Programs

At Montessori School of Evergreen, we pride ourselves on offering our students a special brand of academic excellence—we call it academic innovation. Our remarkable faculty members create learning environments where the work is meaningful, students are engaged, and children learn by doing.

MSE is a place where every child is honored for who he is. Based on the Montessori philosophy, our programs foster the life skills that students can take anywhere to be successful. Because of our ability to meet the needs of an individual child, students are constantly challenged with work that is tailored to their unique learning style and interests. Collaborative, integrated problem-and-project-based instruction, real-life experiences, and opportunities to conduct original research are the reasons why we ignite a lifelong love of learning in our students.

We also recognize that learning takes place beyond the walls of the classroom. Each class takes, on average, one field trip per month to explore a topic of study. In addition, all students participate in our Adventure Education Program, beginning with the youngest students climbing Mt. Falcon and culminating with our 8th year students summiting Gray’s Peak. These experiences provide context for thinking critically, assessing “what if” scenarios, and pushing students safely beyond their comfort zones, resulting in increased self-confidence and self-reliance.

We know that to be successful in our rapidly changing world, students must also acquire both citizenship and leadership skills. Through our character education program, whose foundation is based on our core values of C.A.R.E.(Compassion, Attitude, Respect, and Excellence), students engage in service learning opportunities throughout their education at MSE. Cooking and serving lunch at The Gathering Place, helping Jefferson County rangers maintain trails, participating in Peace Jam, and sponsoring a student’s education in Africa are just a sampling of the projects students have participated in this year.

Beginning at about 2 years of age, children begin to understand the world in which they live. After studying the geographical “what”—continents, bodies of water, and land formations—young students then begin to draw patterns as they analyze the needs of humans over time. Food, shelter, clothing, and transportation are common needs that stay constant, regardless of location or time. With this in mind, children discover how similar they are to children from around the globe and through the centuries.

Researchers such as Daniel Pink, Tony Wagner, and Pat Bassett have identified a number of skills, such as critical thinking, leadership, and communication that they believe are important to a child’s success as he navigates in a global world. These skills are interwoven into our daily curriculum. In fact, written and oral communication, how to tell a story, leading by influence, and thinking critically have been integral to a Montessori education since its debut over a century ago.

Middle school students participate in global issues classes, during which sweeping issues that are facing our world today are researched and debated. They partner with schools from across the globe, most recently beginning a “Skype” relationship with students in Cairo, Egypt.

We know that MSE students benefit from our innovative individualized approach to learning. Our unique Adventure Education Program and other experiential learning opportunities provide students the opportunity to learn about the world and themselves. Through service learning and the MSE character program, students develop a commitment to contribute to the world in real ways. And lastly, our dedication to providing dynamic instruction in global skills makes them posed to be the leaders of tomorrow. Most importantly, our students love coming to school each day. Our graduates demonstrate that they are lifelong learners, and they credit that to their positive experiences at MSE.