When does the school year begin?
A school year consists of school terms, school days and school holidays. Each school year lasts 12 months and starts on 15 September; if 15 September is a holiday, it begins on the next working day. Discover School is closed for National holidays, school holidays and the period between the 23rd of December and New Year. The Primary and Secondary school programmes include the school days between 15 September and 15/30 June, as well as opportunities to participate in sports, green and forest school programs during the summer – between 15/30 June and 25 August. For each school year, the Minister of Education and Science determines with an order the beginning and the end of school holidays, except for the summer holiday and non-attendance days, and Discover School complies with them.
A school year comprises school terms, school days, and school holidays. The academic year spans 12 months and commences on September 15th; if September 15th falls on a holiday, the academic year starts on the next working day. Discover School observes closures for National holidays, school holidays, and the period between December 23rd and New Year.
The Primary, Middle and High school programs cover the school days between September 15th and June 15th/30th, with additional opportunities for participation in sports, green, and forest school programs during the summer from June 15th/30th to August 25th. For each school year, the Minister of Education and Science issues an order determining the beginning and end of school holidays, excluding the summer holidays and non-attendance days. Discover School fully complies with these regulations.
What are the school’s hours?
The Core School Day is between 8:00 am and 4:30/5:00 pm, and there is a possibility for an Extended School Day until 5:30 pm.
Is Discover School licensed by the Ministry of Education and Science?
Discover School is licensed by the Ministry of Education and Science in Bulgaria. Since 2017, Discover School has been certified as an innovative school by the Council of Ministers of the Republic of Bulgaria. We offer a holistic education, meeting and exceeding the national standards set by the state for each level.
What international accreditations does Discover School have?
Discover School works under the auspices of the Montessori Society Bulgaria – AMI (Association Montessori Internationale) affiliate in Bulgaria. Discover School is accredited by the STAR Montessori Assessment and Accreditation Board (MEAB), UK. Discover International School is an IB World School for PYP (Primary Years Programme), MYP (Middle Years Programme) and DP (Diploma Programme).
What аrе the qualifications of the teachers in Discover School?
In addition to their university degrees, all community guides at every school level hold diplomas from the Association Montessori Internationale (AMI), the organisation founded by Dr. Maria Montessori, and are qualified AMI Montessori teachers. The assistant teachers are also AMI-trained. Teachers attend IB courses yearly to support their professional development and participate regularly in international conferences.
We know that the best way to ensure children’s learning is to hire and retain good professionals whose desire to meet students’ needs is only matched by their dedication to continuous professional growth. Consequently, we invest heavily in professional development and program development following the latest innovations in education.
97% of parents rate how the teachers support the child’s holistic development as exceptionally well (*2025 Annual Parent Survey).
What is your health and illness policy?
Each morning, a medical professional checks the health index of the children. Monthly examinations are conducted for all children, and referrals are made to parents if necessary. Our policy emphasises that sick children should stay at home, as sending them to school is not in their best interest or the well-being of other children in the class. Sick children do not benefit from being in school and may potentially cause other children to become ill. This measure is implemented for your child’s overall health and welfare and the entire school community.
Do you provide lunch and snacks for the children?
Every child at Discover School benefits from our nutritious school menu. Various seasonal fruits, vegetables, water, and herbal tea are offered throughout the day. Our school menu is meticulously crafted to provide a broad, nutritionally balanced diet, crucial to our students’ healthy growth and development. It is balanced, nutritional, and delicious, contributing to energetic and full-spirited well-being. At Discover International School, we recognise the vital link between healthy food, a healthy body, and a healthy brain, and we fully comply with nutritional standards.
Our school menu is curated by a child nutritionist and executed by a licensed kitchen with all the necessary sanitary permits, driven by a passion for preparing exciting and wholesome food. Additionally, students actively participate in preparing some of their food and drinks, fostering a sense of connection with their meals.
We emphasise teaching our children to respect food, cultivate excitement about different foods, and develop good eating habits and table manners. To support this, children are given ample time to eat and enjoy the social interactions attached to mealtimes.
98% of parents believe that the food at Discover School is healthy and balanced (*2025 Annual Parent Survey).
Do you offer sports?
Every day, all children actively engage in various physical activities, participating in, initiating, and organising sports games, hikes, and walks. In the Extended School Day program, students can select age-appropriate activities based on their interests. Our offerings include various clubs and classes such as sports games, football, tennis, swimming, dancing, and yoga. All activities are designed to be inclusive and accessible to every student who wishes to participate.
89% of parents say they are delighted with the choice of extracurricular activities in Discover School (*2025 Annual Parent Survey).
How does Discover School support children’s connection with nature?
Our children can engage in outdoor play every day, all year round. We are committed to educating them about healthy lifestyles and promoting daily physical activity. Nature serves as an extension of our classroom, providing countless occasions for outdoor exploration.
Weather permitting, we organise nature walks to nearby parks, trips and picnics in parks and mountains, nature hikes, horse riding adventures, and visits to animal farms. Additionally, we regularly arrange camps in mountainous and coastal settings, offering our children diverse experiences in natural environments.
What sets you apart from other independent/private schools?
Discover School is Bulgaria’s pioneering institution in integrating IB programmes with Montessori education from preschool through 12th grade, equipping students for the global challenges ahead.
We possess the knowledge, skills, and experience to apply Montessori principles following the highest international standards set by the Association Montessori Internationale (AMI). Discover School is a flagship institution of Montessori Society Bulgaria, affiliated with AMI. We are honoured to mentor aspiring Montessori teachers on their journey to support natural child development. As the sole provider in Bulgaria offering quality Montessori education for children aged 14 months through 18 years, we regularly undergo international external supervision to ensure our Montessori setting aligns with global best practices in applying Montessori pedagogy.
Every facet of our organisation is designed to support children’s natural growth. Regardless of their job title, each team member is devoted to providing superb education for our children. When decisions must be made, we adhere to a simple guiding principle: “Is it good for the child/children?” A positive response indicates that we are acting in the best interest of our children and families.
Our primary commitment is to unlock the true potential within each child. While cognitive development and a solid academic foundation are crucial, they represent only one dimension of our aspirations. The child’s social, emotional, spiritual, and physical development is equally significant.
Throughout the educational journey, children move through various communities and programs designed to support their developmental needs. Interaction, cooperation, joy, self-driven learning, and a thirst for knowledge permeate the learning environment. Progress is individually paced, allowing students to explore their interests and master skills and knowledge. This approach supports children in developing into adults with intellect, integrity, compassion, strength of character, skills, and creativity needed to seek common ground and establish mutual connections with others.
Discover School is dedicated to helping parents raise socially, morally, and emotionally prepared children for real life. Discover provides the necessary guidance for each child’s unique personality to develop to its full potential, fostering capable and valuable individuals.
98% of parents rate Discover School as an excellent school. 78% of parents describe us as a reliable school and 30% – as one of a kind (*2025 Annual Parent Survey).
What information channels does Discover School use?
Effective communication is paramount within our community, and we are dedicated to keeping parents well-informed about their child’s development, plans, and community events. Beyond the direct interactions between our pedagogical and administrative team and parents, we provide a robust online collaborative communication channel.
Our online platform offers parents valuable resources, classroom observations, and anecdotes. It serves as a space for meaningful communication with the team and fellow parents. We organise parenting events and maintain a seminar calendar to support family dynamics and parenting further.
Additionally, all community members receive our weekly newsletter, “Week Ahead,” and our monthly update, “Monthlink”. These publications serve as comprehensive resources, sharing news and details about upcoming events, ensuring everyone is well-connected and informed.
87% of parents say they are delighted with the information channels and educational sessions for parents in “Discover School” (*2025 Annual Parent Survey).
