Ms. Friedje vanGils. Ms. vanGils works with the faculty, staff
and Board of Directors to set policy and give the school and art
center direction. Ms. vanGils has directed the organization for
25 years, taking the school from a small one-room preschool to
one of Albuquerque’s preeminent early childhood and elementary
schools and making possible the creation of what has become our
city’s leading arts organization.
 Parents
at Escuela
Escuela del Sol parents have the opportunity to be actively
involved in their child’s education. Through various
events, parent nights, work days, newsletters and classroom
participation, parents can share their interests and talents,
and learn more about the Montessori philosophy while becoming
a strong part of this educational community. P.A.T.T. (Parents
and Teachers Together) is the organization that helps organize
parent participation in fundraising events, classroom projects,
planting gardens, building playgrounds and participating
in other activities to support our school community.
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