North Star Montessori Academy

Upper Elementary students had an incredible opportunity to explore the world of aquatic ecosystems through the Benthic Bugs and Water Quality program with the Marquette County Conservation District.

Equipped with waders, nets, and buckets, students entered Norwald Creek to collect macroinvertebrate samples firsthand. They then sorted and identified the organisms they found, learning how these small creatures can serve as indicators of stream health and water quality.

Through this hands-on investigation, students gained a deeper understanding of local ecosystems, scientific observation, and environmental stewardship. It was a fantastic field trip filled with authentic learning and discovery for our Upper Elementary students! 🌿🦋💧

✨ Does Montessori Still Have a Place in Education 100 Years Later?

Absolutely... and perhaps now more than ever.

In a world where children need independence, critical thinking, emotional intelligence, and a deep love of learning, Montessori’s century old principles feel surprisingly future ready. 🌱

What Dr. Maria Montessori observed in children in 1907 still holds true today:
⭐ Children learn best through hands on exploration
⭐ They thrive when trusted with responsibility
⭐ They flourish in environments designed for their developmental needs
⭐ They become confident, capable, self motivated learners when given freedom within structure

As education continues to evolve, Montessori isn’t fading, it’s becoming a powerful answer to the challenges modern classrooms face. From early childhood to adolescence, Montessori remains a timeless approach that grows with the child, not around them. 🌍💡

-North American Montessori Center

Come see us today 4:00-6:00!

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Thank you, Kyann for sharing this amazing story with our school!

Today was a truly special day for SWREC and for me personally. 💚

Thanks to the incredible generosity of a local business in our community — who wishes to remain anonymous — each of the MAPS elementary school libraries, the Bothwell Middle School library, and the North Star Montessori Academy library, now have copies of Oscar’s Second Chance - A Wildlife Rehab Story - available for their students to learn from and enjoy. 📚

I had the honor of personally hand delivering the books to the schools today, and it was such a meaningful experience knowing that local children will now have access to a story centered around accurate wildlife rehab information, community support, and second chances.

This book was written not only to share Oscar’s story, but also to help inspire kindness toward wildlife and support my dream of building the Upper Peninsula’s first wildlife rehab center.

Thank you to everyone who continues to support SWREC, this book, and our mission. Seeing this story reach local school libraries means more than words can express. 💚

— Kyann B. Clarke
Superior Wildlife Rehab & Education Center

Please join us Wednesday, May 20th from 4:00-6:00 to tour our classrooms, meet our teachers and learn more about what makes North Star Montessori Academy so special.

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Today Upper Elementary classes had a very special visitor, Leah Kirchhoff from Western Michigan University, who taught us all about Great Lakes shipwrecks.

Students explored how scientists and historians study shipwrecks and learned about the stories behind some of the ships that rest beneath the lakes. One highlight was using a marine traffic app, which shows real-time locations and movements of ships on the water. It helped students see how busy the Great Lakes still are today and how navigation plays an important role in safety.

We also had the opportunity to explore interactive 3D shipwreck models through 3dshipwrecks.org. Students were able to examine detailed underwater scans of shipwrecks, almost like taking a virtual dive beneath the surface.

It was an engaging and memorable experience that brought Great Lakes history to life in a whole new way.

Happy teacher appreciation week to our amazing teachers!

Our big school laminator is broken and we are trying to raise funds to purchase a new one. A new laminator is between $1,500-$2,000.

Please consider donating as a thank you to the hard working teachers of NSMA! You can donate using PTO Venmo or drop off a donation at the school office!

A huge thank you to Texas Roadhouse for dropping off a delicious treat for our teachers and special valentine cards for our students 🥰