History of Lewis and Clark Montessori Charter School
LCMCS has its roots in the community, with many local families coming together to create a new educational opportunity for their own children and as well as others in the Gresham area. In the spring of 2006, the founding committee received a Federal Grant to develop a proposal for a new Elementary Charter School in the Gresham-Barlow School District, incorporating a Montessori Education curriculum. In the spring of 2008, the Gresham-Barlow SD Board voted unanimously for approval of our charter school, and a two-year extension to the charter was approved by the District in 2010.
LCMCS opened in fall of 2008 with two lower elementary classrooms and a kindergarten classroom. For the 2010-11 school year, the school has grown to about 150 students and includes three Lower Elementary classrooms and one Upper Elementary classroom. The kindergarten has an extended program,
K-Plus, in the afternoons. LCMCS plans to add one grade level per year to and grow to a K-8 school with approximately 250 students, around half the
size of the average GBSD school. Our goal is to continue to develop as a
high-quality, authentic Montessori public school choice for our District.
What is a Charter School?
A Charter School is a Public School that is operated autonomously while remaining accountable to the sponsoring School District.
Charter Schools
- afford opportunities for accommodation for different learning styles
- encourage innovative teaching practices
- encourage community and parent involvement in public education
- are often smaller and can provide greater responsiveness to community needs
- operate with greater freedom while still accountable to the district, parents and the public.
Charter schools are funded by state tax dollars based on the number of students enrolled. They are, by definition, tuition-free.
The "Charter" is a performance contract with the sponsoring district that spells out the program type and goals, details the school's mission, and states the methods of assessments and ways the school will measure success.
What is Montessori Education?
Montessori education is designed to help children with their task of development as they grow from childhood to maturity. The method’s principles are based on the natural development of the child.
Montessori education is built on the premise that all learners are individuals in style and interests. The individualized curriculum allows children to develop skills at their own pace. Children may work alone or in small or larger groups, and may move freely throughout the classroom and socialize, while learning to respect the learning process of others. The freedom to choose assists the child in constructing inner discipline and the ability to creatively problem solve.
Students are grouped into mixed-age classrooms that span three years. These mixed-age classrooms provide a greater range of curriculum options and reduced competition. Older children teach younger children, building confidence and competence. Peer learning also promotes cooperation and a sense of community. The flexibility of the classroom allows adaptation to the needs of the individual, regardless of the level of ability, learning style or social maturity.
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Maria Montessori 1870-1952
The founder of the Montessori Method, Maria Montessori was an Italian physician and educator who had the distinction of being the first woman to practice medicine in Italy. As a physician, Dr. Montessori worked with young children and became profoundly interested in their development. Through careful and exhaustive observation, she came to the realization that children construct their own personalities as they interact with their environment. She also observed their inner drive to learn as they spontaneously chose and worked with the didactic materials she developed.
Montessori studied children in many countries around the world, observing the universality of the laws of human development cross-culturally. She tirelessly continued her work throughout her life, deepening her understanding of the child and adding to the educational method. |
For more information on Montessori Education, please review our website, especially the Parent and Student Handbook, and/or visit the sites below. We also encourage you to make an appointment to visit our school, observe the classroom(s) at work, and speak with the staff.
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