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A Brief History of the Montessori Academy
Who would have ever thought that a neighborhood gathering of moms with young children would result in the school known today as the Montessori Academy? Mothers have always enjoyed getting together to visit as their little ones play and interact. However, in the early 1960’s, Ellen Fox and some of her friends went a step further. They began to meet regularly at each other’s homes to study and discuss various educational philosophies. One day, they stumbled upon a magazine article about the Montessori Method. Their interest piqued; the group began ordering and reading books by and about Maria Montessori, and even started implementing some of her methods with their children. Some of the study group members attended lectures given by Mother Isabel Eugenie, AMI teacher trainer in the Montessori Department at the Academy of the Assumption at Raven Hill, Philadelphia. Mother Isabel, a woman then in her 70’s, had actually been trained by and worked alongside Dr. Montessori. The more the mothers learned, the more they desired a Montessori education for their own children. How could this be achieved? At that time there were very few Montessori schools in existence in the United States and most Montessori teachers were trained outside of America, many in Ireland, Italy or India. Upon discovering that most of these early schools had been started by parents, some in the study group became convinced they could do the same! To begin a school, they needed a teacher. They needed a classroom. They needed the special Montessori learning materials. A few of the mothers, namely Barbara Bichaylo, Marie Monaco, and Ellen Fox, encouraged by the rest in the group, began to actively search for a location and a teacher. As fate would have it, despite their rarity in 1965, an AMI trained Montessori Teacher with one year of experience was introduced to the group. The teacher, Miriam “Nikki” Harp, had recently moved to Haddonfield, and was delighted to join the group to establish a school in the area in which to teach. As a result of their efforts, on October 20, 1965, Infanta Montessori School opened in a classroom of the Corpus Christi School in Willingboro with 15 students. A lease was signed for $45 for the year, which included utilities and janitorial services! The school had its very own entrance, bathroom and even play yard. The following year, a second teacher, Carolyn Shaw, joined the staff. The growing school moved to the New Covenant Presbyterian Church in Rancocas Woods in June 1966. It then boasted two classes of 25 children each, plus a summer class. By the end of that year, the church decided to start its own nursery school so another location was needed. The Barn Arts Center on the just paved Conrow Road in Delran seemed like the perfect site! The surrounding fields, on which cows belonging to Millside Farms grazed, would provide a lovely country setting. Although adult and children’s art classes and the Burlington County Footlighters Theatre Group occupied part of the building, there was certainly room for Montessori classrooms during the week. And so, during the summer of 1967 Infanta Montessori School rented two large rooms in the ‘Barn” and the students, now sixty or more in number, enjoyed helping feed the horses, cows, pigs, goats and sheep which lived in the out buildings of their school. The five and six year old afternoon students also liked to sneak a peek into the Thursday afternoon adult art class that occupied an adjacent room. By 1970 the school had grown to four classes, and the dream of adding an elementary class was realized. In 1974, Extended Care was added to accommodate those parents whose children needed care before and after the regular school day. The school continued to expand. In 1990 a Toddler Class for little ones who are at least 18 months old was added and at the same time the school‘s name was changed to Montessori Academy. Through the years, art, chorus, Spanish, drama and gym classes were added to round out the older students’ curriculum. In 2007 an Adolescent Program for seventh and eighth graders was inaugurated. Currently, there are approximately 130 students enrolled in the school. Alumni who visit the Montessori Academy today are amazed to behold the incredible transformation of the Barn Arts Center! The school now has three stories of classrooms, kitchens, greenhouses, offices, and meeting rooms. The grassy fields have become gardens abundant with trees, bushes, flowers, herbs and wildlife. There are even some goats, sheep, hen and rabbits about for the children to feed, which in turn, gives them a sense of responsibility. The nature trail and new playgrounds are favorites of all the children. The Montessori Academy, begun by a group of parents interested in an education which would best develop their children’s potentials, and yet still welcomes parent involvement. The school is continuing to grow; there will be more history to write . . .
Early Staff 1966: (from left) Carolyn Shaw, 2nd Primary teacher; Lillian Gauvry, 1st assistant and ultimately the school's 1st Elementary teacher; Ellen Fox, Head of School; Miriam "Nikki" Harp, 1st Primary teacher. |
