Children move about and choose materials from easily accessible shelves. They work on floor mats or at small tables. The goal is to help the child develop mastery of self and environment, self-discipline and social competence. This is done through sensorial, practical life, language, math and cultural studies materials.

By building on skills acquired in the 3-6 classroom, the primary child moves from the concrete to abstract reasoning and problem-solving. This program provides a full expression of the Montessori principles of self-directed, individualized learning in a truly integrated curriculum.

Work in the 9-12 classroom involves the transition from partly sensorial, partly abstract learning to fully abstract thinking. The classroom contains some appropriate materials from the 6-9 classroom, such as the periodic chart of the elements, along with an array of more advanced work and plenty of research material. The child is challenged to be more responsible for the social and physical environment of the classroom and to develop increased understanding and sensitivity in his relationships with others.

Art is one of the many ways children express themselves. Art is a way for children to communicate their feelings. It is through art that children develop their fine motor skills. In the Montessori environment, we provide open-ended art activities that help children explore and use their creativity. Art gives children a solid foundation for future growth. Through art, they are exploring, creating, expressing and developing self. Elementary Art instruction seeks to strike a balance between skill instruction and free exploration and to encourage a child’s natural desire for self-expression. It also seeks to build a child’s art vocabulary; awareness of artists and their techniques and knowledge of the various forms of artistic expression, from architecture to painting to sculpture to computer graphics.

We seek to build in the children a love for physical activity, a healthy interest in keeping fit and an appreciation of the emotional well being that regular physical activity can provide. The Elementary physical education program gives children necessary experience with the basic tenets of good sportsmanship. Competition is kept to a healthy level, with team play and cooperation receiving the most emphasis. The program emphasizes physical activity, maintenance of a positive attitude, development of good sportsmanship and movement competency as a means of achieving wellness for life.

The mission of the Library is to provide resources that support the teachers and the school’s curriculum, develop information skills to ensure that students become effective users of information and ideas and nurture a lifelong love of reading and learning. Children can browse and check out books in the library, laptops and computers are used by all students in the classrooms.

Music is a universal language, loved by children and adults in cultures throughout the world. Children have an uninhibited inclination to move, dance, and make music, as well as an innate capacity to appreciate all types of music. Musical activities are included in the daily life of the Montessori classroom and respected as much as other curriculum subjects. Research shows that music is fundamental in early childhood education, helping children to develop in various ways, including problem-solving and logic skills. Language acquisition is enhanced as children learn songs with varied vocabulary, meter, and rhyme. Cultural lessons are enriched with songs about continents, planets, respect for Earth and much more.

According to the Ohio Department of Education, gifted children are defined as children who perform, or have the potential to perform, at higher levels of accomplishment when compared with children of similar age, experience or environment. Children are screened for gifted ability in four areas:

• Superior cognitive ability
• Specific academic ability in subject areas
• Creativity in thinking and
• Superior ability in visual and/or performing arts

The Gifted Programming Department identifies children who perform at exceptionally high levels — or children who show the potential to do so. Gifted classes are offered from third to sixth grade. This program also provides additional services that help teachers and schools better meet the students’ educational needs.

Suzuki lessons are offered at our school which is for violin and cello. Suzuki training includes a parent or guardian learning with their child, daily listening to the Suzuki music, and daily home practicing for twenty minutes a day. Tuition is based on each family's Federal Income Eligibility Guidelines (Not if your school is a Community eligible school). There are three tuition tiers per school year, depending on family income. Tuition is due at the beginning of each semester and payment plans are available. If you are interested in Suzuki lessons you may email Nadine Monchecourt.

Classes are taken outdoors to our Meadow Maze that is located on our school grounds. Classrooms will be enjoying activities the first Wednesday of the month, which includes vegetable gardening, an arboretum and orchard, and a Meadow Maze of Ohio Native wildflowers and grasses. Activities will be scheduled with the Nature Center coordinator Susan VonderHaar.