Our Mission

The basis of our approach is the simple observation that, children learn most effectively through direct experience, and the process of investigation and discovery. No two students learn at the same pace, nor do they necessarily learn best from the same methods. Our goal is to be flexible and creative in addressing each student as a unique individual.

We recognize that before students can take advantage of a challenging education, they have to discover their innate abilities. They need to develop a strong sense of independence, self-confidence, and self-discipline. They must be willing to make and learn from countless mistakes. This suggests an education of the heart, as much as an education of the mind.

The Orleans Montessori Pre-School is designed to be a school where children can blossom! We seek to inspire a passion for excellence and to nurture curiosity, creativity and imagination. Our goal is to give students a fine education and to prepare them for life.

What Inspired us

Maria Montessori, Italy ’s first trained female physician, was also an engineer, an anthropologist and one of the greatest educators of the twentieth century. Our work with children is based upon the contribution that she made to education, a pedagogical approach that includes the following:

Curiosity: The child’s natural curiosity is the motivation for the child’s learning. The individuality of children is not only respected; it is nurtured. The Montessori teacher is trained to wait for and identify “teachable moments,” those times when the individual child’s developmental cycle is optimized, what Maria Montessori calls “sensitive periods.”

The prepared environment: By providing an environment rich in learning materials and opportunities, the Montessori teacher enables the child to apply his/her curiosity in the most enriching way possible.

Following the child: The Montessori teacher follows the child in his/her learning, actively. The teachers are “scientists of child learning.” They take copious notes and observe the children, following them, yet guiding them.