Montessori Community School

At Montessori Community School, learning extends far beyond the walls of the classroom. 🌿

Across our nature-rich campus, students grow alongside the environment around them, building a relationship with the land, its ecosystems, and their community throughout every stage of their Montessori journey.

From their earliest years in Toddler and Primary, students begin exploring and connecting with the natural world through outdoor discovery and care for their environment. As they move into Lower and Upper Elementary, those experiences deepen through greater responsibility and hands-on learning within the spaces that make our campus so unique.

By the time students reach our Adolescent Community, they are not simply learning about these environments. They are actively working within them.

Our adolescent students help steward two beautiful wetlands, tend expansive garden spaces, care for chickens and collect fresh eggs, and participate in beekeeping experiences that allow them to help harvest honey from our campus hives.

Through this work, students develop confidence, responsibility, collaboration, environmental stewardship, and a deeper understanding of how their actions impact the world around them.

These experiences embody the heart of Montessori education: real-world learning with meaningful purpose.

At MCS, nature is not just part of our campus. It is woven into the learning experience from the very beginning, growing alongside our students every step of the way.

To learn more about our programs, and how our students grow from program to program, click the link in our bio.

Heads up, MCS Community! We have something truly amazing coming up!

Join us for An Evening of Voices
Tuesday, May 26 | 5:45–7:45 PM

Celebrate the power of stories, music, creativity, and community at this year’s Book Fair event in partnership with Quail Ridge Bookstore!

This year’s theme, Voices, highlights the many perspectives and lived experiences that literature brings to life — a celebration of all people and the stories that connect us.

Enjoy:

🎙️ Student poetry & book showcases
🎧 A Voices Recording Station
🔎 A Family Scavenger Hunt
📖 Curated book selections for all ages
🎵 Live music & storytelling with Sarah McCombie and Austin McCombie

Sarah McCombie — former MCS music teacher and author of Abigail — will share the journey of turning a song into a story, perform music inspired by the book alongside Austin McCombie, and sign copies during the event!

PLUS — test your family’s literary knowledge for a chance to win a copy of Abigail 👀

"Once there was a tree... and she loved a little boy."

Do you know the book?

We can’t wait to celebrate an evening full of stories, voices, and connection with our community.

Heads Up, MCS Community! We have something truly amazing coming up!

Join us for An Evening of Voices
Tuesday, May 26 | 5:45–7:45 PM

Celebrate the power of stories, music, creativity, and community at this year’s Book Fair event in partnership with Quail Ridge Bookstore!

This year’s theme, Voices, highlights the many perspectives and lived experiences that literature brings to life — a celebration of all people and the stories that connect us.

Enjoy:
🎙️ Student poetry & book showcases
🎧 A Voices Recording Station
🔎 A Family Scavenger Hunt
📖 Curated book selections for all ages
🎵 Live music & storytelling with Sarah McCombie and Austin McCombie

Sarah McCombie — former MCS music teacher and author of Abigail — will share the journey of turning a song into a story, perform music inspired by the book alongside Austin McCombie, and sign copies during the event!

PLUS — test your family’s literary knowledge for a chance to win a copy of Abigail 👀

"Once there was a tree... and she loved a little boy."

Do you know the book?

We can’t wait to celebrate an evening full of stories, voices, and connection with our community.

Join us for An Evening of Voices
Tuesday, May 26 | 5:45–7:45 PM

Celebrate the power of stories, music, creativity, and community at this year’s Book Fair event in partnership with Quail Ridge Bookstore!

This year’s theme, Voices, highlights the many perspectives and lived experiences that literature brings to life — a celebration of all people and the stories that connect us.

Enjoy:

🎙️ Student poetry & book showcases
🎧 A Voices Recording Station
🔎 A Family Scavenger Hunt
📖 Curated book selections for all ages
🎵 Live music & storytelling with Sarah McCombie and Austin McCombie

Sarah McCombie — former MCS music teacher and author of Abigail — will share the journey of turning a song into a story, perform music inspired by the book alongside Austin McCombie, and sign copies during the event!

PLUS — test your family’s literary knowledge for a chance to win a copy of Abigail 👀

"Once there was a tree... and she loved a little boy."

Do you know the book?

We can’t wait to celebrate an evening full of stories, voices, and connection with our community.

For a limited time: Apply and receive $100 off your application fee!

If you’ve been considering Montessori Community School, now is a wonderful time to take the next step.

At MCS, children are guided through a thoughtfully designed journey—from our nurturing Toddler program through Primary, Elementary, and into our Adolescent (Middle School) community. Each stage builds on the last, supporting independence, confidence, and a deep love of learning.

Our classrooms are intentionally prepared to foster curiosity and meaningful work, while our beautiful campus offers space for exploration, connection, and growth—both inside and out. Students are not only engaged academically, but are encouraged to think critically, collaborate, and develop a strong sense of self.

Families are often drawn to MCS for the strength of our academics and stay for the community—one that values respect, purpose, and the whole child. Our graduates leave prepared, confident, and ready for what comes next.

If you’ve been curious about what makes Montessori education—and MCS—so special, we invite you to explore it for yourself.

✨ Apply now and receive $100 off your application fee for a limited time.

👉 Start your application through the link in our bio

There’s something powerful about watching an MCS student grow… and then come back to show us how far they’ve gone.

2023 MCS Alum, Nora, returned to campus this year as part of an AP Research project, bringing her learning full circle in a deeply meaningful way. Her work explores how different approaches to environmental education—conversational learning versus art-based experiences—can shape how young students understand and connect with environmental ideas.

To bring her research to life, Nora stepped back into MCS classrooms, working directly with elementary students over multiple sessions—leading lessons, observing engagement, and gathering real-time insights from the very kind of learners she once was.

What resulted was a 5,000-word research paper and formal presentation, but the true impact of her work extends far beyond the final product.

Nora shares that her time at MCS laid the foundation for this experience—the curiosity, research habits, and care for learning that continue to guide her academic journey today.

Moments like this remind us what MCS is truly about: not just preparing students for the next step, but empowering students to return, contribute, and create work that makes a difference.

Once an MCS student. Always an MCS learner.

Last Friday was quite special for MCS and our community.

Over 200 grandparents and special friends joined us for Grands & Greats Day, filling our campus with connection, joy, and meaningful moments. The morning began together on the sport court before classrooms came alive with shared Montessori experiences—grandparents stepping right into their grandchildren’s daily work.

Our Lower Elementary students brought energy and joy through song, while our Adolescent Community shared reflections from their Puerto Rico trip—powerful moments that made the morning even more special.

That evening, hundreds more returned for Art Walk 🎨
Our campus transformed into a gallery, showcasing months of student creativity. Students beamed with pride seeing their work displayed, families connected, and a collaborative community mural brought everyone together.

Two events. One incredible day. A powerful reminder of the strength, creativity, and heart of our MCS community.

We are so grateful for every family, student, teacher, and volunteer who made it all possible 💙

✨ Step Into a Montessori Morning ✨

Curious what a real Montessori morning feels like? Come experience it for yourself.

Join us for Montexplori Morning at Montessori Community School on Saturday, April 18, from 9:00–11:00 AM—a hands-on, joy-filled event designed for children ages 15 months to 5 years and their families.

🌿 What to expect:
• Explore our Toddler and Primary classrooms in action
• Watch children working, choosing, and discovering independently
• Enjoy time on our beautiful outdoor spaces and playground
• Join a guided nature walk with one of our Primary teachers
• Connect with teachers and meet other families

Whether you're brand new to Montessori or already part of our community, this is a chance to truly feel what makes MCS so special.

✨ Current Families: Bring a friend who applies to MCS and receive tickets to our upcoming Gala!

While drop-ins are welcome, RSVPs are preferred. Follow the link below to RSVP!

https://forms.gle/2Mcc39sdkwgSnYyd9