Montessori school coming to Whitesville | News | Berkeley Independent

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Montessori school coming to Whitesville

Published Tuesday, June 21, 2011 10:31 AM

By Stefan Rogenmoser
Berkeley Independent

Whitesville Elementary School is opening a Montessori school on its campus. The school will start in August with an estimated 24 students and will continue to add students each year.

The Berkeley County School Board voted 6-1 to approve the school at its regular meeting on June 14 in Moncks Corner. Board member Doug Cooper voted against the Montessori school while all other board members voted in favor. Board members Frank Wright and Donna Marino were absent.

Whitesville Principal Julia Taylor presented a proposal to the board at its May 24 meeting. The school is an option for parents who can choose to have their children in Whitesville attendance lines at Montessori, Taylor said.

The first class will be made up of about eight students from each age group – three, four and five year olds. Those students will then continue to advance in Montessori for two more years.

Taylor said there is high interest from parents, and the first students will be drawn from a hat. Parents must attend an awareness session, not yet scheduled, to be in the lottery.

Montessori schools present a unique opportunity for selected students.

“The learning is more in context,” Taylor said. “It’s almost all individual work. It’s more peaceful.”

There are less worksheets and desks as students often work in pairs, individually and sit on the floor, Taylor said. Students learn at their own pace, and not all students are doing the same thing. There are high, medium and low levels of activity. Classes are multi-aged and foster cooperation instead of competition.

Respect for others and the environment, and responsibility for one's own learning are cornerstones of the Montessori philosophy.

Tuition is $80 per week for three and four year olds to help cover costs of classroom equipment and a part-time assistant. The tuition costs less than most childcare settings and students will be learning, Taylor said. There is no cost for five year olds because state funds cover those costs.

Materials cost $25,000, but 95 percent of that cost is covered by a School Improvement Grant. In the first year Title 1 funds will support a full-time teacher, according to Taylor.

WES Title 1 Facilitator has her state endorsement to teach and evaluate Montessori and will become the Montessori teacher, Taylor said.

Montessori teachers are specially trained facilitators who guide students to explore their world and think creatively, according to the presentation.

Taylor said she observed a Montessori program in Charleston County and liked what she saw.

“We’re ecstatic that it’s finally coming,” Taylor said. “We’ve been looking into it for three years.”

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