Outdoor Program and Environmental Stewardship
The Portland Montessori School is wholeheartedly committed to green practices and sustainability and we continue to put numerous measures into place to reflect this.
We are fortunate to have four educational gardens on our campus; our Learning Garden, our “Raindrops to River” Rain Garden, the Native Pollinator Habitat, and our “From Seed to Snack” farm-to-table permaculture garden, all of which are at the core of our outdoor curriculum.
In all of our outdoor endeavors we directly collaborate with members and organizations of our local community to positively impact our students, neighborhood and environment, thus further establishing our mission as a committed green Montessori school in Portland. We hold a Gold level certification in the Backyard Habitat program due to our continuous strides in moving towards a greener campus.
“When children come into contact with nature, they reveal their strength.”
– Maria Montessori
School History
The Portland Montessori School, formerly Providence Montessori School, was founded in September 1962 under the direction of Sister Francella LaFramboise, who studied extensively at Montessori institutes in both the United States and Europe. In 2012, the school celebrated its 50th birthday, and we have the proud distinction of being the first Montessori school in the Northwest.
THE TRANSITION TO THE PORTLAND MONTESSORI SCHOOL
On January 1, 2013, Providence Montessori School officially became The Portland Montessori School, an independent, non-profit school. This successful transition resulted from the dedicated efforts of the school community, and the hard work of many parents, teachers and staff. Providence Health Systems, the organization that previously operated the school, also provided significant support throughout the transition. Now operating independently, the school is guided by a board of directors with active involvement and input from an engaged parent advisory committee (PAC). Our school retains its former character and community, including its rich history of providing a Montessori education to Portland-area children.
AN APPROACH TO EDUCATION DEVELOPED BY DR. MARIA MONTESSORI
At The Portland Montessori School, we educate children according to the Montessori method of education developed by Dr. Maria Montessori, the first female physician in Italy, and a pioneer in the study of child development. This method is based on her work with developmentally challenged and underprivileged children in Italy, which she began after graduating from medical school in 1896. The approach quickly earned worldwide acclaim and became a standard approach to educating children.
THE MONTESSORI APPROACH
In a Montessori education, children learn concepts while working in a carefully prepared environment designed to stimulate each child’s interest and understanding. Children work independently and in small groups with mixed-ages ranging approximately three years. Because a Montessori education instills the value of caring for our earth, the classroom often extends to the outdoors. The Montessori approach helps each child develop according to his or her inner clock. The guide, or teacher, acts as a catalyst in each child’s unique journey of development and aids them in their natural process of growth and learning.
The time-tested principles, methods and materials used in a Montessori education are scientifically supported and researched. After more than a century, this method continues to work because of its foundation in both observable and inherent human developmental principles that Dr. Montessori explored during her many decades of scientific observation and practice.
“Raindrops to River” Rain Garden
In March of 2017, we were awarded the Community Watershed Stewardship (CWSP) grant by the City of Portland’s Environmental Services. We designed and installed a rain garden on our campus as a teaching tool and as an effort of water management and conservation. Our rain garden is accompanied by a beautiful mural which was painted by an Iraqi refugee artist, Akram Sarraj, alongside youth members of IRCO (Immigrant and Refugee Community Organization).
We are pleased to have collaborated with a number of local organizations to make this a community-driven project.
Native Pollinator Habitat
Following the planting of native flora in our rain garden, we were keen to create more habitat on our urban campus. Our Native Pollinator Habitat houses at least 20 varieties of native plants and teaches our students the importance of attracting beneficial pollinators. Students are encouraged to interact with the space as as a place of learning, stillness and being connected to nature.
“From Seed to Snack” Garden
We put our energy and hearts into a mission that is very important to us: teaching our students through hands-on measures how food is grown and- as a result- offering fresh produce as a daily snack option. We have named this small-scale farm to table model “From Seed to Snack” and we are proud to be adopting a local stance on food accessibility and seasonality. Informed by permaculture principles, the site features an edible pathway, a keyhole vegetable garden and a food forest with fruit trees. Planting will commence in February 2019. The design includes plans for a greenhouse for year-round planting and outdoor teaching.
