Article by Jodi Anderson

When is a middle school not a middle school? When it’s more. Following a plan set forth by the original founders and written charter for DCS Montessori Charter School (DCSM), plans are approved and in motion for the start of a DCSM Middle School for the 2012/2013 academic school year.

The team behind this movement wants more for its students than rote lesson or memorization. Instead, they envision education built around an experiential, social experience. While the state and district standards will continue to be met at the highest levels, DCSM also wants to build upon the strength of brain development and potential in this age group by helping them to learn some of the toughest lessons encountered at this age range; who they are and what their place in the world will be.

Through a common goal, the DCSM board and staff are working to develop a curriculum built on helping students to learn how the world works through the real-life application of Math, Language Arts, Latin, Humanities (Social Studies/History) and Occupations (Sciences). The possible concerns about sports, electives, and enrichment activities have been addressed and met. There is already in place collaborations between other small school communities to ensure DCSM Middle School students have access to these areas which are available in a larger middle school setting.

Head of School Jeromy Johnson shares that this implementation moved forward about two years ago with dialogue concerning a strategic plan for where DCSM wanted to go and how to get there. The formalities of community surveys, presentation of the plan to the board and parents, formal training for staff leadership for the middle school arena were performed along with a commitment by the DCSM family to support and help make this program the best it can be for the students. “We’re excited and realize there is a lot of work to be done,” Johnson remarked.

Mike Catalano, an upper elementary teacher at DCSM, spent his summer receiving middle school training through the Montessori Middle School Orientation program in Ohio. Catalano, alongside Johnson, has been spearheading and supporting this initiative after seeing a need for his graduating sixth grade students to have the same opportunities and growth that the Montessori program had provided through that grade level.

With a 13 year history, DCSM has in place a stable foundation for its preschool through sixth grade community, which makes forward motion and growth possible as it will add to the already existing programs.

Through the implementation of Micro-Enterprises, core classes, and electives, DCS Montessori Middle School will work to provide a developmentally appropriate prepared environment, informed by the educational philosophy of Maria Montessori, to “provide the young adolescent with a vision of the adult they will become, instill in them a belief that they can and will make a positive contribution to their world; and allow experience of deep academic content in personally meaningful context.”

Join us on the pioneer journey as DCSM Middle School becomes a long awaited reality. For questions about the new DCSM Middle School, e-mail admin@dcsmontessori.org.