Welcome to Blossom Montessori School for the Deaf

We understand that you have many choices when it comes to the education of your children. We also understand that as a parent, you have many questions for the people you will be entrusting your child with each and every day. We understand your concerns, and have asked our Blossom parents and families what questions (and answers!) they think would be most beneficial to you as you visit our website.

We have compiled a list of commonly asked questions below. If you have a question that is not addressed below, please contact us and we'd be happy to answer it for you -- we may even add your question to our list!

What is the student/teacher ratio?

Blossom's student/teacher ratio is 4:1. Because of our unique Montessori environment, there are many times the student is working one on one with a Blossom staff member. Blossom employs four full time teachers, three full time teacher's assistants, a contract speech/language pathologist, occupational therapist, physical therapist and counselor.

Will my child be challenged?

Blossom meets the needs of all children in which they serve. Blossom tailors the curriculum to the individual child. Upon acceptance into our school, a customized Growth and Development Plan is created to meet the child and the families' needs. A Blossom Growth and Development Plan lays out the curriculum academically, socially and emotionally for the individual child. Because we know that no two children are the same, Blossom believes in teaching the whole child and meeting his or her unique needs.

Does Blossom offer scholarships?

Yes. Blossom participates in various scholarship programs that help families offset the cost of tuition. Please visit the scholarship portion of our website for more information by clicking here.

Does Blossom provide speech therapy?

Blossom contracts with a speech/language pathologist four mornings a week who is proficient in American Sign Language. The amount of time a child receives speech and language therapy is determined at the child's Growth and Development plan meeting at the beginning of the year. When a new student is accepted with an existing IEP (Individual Education Plan), Blossom meets or exceeds the minutes required by the existing IEP. If there is no IEP, the child is assessed and the decision is made in partnership with the family, the teachers and our Blossom Partners.

Does Blossom offer Before and After Care?

Yes. Blossom's Before Care Program is from 7:00 - 8:30 a.m. each day. The Before Care program provides a variety of academic activities and games to challenge students and to keep them involved. Our After Care Program is from 3:00 - 6:00 p.m. The children participate in read alouds, a variety of optional clubs, Girl Scouts, individual tutoring, arts and crafts, team building and games. To read more about our Before and After Care Programs, click here.

Do you offer ASL (American Sign Language) classes?

In lieu of ASL (American Sign Language) classes, Blossom Montessori School for the Deaf is currently participating in the Deaf Florida Family Literacy Academy.

Blossom is fortunate to have a nationally certified sign language interpreter on staff. Carol Downing is not only a teacher at Blossom, she is also the instructor for the Deaf Florida Family Literacy Academy. We hope that you will consider learning this wonderful language, currently the third most commonly used language in the United States! Please contact Ms. Downing via email or by calling Blossom for more information.

In addition, we encourage you to check out the Sign Language Dictionary page on our website that will help you either learn your very first signs or brush up on some old signing skills that may have fallen by the wayside.

Is Blossom subject to FCAT? If not what type of testing is done?

Being a private school, Blossom is not subject to FCAT testing. However, we adhere to the Sunshine State Standards and the Montessori Scope and Sequences. More often than not, the Montessori Scope and Sequences outweigh the Sunshine State standards!

Although the FCAT is not administered, the Montessori curriculum teaches the students the skills necessary to achieve success on the FCAT. Annually we administer the Stanford Achievement Test 10th Edition, normed on the Hearing Impaired Percentiles by Gallaudet University.

What Montessori training do your teachers have?

All of our teaching staff have had experience working in Montessori classrooms and have had various types of Montessori training; however, it is our goal that all will be Montessori-certified for their appropriate level. To this end, Blossom is committed to the very best education for our students and is currently working to provide this professional development opportunity to all of our teachers.

Our Associate Director completed Montessori Training through the Seacoast Center for Education at the New Gate School in Sarasota, Florida. It is an American Montessori Society (AMS) affiliate and is accredited by the Montessori Accreditation Commission for Teacher Education (MACTE).

What type of experience does the teaching staff have in Deaf Education?

Each member of our teaching staff has an extensive background in both Deaf Education and in Deaf culture. Please visit the Meet the Staff section of our website for bio's on each member of our staff.