Welcome!
On behalf of the Board of Directors and Staff, I am pleased to welcome you and your child. We are delighted that you are inquiring about our school. Mount Hope has been serving the community since 1961. Over the years, the services offered by the school have changed and adapted to the needs of the community. This is especially true now that we are facing a global health crisis.
Mount Hope has full day and half day programs. We have a primary class that serves children aged 3-5 and a toddler class with children who are approximately two years old. Each classroom is guided by Montessori certified teachers and their assistants. We are working closely with our local health department and state agencies to ensure that we have a safe year. Our small classes provide an amazing opportunity for individualized attention from our teachers who have between 10 and over 20 years of experience.
Feel free to call or email to schedule an appointment, either virtually or in person. Observing a classroom will give you a better understanding of the environment, the interaction between teachers and children, the socialization process between the children, and how a Montessori classroom works. Under normal circumstances, we are happy to have visitors. As we face the upcoming year with stricter social-distance guidelines in place, we invite you to take part in a virtual or weekend tour.
Again, a warm welcome to you and your child.
Erin Clark, Director
Mount Hope Montessori School
EVENTS
- Explore Montessori is the first Friday of the month from 9:30-11:00 *dates to be announced
- Open House at Mount Hope Montessori School
*dates to be announced - Summer Program-email by 6/15 if interested mthopemontessori@snet.net
Our History
Mount Hope Montessori School was founded in 1961, and consisted of two rooms in the home of Edie Cary on the Mount Hope River. Twelve children were enrolled that first year. The school grew rapidly, and became a training site for Montessori teachers. In 1969, the school was officially designated a not-for-profit 501 (c) (3) corporation.
In 1974, enrollment grew to 52 children in two sessions, and the school moved to a larger facility, located the Lutheran Church in Storrs. The following year, it became obvious that the school had grown quickly beyond the capacity of that larger facility! Through the generosity of a parent, our present school was constructed in 1975, and was designed with 4 classrooms, one of which now serves as our before and after school child care program room.
Over the years devoted, talented teachers have joined the staff and have helped Mount Hope become the excellent school it is today. Friends, alumni, and parents have generously given their time, and monetary donations, to keep us growing!
Our director, Erin Clark, reports to a Board of Directors who see to the continued “health and wellness” of the school both physically and financially. The Board is composed of 11 members, 10 of whom are elected to their positions for a two-year term. We welcome parents, former parents (and grandparents), and community members to our Board. In addition to the Board members, meetings are attended by a Staff Representative, a non-voting position currently held by Donna Clouette.
Aphrodite Provitas
Teacher
Rebecca Faust
Teacher
Donna Clouette
Curriculum Coordinator
Sarah Gautie-Ferreira
Teacher
Kate Balletto
Teacher
Kari Nowosielski
Curriculum Consultant
Erin Clark
Director
Teacher Bios
Aphrodite Provitas
Rebecca Faust
Sarah Gautie-Ferreira
Kate Balletto
Our Philosophy
Our approach to your child’s education is based on the findings of Doctor Maria Montessori’s extensive studies of how children learn and absorb at every age. Our pre-school and kindergarten program is based on Doctor Montessori’s educational philosophy; her studies revealed that:
Children have a natural desire to learn, and they learn through direct action with their environment.
Children can develop a good sense of self in an environment that is prepared to help them make choices, to experiment, to meet their emotional, social, intellectual, and physical needs, to refine and challenge their skills, and to meet their interests at the very time the interests are expressed.
Children learn best in a child-centered classroom where the teacher is a guide and an observer. The teacher uses these observations to learn about each child in order to better meet their individual needs and interests.
Children already possess a world of knowledge and skills, which they need to develop and refine by acquiring the skills that will enable them to go above and beyond what they know and are able to do.
School must be a safe and nurturing environment in which child-teacher interactions create maturing insights and enable children to be responsible for themselves and others.
The quality of a school is achieved through the cooperation of knowledgeable and caring teachers and parents who believe in and subscribe to high educational and ethical standards.
The Montessori environment provides your child’s first sense of community – an ordered world that promotes creativity, self-respect, and a love of learning.
Mount Hope Montessori also offers several other advantages:
A small, creative, nurturing school environment.
Our toddler class, for children who are about two years old, meets 3 or 4 times per week for a half day.
In our primary class, we offer both 4 day and 5 day, half day and full day programs so you can choose exactly what your child needs.
Our teachers have been with us for many years (two of them for 20+ years). This ensures your child receives extremely dedicated, experienced, caring teachers.
We have an exceptional pre-school and kindergarten academic environment, and there are many reasons that your child should stay with us through their kindergarten year. Please click the following link (25 reasons) for further information.
CONTACT
Contact us by using the form to the right, or use our contact information listed below. Street Address: 48 Bassetts Bridge Road Mansfield Center, CT 06250 Mailing Address: PO Box 267 Mansfield Center, 06250 Phone: (860) 423-1070Email:
mthopemontessori@snet.net
Questions and Answers:
Click here to view our FAQs.
Ask us about our new program - Toddlers in Action!
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