The journey of a lifetime begins here
Kevin Smith, Boone (Toddler starting January 2023), Brooke Smith,
Max (Primary I) and George (Lower Elementary II).

World's exceeding need for kindness taught
from the beginning
Since our founding in 1976, more than 1,000 children have gotten their start at Mountaineer Montessori School.

The love of learning ignited during their time at MMS has propelled these students to go far and aim high. No matter where their paths lead, the Montessori magic continues to empower their potential and inspire a bright future for themselves, their communities and our world.

"The journey of a lifetime starts here," the 2022 MMS Annual Appeal, provides essential funding that enables us to sustain this tradition and fuel tomorrows for today's students.

The campaign is now in full swing and we invite you to make your tax-deductible donations today by texting mmsjourney to 76278 or visiting the campaign platform.
As part of our campaign, students, families, teachers and alumni are sharing their Montessori story to highlight the impact and gift of an MMS education.


This is the story of the Smiths, a new MMS family:


MMS came highly recommended by other families; Kevin's colleagues gave the school a glowing review. Our family is naturally drawn to Maria Montessori's peaceful curriculum of empowering children and making them feel safe and supported to become who they are and the best they can be on their own terms. MMS has a strong history of excellence both inside and outside the classroom, offering field experience, extracurriculars and a sense of community that sealed the deal for our choosing to send our children there. When the world can seem big and overwhelming, MMS offers the sanctity of routine, growth and low-pressure learning, allowing children to truly bloom in their own time. We look forward to our youngest son entering the toddler program in 2023.
 
What has been your experience as a new MMS family?

Our family moved to Charleston during the beginning of the pandemic when the world was full of fear and unknowns. MMS offered our children a world of calm, safety and camaraderie in a time when the outside world felt chaotic and isolated. As a new family we felt confident in the leadership of MMS to navigate changing procedures and safety concerns, always feeling informed and our children well cared for. After a transition period our children have thrived at MMS, bonding with peers and teachers and blossoming into readers and math-lovers. Their academic and social growth at MMS has reassured us that MMS was the right choice for our family. Our children have gained a huge sense of pride since entering MMS, pride in themselves, pride in their peers and teachers and pride in their classroom.

Do your children have any favorite Montessori lessons or materials that they talk about?

In Primary I, Maxwell loves his sense of duty, of knowing what tasks are expected of him and that he is an important part of a cohesive classroom community. He knows he is important, that he is welcome and needed. His love of math has blossomed in lessons with number beads and he loves to explore geometry in the form of shapes and modeling. He loves to quiz us with math equations driving in the car and at dinner.

In Lower Elementary I, George has developed a great love of reading and story-telling and his comprehension and ability to create his own comics and short stories has rocketed. His art class has grown in him a deep love of drawing and illustrating which has pushed him to learn animation and video editing for his stories at home.

The theme of this year's campaign is "The journey of a lifetime begins here." What are your hopes for your children in the future and how do you see their time at MMS staying with them in the years ahead?

For us, the Montessori experience helps develop a child's sense of self alongside their academic skill. For our children we wish only that they grow and become who they are, who they choose to be, and feel loved, safe and supported in the process. The importance and balance of community and self-reliance and the world's exceeding need for kindness are taught from the beginning at MMS. We hope the academic and social foundation set at MMS will allow our children to grow as individuals and develop a sense of responsibility for themselves, to their communities and to their neighbors.
We're in this together!
To thank you for your Annual Appeal donation, MMS will hold a drawing at the end of the December 21 Winter Concert some very special, very Montessori gifts:

  • All donors of gifts of at least $50 will be entered into drawings for a free week at Campessori 2023 (value: $250) and one free quarter Plus session (value: up to $400)  

  • All donors of gifts of any size will be entered into drawings for sets of four M water bottles

Join us as we stand together for our school, our community and world!
Your tax-deductible donation is an investment in:

  • Facilities: continuing indoor and outdoor learning environment enhancements for all students, including new signage and facade upgrades at Staunton and a climbing structure for our toddler community.

  • Faculty: teacher appreciation and training funds and ongoing accreditation initiatives through the AMS Pathways to Continuous School Improvement process. MMS invested more than $75,000 in out-of-state and local Montessori training and professional development, teacher bonuses and contributions to the staff retirement funds last year--a number we hope to increase in 2022-23.

  • Families: widen community access to our programs by increasing financial aid and scholarships from $56,000 in 2021-22 to $72,000 in 2022-23.
 
This year's goal is $20,000 and we budget for 100 percent participation.

No gift is too small to make a difference.

It's as easy as texting mmsjourney to 76278