Behind all [Dr.] Montessori's educational efforts was her continuous desire to create a better and more peaceful world by nurturing the spirit of each child. This nurturing, which differs from teaching a specific religion, helps children to see that they are called to a higher purpose than self-service or self-satisfaction. It includes time for silence and reflection, cultivating awe and wonder, respecting nature, caring for the earth, understanding and accepting others and fostering virtues such as love, peacefulness, kindness and compassion.
- Aline D. Wolf
Montessori education is a system of education developed by Dr. Maria Montessori in the early twentieth century. A pioneer and a visionary in her field of science and medicine, Montessori used her powers of observation to study how children learn best and to create a philosophy about the true meaning of education. Montessori’s ideas revolutionized early childhood education and, today, schools throughout the world embrace her method. True to this vision, Montessori schools are recognized for their ability to create learning environments that are child-centered, holistic, and developmentally appropriate. Children learn to be self-directed, responsible and respectful of themselves and others, and to feel confident about themselves as learners and their capacity to learn. In this way, children prepare themselves for a life of learning and personal fulfillment, and for roles as caring and compassionate members of their communities.
Central to Montessori philosophy is the belief that children learn through their senses and are sensitive to both the direct and indirect aims of a carefully prepared classroom environment. This capacity for children to absorb, as well as to act upon, their environment is important to the classroom design and how materials are selected and presented. Beauty, function, and relevance are three elements that teachers consider when preparing their classroom environments with teaching materials and objects of interest. The classroom environment is purposeful, deliberate and meaningful.
Learning in a Montessori school is divided into three class units with children grouped according to their plane of development (0-3, 3-6, 6-9, 9-12, 12-15 years). Multi-age learning over three years provides a rich resource of knowledge and experience as older children teach younger ones, and expectations for learning and behavior are modeled and reinforced. In addition, each classroom typically has two teachers who work together as partners to prepare and manage the classroom, and to teach to the individual needs of the child in small groups or one-on-one. Montessori teachers are certified through accredited Montessori teacher education programs.
Brixham Montessori Friends School began as a preschool in Portsmouth, NH in 1997. Within three short years, the preschool outgrew its space and relocated to York, ME where the school increased the number of students, added an elementary program and established itself as a highly reputable Montessori school serving Seacoast Maine and New Hampshire.
Teachers at BMFS are exceptional. Highly qualified and experienced, head teachers hold a minimum of a Masters degree and a Maine state teaching certificate or certificate from the an accredited Montessori teacher education program. Professional support, low staff turn-over, and encouragement from a dedicated school community help to make BMFS a wonderful place to learn and teach.
Parents at BMFS play a critical role in the governance of the school. Parents are elected to sit on the school’s Board of Directors and many of the Board’s task forces, such as public relations, building and grounds, fundraising, and education oversight are made up of parent volunteers. Parents understand their significant contribution to the well-being of school through volunteering their time, effort, expertise, and financial resources.
- york maine preschool
- Serving children ages 3-9 years, preschool through grade 4
- Small classes and low child/teacher ratios
- Highly qualified and certified Montessori educators
- Complete Montessori curriculum and materials
- Affiliated with the American Montessori Society
- High parent involvement and close-knit learning community
- State approved and licensed by the Maine Department of Education and the Maine Department of Human Services and Childcare
501c3 approved not-for-profit corporation
york maine preschool
