News & Events

News

2023

Headlines

  • Joyful Learning!

    The Montessori method is based on the belief that children are naturally curious, and the role of education is to foster that innate curiosity and love of learning.

  • The Absorbent Mind

  • Staff Spotlight: Julie Poure

    Julie has been teaching at West Side for the past 18 years and feels that Montessori meets the child where they are and provides the opportunity for them to develop at their own pace and to follow their own path within boundaries, to promote a lifelong love of learning.

  • The Montessori Mix-Age Classroom!

    In the Montessori mixed-age classrooms, there is always an older friend to lean on for support and guidance.

    All Montessori classrooms have a mixed-age group, usually three years. The mixed-age Montessori classroom is a unique educational environment that has several advantages, and one of them is the opportunity for older students to help their younger peers.

  • Thanks & Giving 2023: Toledo Helps Ukraine

    This year, West Side Montessori's annual Thanks & Giving Celebration will be supporting Toledo Helps Ukraine. This local organization’s goal is to help Ukrainian refugee families in the Toledo area transition from sponsor housing to independent housing. 

    We are looking forward to sharing with our children an act of great kindness and the gift of giving to those in need. Each classroom will be holding a drive from October 30th through November 16th.

  • Staff Spotlight: Rachel Seiple

    Little House teacher, Rachel Sieple, is a licensed intervention specialist and fell in love with the Montessori Method.

  • Staff Spotlight: Jana Schultz

  • Montessori Freedom within Limits

    The concept of "freedom within limits" is a fundamental principle of Montessori education. Dr. Maria Montessori believed that children should have the freedom to explore and learn independently, but this freedom should be balanced with appropriate limits and structure.

  • A Guide for Parent Observations

    Observing a Montessori classroom as a parent can be an insightful and enriching experience. It can help you better understand the Montessori method and how your child is learning and developing. Here's a guide for how parents should observe a Montessori classroom.

  • Why Observe Your Child in the Classroom?

    Children's House teacher Amy Wagner explains why we encourage parents to schedule classroom observations.

  • Staff Spotlight: Cheryl Pocrnich

    Cheryl Pocrnich is a teacher in the Little House and has been teaching at West Side Montessori for 34 years!

  • Staff Spotlight: Amanda Howard

    Amanda Howard has been teaching at West Side for the past 5 years and appreciates that teachers at WSM are able to slow down and meet a child where they are.

  • West Side Montessori Receives Ohio Arts Council Grant to Host Jordan Buschur

    The Perrysburg campus of West Side Montessori (WSM) is thrilled to welcome back visual artist Jordan Buschur as part of the TeachArtsOhio Grant from the Ohio Arts Council. WSM is honored to be named a recipient of this competitive grant, which will fund Ms. Buschur to teach art at WSM for 30 days of the 2023 - 2024 academic school year. 

  • West Side Montessori Receives Ohio Arts Council Grant to Host Risa Cohen

    During the 2023-2024 academic year, the Toledo campus of West Side Montessori (WSM), in collaboration with Risa Cohen, M.S.Ed, Creative Director of Sing into Reading, will benefit from a TeachArtsOhio Grant from the Ohio Arts Council. 
  • WSM's Power of the Pen Team

    Power of the Pen Team Members Advance

    Five of the top 250 Power of the Pen Writers in Ohio are West Side Middle School students in 2023!
  • From left: Lauren Metzger, Hazel Shanahan, and Skylar Sachs

    WSM Students Win Poetry Contest Awards

    Three West Side Middle School eighth-level students were invited as youth finalists to the Discover, Inspire, Create: TMA Poetry Prize reception on Saturday, May 20, 2023.
  • Margaret Kohler with her family.

    Staff Spotlight: Margaret Kohler

    "At every level, we have a phenomenal World Language program. It's wonderful that the school community values this special experience. I don’t know of any school around which can match our program, so it’s a unique gift a family can offer their child. The teachers are always innovating to make it better, too. We care a lot about our students as individuals and their learning experience." - Margaret Kohler, WSM French Teacher
  • Layan Ridi

    Alums Organize TEDx Event

    West Side graduates are known for being leaders when they move on to high school and Layan Ridi (‘22) and Daivik Patel (‘21) are no exception. Both attend Maumee Valley Country Day School where Layan is a freshman and Daivik is a sophomore.
  • Max Shelton ('19) will attend the University of Tennessee

    Alum Max Shelton Named Valedictorian

    Congratulations to West Side alum Max Shelton (‘19) on being named Valedictorian of his graduating class at Central Catholic! Max had direct involvement with every aspect of high school life and completely embodies West Side’s “Portrait of a Graduate.”
  • Lower Elementary Teacher Molly Bernhardt

    Teacher Molly Bernhardt Completes First-of-its-Kind Montessori Educator Program

    Congratulations to Lower Elementary teacher Molly Bernhardt on graduating with the American Montessori Society Instructor Academy's first cohort of teacher educators!
  • WSM's Power of the Pen Team

    Power of the Pen Team Does it Again!

    Congratulations West Side writers and Coach Mary Brandon! WSM's Power of the Pen team regional tournament competed at Lourdes University last weekend.

  • Staff Spotlight: Rocio Laorden Baeza

    Rocio Laorden Baeza teaches Spanish to students ages 3 years old-4th grade and believes learning a new language from a young age can be a fun and rewarding experience that enhances cognitive development and cultural understanding.

  • Five Ways Pets Support Montessori Learning!

    Having your child take care of family pets can be a way of bringing the Montessori philosophy into your home. It develops a number of skills along with many positive character traits, which helps in the development of the “whole child.”

  • Staff Spotlight: Morag Hastie

    Morag Hastie is an Upper Elementary teacher at WSM and feels the most important role is supporting the students in figuring out how to sit in that struggle space, how to think, how to be tenacious, how to work hard. It is a skill that will help them regardless of where life takes them.  
  • WSM's 8th Grade POP Team

    Power of the Pen Team Essays Recognized

    Best of Round essays have been announced after the recent Power of the Pen competition in Lima, Ohio, where WSM's team took home several awards.

  • Staff Spotlight: Andrew Sautter

    Andrew Sautter has taught at West Side Montessori for 12 years and believes the true magic of Montessori is the structure and environment allows students to develop responsibilities, explore their interests, investigate curiosities, gain a sense of self, learn boundaries, develop skills and gain knowledge in a way that is exciting and appealing to students which keeps them wanting more.
  • COVID 19 Scenario Flow Chart

    Health Protocols & Guidance for Returning to School (Fall 2022)

    As new recommendations are made by the CDC, ODE, and local boards of health, this guidance is subject to change. Last updated 1/28/2023.
  • Ashley Lawrence ('21)

    Alum Wins First Place in DECA District Competition

    Bowsher High School Sophomore Ashley Lawrence ('21) took first place in the Northwest Ohio DECA District Competition. 
    ​
  • The Middle School Power of the Pen Team

    Power of the Pen Team Takes Home Several Awards in District Tournament!

    WSM's Middle School Power of the Pen team recently competed in a district tournament held in Lima, Ohio, where they competed against 14 other middle and high schools from the area.

  • Montessori Materials!

    Montessori materials teach only one skill at a time to provide children with the opportunity to master key learning outcomes through repetition and practice. Doctor Montessori stated, “Nothing goes into the mind that does not first go through the hands.”
  • Hazel Shanahan (Class of 2023)

    Student's Essay Wins Ohio Civil Rights Commission Contest

    Middle School student Hazel Shanahan was selected as the winner of the 8th-grade essay competition for the 2023 Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Art, Essay & Multimedia Contest, hosted by the Ohio Civil Rights Commission.
  • Kyla Knight, Children's House Teacher

    Staff Spotlight: Kyla Knight

    Kyla has taught at West Side for the past 10 years and she believes that Montessori education isn’t just about how smart your child can be and achieving the best grades. It is about finding out who your child really is and nurturing them to be the best they can be.

  • Staff Spotlight: Brittany Turner

    Brittany Turner has been teaching in the Little House program at WSM for 5 years. Brittany is inspired by the thought and care that goes into creating a true Montessori environment.

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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.