About

Who We Are & What We Believe

 

Our Mission

West Side Montessori inspires children to reach their potential and, in partnership with families, promotes independence, mutual respect, and social responsibility.
 

We Believe

We believe that each child is unique and capable. We believe in nurturing the whole child by creating a community where the heart of the child is as important as challenging the intellect. We believe that the community of the child, parent, and educator is the foundation of the school's success.

Montessori Philosophy

West Side Montessori adheres to the philosophy and methods developed by Dr. Maria Montessori, an Italian physician and educator (1870 – 1952).

Early in the 20th century, Dr. Montessori envisioned a radically different approach to education, an approach grounded in close and insightful observations of children. She understood that children can construct knowledge, particularly within a meaningful context.
West Side Montessori provides highly organized classroom learning environments that give children countless opportunities to move, make choices, and take charge of their own learning.

For example, very young children are sorting and categorizing their world and are very sensitive to order in their lives. The Montessori classroom environment and materials are designed to aid the young child in the development of his or her sense of order.
 
Montessori philosophy and curriculum promote an understanding and appreciation for the interconnectedness of all that exists and a consequent social policy that teaches we are stewards of the earth.

Social outreach and community improvement service projects are an integral part of our curriculum. Cooperation and collaboration are cornerstones of the Montessori learning environment. Students work together, learn from one another, and support each other in a non-competitive atmosphere.

A Leading Private Montessori School

West Side Montessori’s philosophy of experiential learning at all ages inspires children to discover their potential and produces independent, self-motivated learners who make decisions with integrity; confident communicators; and compassionate leaders. 
Our Montessori-certified teachers, administrators, and assistants fully implement a world-renowned curriculum for children ages 13 months – grade 8 making West Side one of the largest, most successful private Montessori accredited schools in the nation.

The highly-enriched curriculum includes world languages introduced at age 3, leading to an immersion program in the upper levels.

2017 was a landmark year for West Side Montessori. The school completed the keystone phase of the 37-acre Toledo Campus development with the construction of larger art and music studios, a gymnasium/community gathering space, and additional classroom space.

The Keystone Project alleviated crowding and has allowed the school to accept new students in the upper elementary grades. A tornado safe room funded through a federal grant program also adds a new level of security for West Side students.
West Side Montessori is an independent, accredited Montessori school educating children 13 months through 8th grade (preschool, kindergarten, elementary school, and middle school). We are one of the leading private schools in Toledo and the nation.

WSM does not discriminate on the basis of ethnic origin, race, religion, gender, gender identity, sexual orientation, or disability in the administration of its admission policy, educational policy, or any school-administered program.