Greetings!

Our mission, as a Catholic Montessori community, is to provide a learning environment that respects the uniqueness of each child in reaching his or her full potential. It is our goal to address the intellectual, emotional, physical, spiritual, and social growth of each child entrusted to our care. We do all of this in the spirit of service and preparation through Montessori pedagogy and practice.

The program at St. Joseph Montessori School is designed to achieve the following Portrait of a Graduate Characteristics for our students:

  • Students will be life-long learners: Many of our learning activities are individualized. Each child is involved in work which holds particular interest because it is geared to his or her own pace, repeating a task as often as desired, thus experiencing a series of successful achievements. In this manner, the child acquires a positive attitude toward learning.
  • Students will be confident: At St. Joseph Montessori School, work is planned so that each new step is built on what the child has already mastered, thereby removing the negative experience of frequent failure. Success after success builds up an individual’s inner confidence and provides assurance that learning is possible. These confidence-building experiences, in turn, contribute to the sound emotional development of the adult.
  • Students will be independent: At St. Joseph Montessori School, we give each child the gift of independence. This lets them know we value them and know they are capable. Children grow up feeling empowered and safe in their abilities to make sound choices. When we trust them, they learn to trust themselves; ultimately, they become happy and productive members of their communities.
  • Student will be curious: In a rapidly changing society such as ours, we must all be students during our entire lifetime. Providing students with opportunities to discover qualities, dimensions, and relationships, amidst the rich variety of learning situations, we nurture the development of a natural desire to learn in such a way that the child acquires a habit of being curious, an essential element of creative learning.
  • Students will be global citizens: Each child is involved in activities and opportunities which broaden his or her vision of the world. Through collaborative work, care of the environment, global education, and conflict resolution, the child gains an appreciation of personal and social responsibilities and acceptance of human differences.

For fifty-two years we have been a highly respected school in the Columbus community, grounded in the Montessori philosophy. In 1968, Sister Anne McCarrick had a dream of offering the children of the Columbus area an authentic Montessori education. Sister Anne went on to become an influential trainer of teachers, an American Montessori Society Living Legacy, and I know she would be proud of the school she founded. (We will be celebrating our very first Founder’s Day on May 1, 2020!)

Here at St. Joseph Montessori School, we provide a rich learning experience for students ages 3-15; creating an environment of respect, love, trust, joy, high educational standards, independence, and responsibility. This is a place where learning comes to life! And you, as families, are our partners in the journey.

Dr. Maria Montessori stated, “The secret of good teaching is to regard the child’s intelligence as a fertile field in which seeds may be sown, to grow under the heat of flaming imagination. Our aim is not only to make the child understand, and still less to force him to memorize, but so to touch his imagination as to enthuse him to his innermost core. We do not want complacent pupils, but eager ones. We seek to sow life in the child rather than theories, to help him in his growth, mental and emotional as well as physical, and for that, we must offer grand and lofty ideas to the human mind.” This is a quote concisely pulling together the main philosophy behind the Montessori methods, on which our school was founded.

Every child is unique, and our Montessori faculty is trained and committed to nurturing those unique qualities in each child. In our family-like atmosphere, strong relationships are built between the teacher and child and between the parents and school. We believe these partnerships are essential for a fulfilling educational experience.

Welcome! We look forward to seeing you all tomorrow!

Brenda
SJMS is using Remind for emergency school communication.


Later today, we will launch our 2019 - 2020 Remind Program. If you listed a cell number on your contact sheet, will recieve a text message from Remind stating that you have joined the SJMS 2019 - 2020 list. Only the primary contact information for each student will be added to remind. If you have other individuals who you would like to recieve emergency communication from the school, please ask them to sign up for our distribution list by registering online or by texting @sjms2019 to the number 81010.

Attention Verizon Wireless customers: I n order to to receive important messages from SJMS through the Remind system, please take a minute now to  download the mobile app  or enable notifications —both of which are free of charge.  

Remind is used by SJMS for emergency communication only. This includes school closings and delays.
Pizza Friday begins on Friday, August 30.

Don't forget to pack a healthy lunch for your student on Friday, August 23 . If you haven't signed up for Pizza Friday, there's still time. Complete this form and return it to the SJMS Office by Friday, August 23rd.
Car Rider Line Reminders

  • SAFETY IS OUR FIRST PRIORITY. Please observe these guidelines to move traffic efficiently while keeping our children safe.
  • USE SLOW SPEEDS AT ALL TIMES IN THE PARKING LOT.
  • CAR ENTRANCE and EXIT: The entrance is ONLY from Hamlet Street and the exit is ONLY onto First Avenue.
  • SUMMIT STREET ENTRANCE: Please feel free to use this entrance. Press the buzzer to the left of the door for entry. Please note, parking is not free on the surface street around the school. Be mindful of the parking signs.
  • CROSSWALK and CROSSING GUARDS: Please cross at the marked crosswalk only. Obey staff crossing guards in the parking lot during drop-off and pick-up times.
  • FIRE LANE: The area in front of the main entrance MUST be kept clear for emergency vehicles. In the morning this area is reserved for DROP-OFF for all students, and, at 3:15 p.m. is used for PICK-UP students.
  • DO NOT BLOCK OTHER CARS when parking: Please be considerate of others.
  • NEVER LEAVE YOUR CAR UNATTENDED IN THE FIRE LANE.
  • PLEASE DO NOT PARK IN THE RECTORY’S CARPORT.

MORNING DROP-OFF  
  • CHILDREN’S HOUSE: To drop off your child, pull around to the main entrance as directed by the crossing guard. 7th and 8th grade students are on duty from 8:10 - 8:30 a.m. to walk younger children to their classrooms. This allows our oldest students to be leaders in our community. After the second week of school we discourage parents from walking children to the classroom. However, if you feel it necessary to walk your child to class, please park in a parking space and cross in the crosswalk. Please be mindful of independence for your child and how Montessori classrooms are designed to build independence. Allow your child the opportunity to show you their independence. Also, please be mindful of teachers’ time and their responsibility to the children in their care. Arrival is not the time for a parent-teacher conference. If you wish to speak with your child’s teacher, please schedule a time.  
  • ELEMENTARY: Use the drop-off area at the main entrance. Please use caution; 7th and 8th level students opening car doors and walking around cars are at risk from moving vehicles. Please drive slowly. Elementary aged children are independent in their ability to walk to class. Please do not walk your elementary aged children to class. 
  • BEFORE CARE: For Children’s House Students - please park in a parking space and walk your child (ren) to the Extended Day Room. For Lower Elementary, Upper Elementary, and Middle School – students can enter from either the Main or Summit Street entrances.  


MID-DAY PICK UP (12:30 p.m.) - Parking is generally not a problem at this time.


AFTERNOON PICK UP (3:15 p.m. to 3:30 p.m.) PLEASE OBEY THE CARPOOL DIRECTORS
Parking three rows deep is not permitted after 2:00 p.m. Park on Summit Street or Hamlet instead. 
  • CHILDREN’S HOUSE: Form one (1) line at the Main Entrance. Teachers will walk your children to the car. Please, do not get out of your vehicle. Staff members are not allowed to buckle your child into their car seat, booster seat, or seat belt. Most children, with practice, can do this independently.  
  • ELEMENTARY: Drive straight ahead when entering the parking lot and form three (3) lines of traffic facing the south end door of Ryan Hall (the gym). Please stay in your car. Upper Elementary School students will walk your children to your car.
  • If you have children in both CHILDREN'S HOUSE and ELEMENTARY, the following applies: Kindergarteners will be with older children at the Ryan Hall door. If younger children are ages 3 or 4, all children will be at the main entrance.
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