Come and Experience our
Montessori Program
At St. Mary School, our Montessori program welcomes children ages 3–5 in preschool and continues through Montessori kindergarten. In a warm, faith-filled classroom, children choose purposeful, hands-on activities and explore at their own pace with guidance from their teachers. From pouring water and caring for classroom materials to exploring letters, sounds, and numbers, children build independence and confidence through everyday discoveries. As they grow from preschool into kindergarten, they take on new challenges, learn to care for others, and develop a love of learning that carries into the years ahead.
Why Montessori?
There’s a special kind of pride in hearing a child say, “I did it myself!” In our Montessori preschool and kindergarten, children have time to choose an activity, practice it, and persevere . Teachers observe closely and introduce new challenges as each child is ready. A preschooler might practice pouring water without spilling, while a kindergartener might use movable letters to build a first word. Along the way, children learn to stick with a task, ask for help, and care for the space they share with their classmates. These everyday experiences help children become more confident, independent learners.
What Children Explore in Montessori
From preschool through kindergarten, children explore five core areas through hands-on activities. As they grow, familiar materials give them a starting point for new challenges.
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Practical Life — Pouring, buttoning, and caring for classroom materials help children build coordination, concentration, and independence.
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Sensorial Learning — Sorting, matching, and comparing shapes, sounds, and textures help children notice and describe differences.
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Language — Stories, conversations, and letter-sound activities build vocabulary and lay the groundwork for reading and writing.
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Mathematics — Children count, sort, and work with beads and other materials to see and feel what numbers represent.
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Cultural Studies — Maps, plants, animals, and stories about people and places invite children to explore the world around them.
Montessori Staff
Our teachers bring more than 20 years of Montessori teaching experience to St. Mary School’s preschool and kindergarten program. They believe children learn best when they have room to explore, time to practice, and a teacher who knows when to step in and when to let them try on their own. By getting to know each child, our teachers can offer a new challenge when a child is ready and encouragement when something feels hard. They share in the joy of each small victory, from mastering a tricky button to reading a first word.
Tiffany Bezeau
Montessori Director & Preschool Teacher
Kayla Claypool
Montessori Preschool Assistant
Jennifer Arnold
Montessori Kindergarten Teacher
"We have been absolutely thrilled in the growth and development that our child has shown while in the Montessori preschool program at St. Mary. Our daughter has been challenged and supported to become the very best version of herself. The program has been a wonderful introduction to education which fosters a love of learning that every student deserves. St. Mary is invaluable to our family."
Chantel Langfels, parent