Philosophy

The Carolyn Barron Montessori School was founded in 1993 to foster a love of learning and to educate children to be caring, socially responsible citizens of their community and world. The educational programs at CBMS involve children from 1.5 years of age through 14 years of age in five different programs: Toddler, Primary, Lower Elementary, Upper Elementary and Middle School. CBMS seeks to educate the whole child, applying the Montessori philosophy, in a family-oriented environment. The philosophy is based on the principles of Dr. Maria Montessori whose holistic vision of education focuses on the cognitive, social, emotional and physical needs of the child. For Dr. Montessori, and for CBMS, education is preparation for life.

Mission

For the children we serve, we are committed to a prepared, stimulating environment nurturing a lifetime love of learning.

Vision

Guided by our strategic plan, our objective for the future is simple – to provide an unsurpassed Montessori education in which our students are prepared to lead, love learning, and make a difference in the world.

Core Values

Lifelong Learning:  We provide engaged, purposeful learning opportunities that promote a love of lifelong learning.

Maria Montessori:  “Education is a natural process carried out by the child and is not acquired by listening to words but by experience in the environment.”

Respect:  We value self-respect, mutual respect, respect for others, and respect for our environment.  By showing compassion and integrity, we provide a safe and nurturing environment that encourages the appreciation of joy and wonderment of childhood.

Maria Montessori:  “Respect all the reasonable forms of activity in which the child engages and try to understand them.  Children are human beings to whom respect is due, superior to us by reason of their innocence and of the greater possibilities of their future.”

Independence:  We value the child’s ability to learn independence in a carefully guided and prepared environment. We believe in an atmosphere of order and beauty which allows each individual to strive to his or her fullest potential.

Maria Montessori:   “The essence of independence is to be able to do something for one’s self.”

Global Citizenship:  We embrace that knowledge of our world and our position in it is the vehicle for creating a path to awareness, understanding, compassion, and true peace.

Maria Montessori:  “Within each child lies the fate of the future. The child is both a hope and a promise of mankind.”

Responsibility:  We understand that we are responsible for our individual actions and how these actions affect others abilities to act.  We are responsible to ensure that our core values are a part of our everyday life.

Maria Montessori:  “Character formation cannot be taught.  It comes from experience and not from explanation.”

Community:  We strive to create a peaceful, supportive, compassionate and welcoming community, where understanding and respect for differences lead to appreciation, self-reflection, confidence and personal growth.

Maria Montessori:  “Our care of the child should be governed, not by the desire to make him learn things, but by the endeavor always to keep burning within him that light which is called intelligence.”