Full days, all year — in the classroom children already know.

Countryside's All Year program gives working families dependable, year-round care without diluting the Montessori experience. Children are in a warm, home-like setting from 7:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m., Monday through Friday — the same prepared environment they know during the school day, carried gently into the early mornings, late afternoons, and summer months.

The best of both worlds — school and home.

First offered in 1999 for families who needed extended care, the All Year Montessori program was built to give children a comforting, home-like place to spend a full day. School and home are woven together, supported by a nurturing staff who know each child well. The program runs year-round, 7:30 a.m.–5:30 p.m., Monday through Friday, closing only on select major holidays and the days noted on the school calendar. A hot breakfast is part of every morning — made by the children themselves, with thoughtful guidance from their teachers.

Pre-K & Kindergarten

Extended hours let children three to six years old set their own pace and take full advantage of the Pre-K and Kindergarten materials. They build unique, one-on-one relationships with teachers who offer encouragement, accountability, and mentorship — always in service of Countryside's larger mission: helping children grow into capable, thoughtful adults. In the summer months, daily swimming, outdoor play, and picnics fill the days. With time and attendance through August, children tend a plentiful vegetable garden and turn the harvest into garden-to-table snacks they prepare themselves. Throughout the year, they plan seasonal events that strengthen the classroom community and bring busy families together.

Elementary

The all-year elementary program gives students countless opportunities to learn by doing — building real-life skills and learning what it means to be a productive member of a community. Elementary and younger All Year students come together in the kitchen each morning to make breakfast and delegate the jobs that ready the classroom for the day. From 4:30 to 5:30, elementary students head to the gym or spend time outside. On days when only the All Year group is in session, students take up a topic of study and plan a related "going out" — for instance, exploring the history of Northbrook and finishing the morning at the Northbrook Historical Society. In summer, All Year students also join Countryside's seasonal camps — see the Summer Program.

Come see a full day at Countryside.

The best way to understand Countryside is to see the classrooms, meet the adults, and watch children at meaningful work.