Village Gate Middle School Mission Statement
“Education cannot be effective unless it helps a child to open up himself to life.”
~ Maria Montessori
At Village Gate Middle School we provide the space, support and resources for the adolescent who is, in Montessori’s words, “at the work of constructing that greatest marvel of the Universe, the human being.“ Given equal parts independence and thoughtful guidance, Village Gate students explore, take risks, make mistakes, learn and grow; they seek knowledge as a means to achieve real-life endeavors; they develop meaningful relationships with adults and peers; and they begin to understand humanity and what it means to be one of its members.
To these ends teachers act as mentors who "help [students] do it alone" by providing a curriculum that responds to the interests, needs, and abilities of students. Middle School students participate in a wealth of practical life activities that promote the development of skills that will serve them as adults. A student-run business, opportunities for leadership roles, participation in the Montessori Model United Nations and community service all demand successful time and money management, independence, critical thinking, cooperation, communication, character growth, mentoring and socialization.
Because Middle school serves as a bridge between the years of play and hands-on learning in elementary school and the traditional style of lecture and independent work in high school and college, we strive to balance engaging, project based work with the development of the crucial skills necessary for students' future academic success. Students are taught to develop effective study habits and to identify and take advantage of resources including books, the Internet and the community in order to conduct research. Special attention is also given to the recognition of individual learning styles, and a combination of teaching methods includes student led discussion, lecture, hands-on activities, fieldtrips, group and individual projects, and dramatic performances. Testing is used for students to reflect, revise, and grow. Portfolio assessments and student-led conferences ensure meaningful reflection and goal setting.
Maria Montessori made the same observation in 1948 that leading education reformers, organizational psychologists, and social scientists are making today—that the world is changing so rapidly and in such unpredictable ways that the best preparation we can give young people is the ability to adapt nimbly to the variability of modern life while at the same time stay rooted in a deep knowledge of themselves and their role in society. In Montessori’s words, “In this fierce battle of civil life a man must have a strong character and quick wits as well as courage. For success in life depends in every case on self-confidence and the knowledge of one’s own capacity and many-sided powers of adaptation.” Montessori’s solution to the challenge of educating adolescents in this way was to provide a “school of experience in the elements of social life,” and this is precisely what we aim to provide at Village Gate Middle School.
~ Maria Montessori
At Village Gate Middle School we provide the space, support and resources for the adolescent who is, in Montessori’s words, “at the work of constructing that greatest marvel of the Universe, the human being.“ Given equal parts independence and thoughtful guidance, Village Gate students explore, take risks, make mistakes, learn and grow; they seek knowledge as a means to achieve real-life endeavors; they develop meaningful relationships with adults and peers; and they begin to understand humanity and what it means to be one of its members.
To these ends teachers act as mentors who "help [students] do it alone" by providing a curriculum that responds to the interests, needs, and abilities of students. Middle School students participate in a wealth of practical life activities that promote the development of skills that will serve them as adults. A student-run business, opportunities for leadership roles, participation in the Montessori Model United Nations and community service all demand successful time and money management, independence, critical thinking, cooperation, communication, character growth, mentoring and socialization.
Because Middle school serves as a bridge between the years of play and hands-on learning in elementary school and the traditional style of lecture and independent work in high school and college, we strive to balance engaging, project based work with the development of the crucial skills necessary for students' future academic success. Students are taught to develop effective study habits and to identify and take advantage of resources including books, the Internet and the community in order to conduct research. Special attention is also given to the recognition of individual learning styles, and a combination of teaching methods includes student led discussion, lecture, hands-on activities, fieldtrips, group and individual projects, and dramatic performances. Testing is used for students to reflect, revise, and grow. Portfolio assessments and student-led conferences ensure meaningful reflection and goal setting.
Maria Montessori made the same observation in 1948 that leading education reformers, organizational psychologists, and social scientists are making today—that the world is changing so rapidly and in such unpredictable ways that the best preparation we can give young people is the ability to adapt nimbly to the variability of modern life while at the same time stay rooted in a deep knowledge of themselves and their role in society. In Montessori’s words, “In this fierce battle of civil life a man must have a strong character and quick wits as well as courage. For success in life depends in every case on self-confidence and the knowledge of one’s own capacity and many-sided powers of adaptation.” Montessori’s solution to the challenge of educating adolescents in this way was to provide a “school of experience in the elements of social life,” and this is precisely what we aim to provide at Village Gate Middle School.