FAIRFIELD — The Kennebec Montessori School will hold its annual open house and registration day from 9:30 a.m. to noon Saturday, March 14. Participants can visit the classrooms, meet the teachers and learn more about the Montessori approach to early childhood education. Activities for children include arts and crafts, and a musical petting zoo, where children can try out a violin, cello or guitar, according to a press release. This opportunity is presented by the Pineland Suzuki School, which also offers lessons at the School.

The school offers preschool, kindergarten and elementary programs for children 2 and 11 months to 9 years old, with special instruction in music, art and Spanish. New registrations for the 2014-15 academic year will be accepted. Prospective parents are encouraged to schedule a classroom observation by calling 453-6055.

The Montessori method, developed by Maria Montessori over a hundred years ago, emphasizes intellectual and social development through the independent exploration of hands-on materials in multi-age classrooms. In the carefully prepared classrooms, children have “freedom within limits” that allow them to learn at their own pace while developing respect for self, others and the environment, according to the release.

The school is a nonprofit, independent school, established in 1976, accredited by the American Montessori Society. It has been recognized as a Quality Child Care center by the Maine childcare rating system and is an approved private school through the Department of Education. KMS offers programs year round from 7:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. in a rural setting on 14 acres of land just off I-95 and has been described by the American Montessori Society as “a hidden treasure that needs to be seen.”

For more information, contact Head of School Rebecca Green, at 453-6055 or Rebecca@kennebecmontessori.org.