What Is Hope Montessori Academy?

When you search for Montessori schools near you, an overwhelming number of schools may come up. From small, independent schools to networks of schools with multiple campuses, it may be hard to tell the difference between all the Montessori schools in your area. When searching for schools in St. Louis, you might wonder what Hope Montessori Academy is.

Hope Montessori Academy School is a Montessori school with five different campuses in the St. Louis area. They have been open since 1972 and offer programs for children from infancy to kindergarten age.

So, if you’ve considered Hope Montessori Academy for your child's education, keep reading to find out what they’re all about.

What Is Hope Montessori Academy?

Hope Montessori Academy has offered authentic Montessori programs in St. Louis since 1972. Their school includes programs for infants, toddlers, preschoolers, and kindergarten-age children. Further, at Hope Montessori Academy schools, they value the individual nature of every student and aim to build each child’s confidence by encouraging independence and personal accountability.

The mission of this school is to support each child’s development so they may become competent and responsible citizens with a passion for lifelong learning. Each program offers children the freedom to explore the peaceful classroom environment while collaborating with other students. The heart of Hope Montessori Academy is its academically rich curriculum.

Curriculum at Hope Montessori Academy

At the heart of every educational method is the curriculum. Even though Montessori education typically offers children the ability to explore and discover the classroom environment on their own, there’s still a lot of work put into the lessons and structured environment where children are offered freedom with limits.

Like many Montessori programs, the curriculum at Hope Montessori Academy focuses on practical life, sensorial learning, math, language, culture, and reading. Children are building academic and social skills even from the youngest age in infancy. Each program also offers extracurricular activities such as dance, music, and aerobics. 

Infant and Toddler Program

The infant and toddler program at Hope Montessori Academy is a warm and nurturing environment for young children. The Montessori educators can give each child individualized care and attention due to small class sizes and low teacher-to-student ratios.

Preschool

The program for preschool children is taught by certified Montessori teachers and assistant teachers. Children participate in small group lessons and explore the Montessori materials through independent learning. The self-correcting materials available allow children to be challenged, while still learning at their own pace and developing problem-solving skills.

Kindergarten

The certified Montessori teachers in the kindergarten program focus on educating the whole child. Children learn from a developmentally appropriate curriculum to prepare them for the first grade. Since the curriculum focuses on social, emotional, and cognitive development, many children excel in the first grade after leaving the Montessori environment.

Summer Camp

Hope Summer Camp is offered to families so children can engage with other students and create memories during the summer months. Specifically, they offer full-day, half-day, and extended care programs to meet the needs of all families.

During summer camp, children participate in arts and crafts, field trips, music, and science experiments. Since outdoor exploration is essential to the Montessori environment, children are also able to play outdoors, explore nature, and take swimming classes during camp.

Hope Montessori Academy locations

Hope Montessori Academy has grown throughout its long history and now has five different campuses, all within the St. Louis area. The numerous campuses ensure there’s a school near families in different areas of St. Louis, and all campuses are aligned with the same mission and vision. Their locations include:

• Creve Coeur
• Infant Toddler Community
• Des Peres
• Wildwood
• Lake St. Louis

While campuses share the same mission and vision, at Hope Montessori Academy, each campus is unique and the programs vary by location. You can gain more information about each campus on their website, as well as their campus facility and hours of operation.

Creve Coeur

The Creve Coeur campus enrolls children from 3 years old to kindergarten age. This campus was the first Hope Montessori Academy location and includes classrooms with a home-like environment to help students feel comfortable. For outdoor exploration, the school is surrounded by a wooded area, and it's near Millennium Park, which is often visited by the classes at Hope Montessori.

Infant Toddler Community

The Infant Toddler Community campus enrolls children from 6 weeks to 3 years old. The play area is set up to encourage self-mastery, even for the youngest students. The infant program is for children 6 weeks to 18 months, and the toddler program is for children 15 months to 3 years. There are also several beautiful and secure playgrounds on campus for the children to enjoy.

Des Peres

The Des Peres campus enrolls children from 6 weeks to kindergarten age. Full- and half-day programs are available for the preschool and kindergarten programs. There are plenty of opportunities throughout the day for children of all ages to participate in outdoor play. The campus also includes several playgrounds and a nature trail for children to safely explore with their class.

Wildwood

The Wildwood campus has programs for children from 6 weeks to kindergarten. This campus includes spacious classrooms, a library, an art studio, and a gymnasium. Each classroom includes large windows to let in natural light and plenty of space in their outdoor play area. Also, the outdoor area includes playgrounds, nature trails, a soccer field, and a basketball court. 

Lake St. Louis

The Lake St. Louis campus enrolls children from 6 weeks to 6 years old. Students are encouraged to reach their full potential through independent activities, and by engaging with Montessori materials. They offer a full-time program and part-time morning classes. In addition to indoor learning, there is an outdoor area for children to explore.

What Are the Benefits of a Montessori School?

Montessori education has had its criticisms over the years. However, as more studies come out, it’s clear there are many benefits to Montessori education, especially for young preschool children.

Although a child can start a Montessori program at any time, children tend to receive the most benefits when they begin Montessori at a young age and stay in a Montessori program for several years. Unlike a traditional classroom environment, teachers design every detail of a Montessori classroom to foster independence and problem-solving skills. Without a doubt, one of the aspects of an authentic Montessori environment is the presence of qualified Montessori educators and staff.

Hope Montessori Educational Institute

Hope Montessori Academy has a dedicated teacher training program called Hope Montessori Educational Institute. Their mission is to help teachers develop a passion for learning and encourage them to explore new ways to teach the students in their future classrooms.

At the Hope Montessori Educational Institute, the qualified trainers prepare teachers for the responsibilities of leadership within the Montessori community. Certainly, this training allows teachers to carry on the philosophies of Dr. Maria Montessori for future generations. The Hope Montessori Educational Institute is accredited by the American Montessori Society (AMS) and the Montessori Accreditation Council for Teacher Education (MACTE.)   

Choosing the Right Montessori School in St. Louis

If you’re looking for a Montessori school for your child in or near St. Louis, you might consider Hope Montessori Academy. There are numerous Montessori schools out there, but despite the name “Montessori,” each school varies based on its classroom environment, certifications, staff, and curriculum. 

One of the benefits of Hope Montessori Academy is they offer a program for younger children so your child can stay at the same Montessori school from infancy to kindergarten. Additionally, it is a well-established school that has fine-tuned its curriculum and operations and they have provided families with quality Montessori education for over 50 years. To start the enrollment process, each campus requires an application for admission, and you can schedule a tour of any campus by contacting Hope Montessori Academy.

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