Our History

In the Fall of 1984, Meadow Montessori School opened its doors for the first time to a small group of students -- forty-seven in all -- enrolled in three different programs: toddler, preschool, and elementary, as well as before and after school care.  Earlier that summer, Catharine Calder established the school as a non-profit (501 C3) organization and worked with eleven members of the Board of Trustees to ensure strong policy guidelines and responsible fiscal management.  By the end of the year, the school's numbers had swelled to sixty-seven students, and since that time, Meadow Montessori has followed the path of continual growth and evolution, adding classrooms, programs, and services each year. 

In 1985-1986, we added French to our program and took our first field trip.  The upper elementary/middle school students traveled to Toronto, and because the trip was so successful, "travel" became an essential part of the curriculum.  Our students have traveled to the following locations within the United States:

• Boston
• Chicago
• Colorado: Crow Canyon Archeological Center
• Milwaukee
• Montreal
• New Hampshire: Appalachian White Mountain Club
• New Orleans
• New York
• San Francisco
• Washington D.C.
• Wyoming: Grand Teton Science School

And the following locations outside the United States:

• China
• Egypt
• Galapagos Islands
• Iceland
• Ireland
• Italy

In 1985, we established the Parent Guild, which has continued to be active in its support of MMS.  In 1986, the Parent Guild purchased MMS's first computer-- an Apple-- and began construction on a large play structure.  Hobby Nels, now a member of the Board of Trustees, was instrumental in the design and construction of this project. 

The following year, 1986-1987, we added Latin to our foreign language curriculum, introduced the History Fair, and hired our first part-time physical education teacher.  We also invited Sanford Jones to Monroe to conduct our first summer opera workshop.  

By 1987 -1988, we had grown large enough to add a second preschool classroom, as well as split the lower and upper elementary classrooms.  Up until this time, the elementary students had been in one room (ages 6-12), and now we had two preschool and two elementary classrooms.   We also introduced Spanish to the curriculum, so students could now choose between French, Latin, or Spanish. 

Our first graduate from 8th grade went on to Culver Academy in Indiana for high school the following September.

MMS founded its 4-H program, which has grown to one of the largest clubs in the state of Michigan. 

In 1988-1989, we hired our first full-time music teacher.  This was also the year we introduced the first week-long opera production into the school year.   It was also the year that we ran our first deficit budget ($4,000 in the red) and it wasn't until 2006-2007 that we were to see black ink at the end of a fiscal year. 

During the 1989-1990 academic year, our students participated in the National French Exam for the first time (and did remarkably well). 

In 1990-1991, we added a third elementary class  (our second lower elementary), as well as an art program.   We participated in MSBOA (Solo and Ensemble) for the first time, and we sent our first qualifying candidate to Mt. Clemens for the state-wide National Geography Bee.  We also honored our first adult volunteer of the year (Doris Congdon). 

Students participated in the Midwest Talent Search for the first time 1991-1992.  The following year, 1992-1993, we traveled to Crow Canyon Archeological Center for the first time, and we also performed our first "in house" opera, written by Sandy Lentner.

We added a second upper elementary classroom in 1993-1994 and introduced the Farm Program to the middle school curriculum. 

In 1995-1996, we introduced the infant program to our school community and at the other end of the age spectrum, we added the third year of middle school or 9th grade. We also added German to the elementary and secondary curriculum.  
                       
In 1997-1998 we undertook a major playground expansion in honor of a student, Kelsey Denton, who passed away.  Hobby Nels was instrumental in this project.

The 1998-1999 school year saw us expand into the international world.  We included the children of two refugee families living at the IHM Motherhouse in our school community and took our first trip to China.  MMS parents also organized a sports program-- soccer, basketball, and volleyball-- and we competed against other schools.

By 1999-2000, we formed a committee to conduct an exhaustive search for a possible location change.  The committee looked at the possibility of continuing to rent at SMC, renting in another location, purchasing an existing building, or building.  The same year we launched our first sustainability program, emphasizing the three R's-- recycle, reuse, and reduce. 

The Board of Trustees formally decided that the school should move to a new location and build it's own building in 2000-2001.
             
In 2001-2002, we launched our first capital campaign with a goal of $1.5 million.  Ron and Pat Gruber graciously donated seven acres in Ida to MMS.  We hired an architectural firm and began work on building plans.   During this process, another parcel of property with an existing building located on Raisinville Rd. became available for purchase.   Because the Ida property required additional infrastructure (water treatment plant, gas, etc.), the cost of purchasing property was almost equal to the cost of building on the donated land.  The school made the decision in the summer of 2002 to purchase six acres and an existing building on Raisinville Rd.   At the same time, we had to change our architectural drawings. 

2002-2003 was a momentous year for MMS.  As we poured the foundation for our new building, we also struggled with the administration of St. Mary Center.  As the year began, we did not have a lease, but felt confident we would be able to remain at SMC for the entire year.  The IHM sisters were engaged in a renovation of the Motherhouse, which was not scheduled for completion until the spring of 2003.   Since 2001, the sisters had been living on the upper floors of SMC.  In November 2003, it was clear that the renovation project was ahead of schedule, and the sisters would be vacating SMC in February or March.  MMS, and the other agencies in the building, were told they would have to vacate the building by December 31, 2002.  MMS choose to fight to stay. 

On December 16th, the headline in the Monroe Evening News read Montessori Evicted from St. Mary Center.  On December 18th we received a $100,000 check from the Herrick Foundation for our capital campaign.  By the end of December, MMS agreed to leave SMC by January 31st and the sisters agree to help with moving costs. 

In the meantime, we searched for alternative and temporary space.  Nothing was available until Pastor Bryd of the Stewart Road Church of God offered MMS several portable classrooms and additional space within the church building.  This space became available to us at the end of January, and we moved the entire school on Saturday, January 31st, and opened our doors on Monday, February 2.  This space is still known to us as NATS (new and temporary school) and was to be our home until the first week of school.  We moved into our new building in early June with a formal ribbon cutting ceremony on June 24, 2003. 

In 2003-2004 we basked in the joy of having a Home of Our Own, but by the 2004-2005 school year, we were ready to start something new.   We expanded our programs to include a high school, and three students enrolled in Meadow Montessori High School in September.  We also hosted our first art auction, which has become an important source of revenue for our art program. 

We celebrated our first graduates in 2005-2006, who went on to attend the University of Michigan and Michigan Tech.   In the summer of 2006, five Chinese students visited Monroe and stayed with our families for three weeks. 

Our enrollment continued to grow in 2006-2007, increasing each year by 10 – 15%.  We hosted 150 people at the Michigan Montessori's Spring Workshop, featuring most of our teaching staff in various workshops.   
                       
In 2007-2008, we experienced a record high enrollment of 194 students, and we welcomed Xinping Li to Monroe from Henan Province, People's Republic of China.  Xinping became a member of our staff, offering after school programs in Chinese, music, and art.  She also planned a very special exchange program for our students for two weeks in March, 2008. 

During 2008-2009, we hope to host the Center for Montessori Training of New York's infant/toddler training, and although we do not know what the following year (2009 - 2010) will bring, we do know we'll be celebrating, with great pride and joy, our 25th anniversary. 

During our years, we have educated approximately 1,000 students, employed 168 teachers, assistants, and administrative staff, and have paid for the Montessori training of 14 teachers.  If all goes well, we will train three more teachers in 2008-2009, and offer support to three teachers as they work for a Master's Degree in Montessori education.