about
SOUTHAMPTON
MEETour STAFF
Meet Nicole Tinker, head of school. Nicole has been with SMS since 2014. She completed her education in Elementary Education and is certified by both New York State and the American Montessori Society Toddler- 6th grade.
She brought her passion for learning and teaching to SMS in 2014 when she became Lead Teacher for the Lower Elementary classroom. Her two daughters currently attend the school as well.
In fact, a huge reason for Nicole advocating to expand SMS to upper elementary in the 2025-2026 school year was out of her own desire to keep her aging children in the school.
Nicole believes that the Montessori approach to education allows all children to reach their fullest potential, without limits. Each child is unique, and needs a secure, carefully prepared and purposefully designed environment in which to grow emotionally, academically, and socially. Education should be a joyful experience for the child. Learning is not about rote memorization or the ability to perform well on a test.
Instead, education should focus on the excitement of a new discovery, the thrill of improving one's self, and the idea of finding success and contentment in whatever one chooses to do. Her goal in education is to have the opportunity to shape an environment where teachers are respected for the critically important work, they do to allow the innate love of learning to unfold in each child. Outside of the classroom she loves being active and spending time with her family and friends.
Welcome! I am delighted to extend a warm and heartfelt welcome to you and your family. As Head of School, it is with great privilege that I embrace the opportunity to lead this exceptional institution, and am genuinely excited to embark on this journey in partnership with you and our amazing faculty and staff.
Our mission is to develop a passion for learning and nurture the potential in each child, through the values and principles of the Montessori philosophy. At Southampton Montessori School, we believe that education is not just about imparting knowledge; it is a lifelong adventure filled with curiosity, discovery, and personal growth. Our approach embraces the unique abilities and interests of each child, fostering independence, critical thinking, and a deep love for learning. We are committed to providing a nurturing environment where your child can thrive, surrounded by a dedicated team of passionate educators who truly understand the essence of Montessori philosophy and are developmental experts for the ages in which they teach.
As you step onto our campus, you will be greeted by a warm and welcoming atmosphere where joy and excitement permeate the hallways. Our classrooms are carefully designed to inspire creativity and encourage hands-on discovery, allowing children to develop their full potential at their own pace. Beyond our outstanding academic program, we take pride in our strong sense of community. We believe that education extends far beyond the classroom walls, and we actively promote a spirit of collaboration and inclusivity. Whether it’s through parent involvement in school activities, community service projects, or our engaging cultural events, we aim to foster connections that will enrich the lives of our students and families.
I am genuinely excited to embark on this wonderful adventure together, creating a nurturing environment where your child can thrive, explore, and discover their unique potential. The investment in a Southampton Montessori School education will build the foundation for a thoughtful, responsible, and confident individual. We look forward to welcoming you into our close-knit Montessori community and witnessing the incredible growth and achievements of your child!
APPLICATION PROCESS
A message from Nicole:
TESTIMONIALS from OUR FAMILIES / TESTIMONIALS
"The teachers and staff at Southampton Montessori have gone above and beyond our
expectations with the care and lessons they provide our daughter. Our daughter struggled with separation on her first day of Stepping Stones, but with the support and ease-in stages recommended by the staff, she quickly fell in love with the program and her teachers and has been thriving ever since. She has applied much of what she is learning at home (dressing, putting on her own shoes, setting the table…) and she always leaves school with a skip in her step. We look forward to continuing her education here while enjoying the art, singing, and stories she arrives home with each school day!"
The Method:
The young child is innately motivated to learn. He seeks to understand the order in his environment through exploration.
The Montessori classroom is attractively designed and appeals to the 3 to 6 year old. The child learns by working with a rich variety of manipulative materials. The three year curriculum includes practical life, sensorial, language, history, science, art, music, and movement. Children are free to focus on a chosen activity uninterrupted which builds concentration.
They are shown how to complete a task in an organized manner and utilize problem solving skills. The Montessori materials present one concept at a time in a sequential manner, thus increasing the child’s chance for successful completion and encouraging confidence and concentration. The child gains a sense of peaceful satisfaction from his or her accomplishments.
“Within the child lies the fate of the future.” - Maria Montessori
ABOUT SOUTHAMPTON MONTESSORI:
The School:
Southampton Montessori School is a private pre-school and kindergarten. It is an affiliate of the American Montessori Society and chartered by the New York State Department of Education. The school is located just outside of Southampton Village on approximately four acres nestled in beautiful Shinnecock Hills overlooking one of Southampton’s finest golf courses.
The school building is contemporary in design and takes full advantage of both the sunlight and the view. It houses four classrooms including a greenhouse and a gymnasium for special classes in movement, music, art, and foreign language. An observation room is open to parents and visitors daily. There is a secluded student garden area and a closed-in courtyard for outdoor learning. The playground offers many recreational amenities and an onsite nature walk is available to students for environmental studies.
TESTIMONIALS from OUR FAMILIES / TESTIMONIALS
"We are so grateful for Southampton Montessori. Our son started at 18 months in the Stepping Stones program and is now a thriving four-year-old in the Primary classroom. All of the teachers are attentive to his growth and needs. The incredible work they do is reflected in his home environment where he is tidy and helpful around the house. We are so fortunate that such quality education is available in our community. The Montessori foundation has set our son up for success in the classroom, home, and beyond."
Katie Whipple - Parent of a Primary Student
Parents and The School:
We recognize the need for parents and teachers to work together to serve the best interests of the child.
Mutual respect and basic agreement on general educational goals is extremely important. Discussions on the Montessori philosophy and child development are held throughout the year to educate parents in the Montessori method. Mutual respect and basic agreement on general educational goals is extremely important. Discussions on the Montessori philosophy and child development are held throughout the year to educate parents in the Montessori method.
We’ve found that this experience has been beneficial to parents and visitors in obtaining a better understanding of the Montessori philosophy and our program.
Parents are also welcome to visit their child’s class to share their special interests, talents and occupations with the children. Parent-teacher conferences are held twice a year and can be arranged more often when needed. Written reports are prepared upon graduation.
TESTIMONIALS from OUR FAMILIES / TESTIMONIALS
With a newborn in tow, we toured several schools for our just turned 2 year old. Southampton Montessori School stood out beyond the rest, by far – with their beautiful classrooms, materials and detailed, individualized curriculum. It was clear SMS was not just a place that looked after
children but fostered their growth and development. Fast forward three years and both of our girls are attending – one in Stepping Stones and the other in her second year in Primary. They have both flourished and are confident, independent and full of curiosity. We are very proud and grateful that our girls have been given such a solid foundation to life-long learning.
NIKKI URSPRUNG
ABOUT SOUTHAMPTON MONTESSORI:
The Montessori
Teacher:
The Montessori teacher carefully prepares and maintains the learning environment. She is essential in bringing together the child and the materials and in guiding children’s social and emotional development.
Daily observations are made by the teacher in order to follow each child’s initiative and capture his or her interest when introducing appropriate materials. A material is considered appropriate and is most easily mastered when It corresponds to a child’s particular “sensitive period” for learning. Spontaneity is key to the learning process in a Montessori environment.
TESTIMONIALS from OUR FAMILIES / TESTIMONIALS
Parents of 2 year old, Stepping Stones '19-'20
"Our son started Montessori’s stepping stones program this year and we couldn’t be more pleased with our experience. Not only is the school beautiful, light and filled with good energy but the teachers, administration and other parents have been so kind and welcoming. The daily teacher talks, weekly written updates and the viewing room made us feel secure and helped with an easy transition to starting school. We already notice a positive difference and development in our child that we attribute to the Montessori curriculum and the amazing staff. My only wish is that time would move a bit slower, as we cherish our time with Montessori so much and are looking forward to watching our son grow with his classmates."
Social & Emotional Growth:
The emotional and social development of the child is an important part of our program.
We seek to create a warm, loving, respectful atmosphere. Emphasis is placed on helping children express feelings in constructive ways and develop social skills and a sense of responsibility for their own behavior within the school community. A philosophy of “freedom within limits” provides the basic framework for the children’s interaction with the environment and each other.