Whitby Montessori Children’s House

Your child’s story begins in the part of our school that is home to Stepping Stones and Primary classrooms, which together make up our Whitby Montessori Children’s House (WMCH). We are accredited by the American Montessori Society (AMS), which is the gold standard of Montessori school excellence. Our WMCH program is dedicated to educating our youngest learners, and the motto here is “Follow the Child.” What does that mean? In well-ordered, developmentally appropriate classrooms, under the guidance of expertly trained, experienced, and caring teachers, children’s own love of exploration allows them to take the lead in their learning. Current research confirms that the first years of life are crucial in a child’s brain development. This is when children have the greatest capacity and appetite for learning – especially in language development and socialization. At Whitby, our entire program seeks to support young children (and their families) as they begin the journey of becoming lifelong learners. The WMCH is designed specifically to foster social and cognitive development and to lay the foundation for learning in multiple academic areas. Different learning sections of the room thoughtfully encourage children to explore practical life activities, sensorial experiences, math, language, culture, and science. Students in the WMCH learn to approach new challenges with confidence. They are empowered as readers, writers, critical thinkers, and mathematicians to become creative, well-informed, passionate, and joyful learners. Respected as individuals, our students think for themselves and are ready to begin their journey of learning and discovery. Whitby is recognized by three accrediting bodies – the American Montessori Society, the International Baccalaureate Organization, and the Connecticut Association of Independent Schools. All three accrediting bodies require an in-depth self-study that involves faculty, administration, and the Board of Trustees. and the parent community. The commendations and recommendations of the self-study, when validated by the accrediting agencies, ensure we remain focused on our mission and continue to be progressive in our commitment to providing an exceptional learning continuum for our students.