About Us & School History

Your Child Is in Great Hands

Mission Statement

The Blue Hill Montessori School, Inc. follows the educational philosophy and teaching methods of Dr. Maria Montessori. At Blue Hill Montessori School, we honor the potential in every child, nurturing a child’s individual spirit to reveal itself through hands-on exploration thereby creating a solid foundation for your child’s life. We believe that every child is born with unique creative potential. Our mission is to assist children in their individual educational and developmental growth between the ages of 15 months and six years old. We provide specially prepared learning environments for children that correspond to their abilities, interests, and individual learning styles. These environments provide a safe, peaceful, and nurturing experience where each child is encouraged to develop independence, respect, initiative, consideration, self-discipline, and a lifelong love of learning.

History of The Blue Hill Montessori School

In 1963 a group of local parents shared a desire to provide Montessori education for their 3 to 6-year-old children. This insightful and determined group founded BHMS and forty-six years later, we remain committed to the philosophy and teaching principals of Dr. Maria Montessori. Dr. Montessori believed that human beings are brought by nature to expand their intelligence. She also observed that children pass through what she called “sensitive periods”. Sensitive periods are specific developmental periods during which children are intensely drawn toward the acquisition of specific knowledge and skills.

Dr. Montessori viewed the teacher as a guide who carefully prepares an environment containing activities and materials which correspond to these sensitive periods. This environment includes activities in the areas of Practical Life skills, Sensorial exploration and refinement of the senses, Mathematics, Language, Science, Geography, Music and Cultural Arts.

The furnishings and materials of the ‘Prepared Environment’ are designed to ensure independent, successful use by young children. Through small group and individual lessons, the teacher seeks to engage or ‘attach’ the child to the materials within this prepared environment. It is when a child is engaged in purposeful activity with the didactic materials that true learning takes place.

It is the teacher’s task to guide children toward these connections by carefully preparing an environment full of appropriate, beautifully made and engaging materials. Observation of the child, knowledge of the sensitive periods and thorough training in the use of the didactic materials guide the teacher in selecting which materials to present and when to present them.

Having thus been exposed to a variety of materials and activities, the child is then free to follow his/her natural urge to explore. Intellectual growth is achieved through the child’s own repetitive engagement with the didactic material.

“I hear and I forget.

I see and I remember.

I do and I understand.” ~ Maria Montessori

Our School Philosophy and Goals

It is the philosophy of The Blue Hill Montessori School that early childhood should be a time of fun, warmth, security, exploration and discovery. Preschool children are creative and receptive; the staff strives to nurture and encourage these qualities in the students. Our purpose is to provide a child-centered, loving, and enriching Montessori environment. In this environment, children develop a life-long love of learning and gain independence, self-discipline and the necessary skills to move into the next phase of learning with confidence and enthusiasm. With a seasoned staff of experienced and educated professionals, children learn with nurturing guidance and love.

PROGRAM GOALS:

To follow the principles and practices of the Montessori Method developed by Dr. Maria Montessori and overseen by the Montessori Pedagogical Committee.

To provide a carefully prepared environment.
To use the sensitive periods as a guide in engaging the child within the environment.
To develop within the child a love of learning.
To provide a calm, warm and loving atmosphere in which children may develop self-discipline and tune into their intrinsic motivation..
To encourage curiosity within each child by providing opportunities to discover and explore, with emphasis on self-motivation.
To offer a wide variety of experiences and activities within the Montessori curriculum.
To build self-confidence and self-esteem by allowing children to make choices which lead to successful experiences.
To meet each child’s physical needs while encouraging independence in care of self.
To provide opportunities for both gross and fine motor development.
To establish respect for the materials in the prepared environment.
To develop within each child an appreciation for the world around them.
To assist in the development of empathy within each child.
To be supportive of parents and encourage their involvement in the school.
To engage in honest and open communication with parents.
To prepare the child with appropriate skills to enter the next phase of education with confidence and enthusiasm.