Our school yard is an Outdoor Classroom utilized year round.
Children climb, build, garden, rake, shovel snow, identify plants
and wildlife, and explore and experiment with nature in this space
everyday. We gather, count, and cook with fruits and vegetables
gathered from these gardens and from our apple, cherry, pear, and
mulberry trees. Our charming school also backs to Hiestand Woods
Conservation Park, allowing easy access to over 45 acres of open
space, wooded trails, playgrounds and greenways.
Montessori Work Period
Our carefully prepared environment allows students practice
practical life skills, language, mathematics, sensorial activities,
and lessons in geography, science, geology and so much more! As
they work they are constantly developing their sense of
order, concentration, coordination and independence.
Celebrations
Childhood is a celebration! Our students celebrate customs and
traditions from around the world all year long. Celebrations
include preparing and eating foods from other nations, wearing
traditional clothing used in cultural festivals and special
occasions, and learning games, crafts, dances and songs in a
variety of languages.
Kindergarten at Toad Hill
Kindergarten is the most important year for Montessori
students. They solidify strong leadership skills, and complete
their foundation for a lifelong love of learning. During the
Kindergarten year our oldest students venture beyond the classroom
to gather new information from leaders in our community, and apply
the knowledge they already have in new ways.
Decades ago private schools could have been accused of being elitist. You had to have money to attend. The student populations were fairly homogeneous. Fortunately that has changed.
