St. Joseph Montessori School

The purpose of St. Joseph Montessori School is, in the words of Dr. Maria Montessori, “to educate the human potential” by means of a scientifically prepared environment which provides a wide variety of equipment and materials, employs a multi-sensory approach to learning, and frees the child to choose activities according to individual interests, abilities, and talents within certain set limits. The opportunity to participate in one’s own education provides the child a context for growing academically, socially, and emotionally.  At St. Joseph Montessori School the child’s ability to direct his/her own learning is guided by the Montessori influence of freedom with discipline. 

Our school exists as an educational alternative that values and is committed to serving a widely diverse population with varying needs and aptitudes.  We believe our services must extend beyond the classroom.  Educational opportunities provided for families enable parents to reinforce and enrich the child’s learning.  Staff members are offered the means and resources for professional growth and are provided an environment that encourages initiative, creativity, and collaborative decision-making.  We believe that respect, cooperation, and mutual support among students, parents, staff, and community members are critically important to a child’s success in school and must be actively fostered by all participants.

We at St. Joseph Montessori School believe that, as a result of the program provided in our school, each child will become a confident, competent person.  He or She will possess self-knowledge, independence, respect for him or herself, for others, and for the physical environment.  Our students will exercise initiative and persistence in completing learning tasks—exhibiting sensitivity, curiosity, creativity, and a spirit of discovery in his or her approach to life and learning. 

Belief statements:

1. Each student is a valued individual with unique physical, social, emotional, spiritual, and intellectual needs.
2. Students learn best when they are actively engaged in the learning process.
3. All students can learn.
4. A student’s self-esteem is enhanced by positive relationships and mutual respect within the school community composed of students, parents, and staff.

Our program is designed to achieve the following goals:

1. Students are life-long learners.

Many of our learning activities are individualized.  Each child is involved in work which holds particular interest because it is geared to his or her own pace, repeating a task as often as desired, thus experiencing a series of successful achievements.  In this manner, the child acquires a positive attitude toward learning.

1. Students are confident.

At St. Joseph Montessori School work is planned so that each new step is built on what the child has already mastered, thereby removing the negative experience of frequent failure.  Success after success builds up an individual’s inner confidence and provides assurance that learning is possible.  These confidence building experiences in turn contribute to the sound emotional development of the adult.

1. Students are independent.

At St. Joseph Montessori School we give each child the gift of independence.  This lets them know we value them and know they are capable.  Children grow up feeling empowered and safe in their abilities to make sound choices.  When we trust them, they learn to trust themselves; ultimately, they become happy and productive members of their communities.

1. Students are curious.

In a rapidly changing society such as ours, we must all be students during our entire lifetime.  Providing students with opportunities to discover qualities, dimensions, and relationships, amidst the rich variety of learning situations, we nurture the development of a natural desire to learn in such a way that the child acquires a habit of being curious-an essential element of creative learning. 

1. Students are global citizens.

Each child is involved in activities and opportunities which broaden his or her vision of the world.  Through collaborative work, care of the environment, global education, and conflict resolution, the child gains an appreciation of personal and social responsibilities and acceptance of human differences. 

Portrait of a Graduate rubrics were completed for each level during the 2019-20 school year.  The rubrics are administered as an assessment of progress towards mastery of the characteristics twice yearly; beginning of the year and end of the year for each student.