History

The Montessori Center School, founded in 1965, was located at the Hope School Campus from 1977-1997 and moved to its present location in June 1997. Since 1972 the Montessori Center School has been a non-profit educational organization with a Board of Trustees. We are an independent organization, not affiliated with any other school. We are affiliated with the American Montessori Society and licensed by the Department of Social Services.

>click to enlarge<

We are a vital community of approximately 310 children and their families and approximately 50 staff members, all working together to provide the best possible atmosphere for optimum growth of the students. We want to ensure that the Montessori Center School flourishes for the children of today and for generations to come. 

Mission Statement

Our mission is to offer a Montessori education that encourages intellectual, social, physical, creative and moral development, preparing students for academic excellence, confident, lifelong learning and responsible, caring lives. 

Statement of Educational Philosophy

Montessori's philosophy respects and embraces the natural worlds and the panorama of cultures, knowledge and arts. It respects both the individual and the community in its efforts to provide well-rounded education with the following emphases:

• Intellectual: Hands-on material and teacher-facilitated learning creates a stimulating curriculum, responsive to individual learning styles and developmental stages ("sensitive periods"), that treats the child as both teacher and student, that fosters order, independence and creativity in thinking, and that provides a strong basis for scholastic ability and for optimizing intellectual potential.
• Social: Adults and children in multi-age classrooms act as models for and encouragers of appropriate choices and behaviors that honor the feelings of self and others, demonstrate mutual respect for members of the classroom and global communities and foster qualities of leadership and group contribution.
• Physical: Participation in play, fine and gross motor activities, fitness and performing arts reinforce the mind-body connection and enhance agility.
• Creative: Exposure to visual and performing arts curricula strengthens, broadens, and enhances intellectual and cultural development.
• Moral: Opportunities exist to learn and use ethical judgment and civility within the family-like order of the classroom, so that universal values such as respect, responsibility, honesty, self-discipline, compassion, perseverance and loyalty are supported.

We encourage you to visit our campus, observe classes and speak with our staff. We believe you will see a school true to its Montessori roots yet open to contemporary research about how children and schools learn and thrive.