Specialty Classes
Outstanding specialty classes are integrated with the academic curriculum to teach children to think creatively and express themselves. All students at Desert Montessori receive weekly instruction in Art, Music, and Spanish, and we offer a variety of after-school athletic programs.
Art
The Art program encourages children to observe their external world, access their intuition, think creatively, and express themselves. We engage in various media including drawing, painting, textiles, ceramics, glasswork, and 3-D mixed-media to create self-portraits, animal and nature representation, still life, and abstract art.
Our Art program operates as a standalone yet curriculum-integrated class for our elementary students, and as a rich and immersive program for our primary students.
Music
The Music program focuses both on choir (singing) and instruments. Students learn music fundamentals such as rhythm notation, 2-part harmony, musical notes, music theory, and songs which are at the core of our American and New Mexican culture.
Recently we produced a student-led ballet, concert, and musical with original choreography done by the students. Our elementary students also performed a winter concert for senior citizens at the El Castillo retirement home.
Spanish
Our Spanish immersion program is designed to spark interest in language and culture and enhance critical thinking and problem solving skills. Spanish is taught by a native Spanish speaker through play, music, arts and crafts, food, cultural celebrations, and games.
Our Spanish program is integrated into the classroom, with our Spanish teacher communicating solely in Spanish during normal school-day activities and operations.
Athletics
Elementary (K-6) students at Desert Montessori are encouraged to participate in athletics to increase their physical, social, and emotional development, learn leadership and self-discipline, and have a good time. Go Bobcats!
Swim Club teaches children to learn and refine their technique in Freestyle, Backstroke, Breaststroke, and Butterfly.
The culmination of weekly practice is participation in the City-wide Swim Meet held in April each year at The Chavez Center.
Our team, The Bobcats, received third place for small schools in 2019 with many individual medals and lots of personal bests!
Ski Club is a five-week program during the height of ski season that accommodates all levels of skiers and snowboarders under the direction of Ski Santa Fe professional ski teachers.
Students and parent chaperones travel to Ski Santa Fe and spend Fridays learning skills and techniques.
Beginning students learn how to turn, control their speed, and skiing essentials. Experienced skiers will focus on technique improvements so they are comfortable in powder, bumps, or the terrain park.