“My single classroom now is bigger than our entire old school,” said School Director Jamie Minniear.
The 12,000-square-foot school sits on 12 acres — mostly wooded — in the Cedarbrook subdivision, off Cincinnati-Dayton Road between Millikin and Kyles Station Road.
The new school year in the new location has exceeded Minniear’s expectations, though she said more and bigger plans are coming for the school.
Currently the school offers services for 2½-year-olds through sixth grade but hopes to expand into grades seven and eight next school year.
Eventually, said Minniear, the school hopes to offer high school grades.
“We had to have a new space for this school year,” she said of the old school site, which was in a converted home in Olde West Chester.
“We’re very happy to be here and settled,” said Minniear, whose school has jumped in enrollment from 50 to 71 students.
“The biggest changes include being able to go out outside more,” she said referring to the 12-acre campus, which school officials plan to include a mile-long hiking path and outdoor learning areas.
Montessori instruction involves non-traditional classrooms – replacing them with carpeted learning spaces where students are encouraged to indulge their curiosity through various learning techniques. Freedom to explore and move about are among the instructional mission of Montessori learning.
Montessori school parent Renee Reed lives in West Chester but said she doesn’t mind now having to drive farther for her two children.
“Moving to this new property has had such a positive impact on our children,” said Reed. “There is so much more space to utilize more works indoors and outdoor space as well. The kids can now enjoy nature walks on a regular basis and they have an auditorium for music classes. We are so grateful to have this new and improved space for our children.”
The expansion interiors of the new school allows the school “to embrace more of the Montessori philosophy and being able to go outside is a huge part of that,” she said.
“In this day and age of so much sensory processing and attention deficit disorder and focus issues, we see the kids outside and on hikes and all that is gone,” said Minniear. “Being outside allows them to better focus while they are in the classrooms.”
Those classrooms have observation windows that allow parents and visitors to observe activities of the classroom without disrupting the regular flow and rhythm of the environment.
Facilities now available include an auditorium and kitchen facilities that allow students to practice life skills, including planning meals, cooking, preparing and serving lunches.
More information is available on the school's website.
About the Author