A new school about to open in Guelph is aimed at connecting the Montessori approach with outdoor learning.
Planted Seed Montessori School is set to open in September. Based out of Harcourt Memorial United Church on Dean Ave., principal Maren Vsetula says it happened because of the support of a dedicated group of parents.
“It has been a whirlwind, with a bit of a small army of parents and caregivers coming together to make this happen,” Vsetula said.
“The values of Montessori School and spending time outside just resonated with everyone involved. It’s been remarkable to be part of this group. They just picked it up and started running with it to get it going for the fall.”
The idea for a new school followed the closing of Village Hearth Community School at 20 Shelldale Cres.
“The school was partnered with the Guelph Outdoor School which was wonderful. But unfortunately, Village Hearth is closing,” Vsetula said.
To keep the tradition going, Montessori teachers from Village Hearth Community School, are gearing up to plant their seeds at the new school.
Montessori education offers a child-centred approach to learning, nurturing intellectual, social, emotional, and physical growth. It emphasizes the importance of adapting the learning environment to a child's development that promotes 'self-directed learning'.
Planted Seed Montessori embraces the benefits of outdoor and experiential learning to provide a well-rounded education for students in Grades 1-6 by developing a strong connection with the natural world while honing their academic skills.
“Teachers want to continue to have that consistency for students. And parents are just so excited to keep the process going for the students. We’ve just seen so much growth from these kids,” Vsetula said.
“Almost all of the parents here have been connected with the school for two to three years. They loved the experience, so, they approached the teachers right away, asking if they would like to continue in some way.”
One parent, Ashley Kizis, helped spearhead the idea for a new school.
“It’s just an incredible elementary experience for my child. He’s very curious, inquisitive, and hands on, so this is a model that really works well for him,” Kizis said.
“And with the outdoor element, students can take what they learn in the classroom and actually apply it outside. That’s an incredible opportunity.”
While located at Harcourt Memorial United Church, Planted Seed Montessori School has no religious or church affiliation.
“Along with classrooms, there is a gym, gardens, the river nearby, as well as other spaces to explore in the neighbourhood,” Vsetula said.
“It is so beautiful out here. The church is going through a process of becoming a community hub. so, it’s really exciting. We were introduced with this space at a great time.”
Vsetula has teaching experience within the public school system. Her son, Alex, once a student at Village Hearth Community School, is now looking forward to a new year at Planted Seed Montessori.
“I have been a vice-principal before. I used to teach in Nunavut. I did however grow up in Guelph. Now that we are back, it’s been really exciting to be part of this. The more I learn about the Montessori approach, the more fascinated I am with it,” Vsetula said.
Vsetula says this model of learning might work for some kids and maybe not for others.
“Along with consistency, it is a huge benefit to have small class sizes with focused time on individual learning,” Vsetula said.
With no public funding, Planted Seed is tuition driven.
“We want to keep it at a level that’s not exorbitant for families. The plan and hope is to have a model where we will be able to offer subsidies in the future,” Vsetula said.
The hope and vision for the future is that the school will grow.
“We really want to bring in Grades 7 and 8, to keep our students here longer and offer this to the community. Currently, there is no Montessori Grade 7 and 8 program in Guelph. We would love to be able to do that, and possibly expand the other way too by offering Kindergarten,” Vsetula said.
“Every school has great things about it. But this one just offers another option."
Kizis says it could not have been possible without a group of parents who joined together, and who believe in what Planted Seed Montessori School is all about.
“A community of parents came together to make this happen,” she said. “And you just don’t find that anywhere else.”
