Our Campus
Mountainside Montessori is located in pastoral Northern Fauquier County, between Marshall and The Plains. We are conveniently located within minutes of I-66, with easy access from Fauquier, Loudoun, and Prince William Counties.
Our new four-classroom building accommodates children from birth to 12 years of age. The Adolescent program uses the historic, newly renovated residence on campus. Garden areas are fully integrated into the curriculum and building design, allowing children unrestricted access to outdoor work during the school day. The nature trail, an evergreen glade, pathways, trellises, boulders, plants, and trees encourage exploration and movement as children embark on adventures throughout the campus.
Our Classrooms
THE PREPARED ENVIRONMENT
The “Prepared Environment” is Maria Montessori’s concept that the environment can be designed to facilitate maximum independent learning and exploration by the child. Montessori stated that young children process (absorb) everything through their senses. A well-prepared, child-centric environment is a sensorial one which reflects beauty, simplicity, and order. It provides well-chosen materials and activities which are required for learning. Everything is carefully chosen by the Montessori teacher in order to best facilitate the child’s learning. Each piece of material represents a purposeful educational activity. Unlike many overly-stimulating childcare centers which rely on the use of color, sound and movement, the Montessori classroom is designed to minimize things that may over-stimulate and distract. The Montessori classroom uses physical space and time that allows for concentration, design which allows children to find, use, and replace materials easily. Walls are painted in neutral colors. Shelves display a few objects at a time. This prepared environment provides a calm, neutral, quiet background that encourages and supports learning.
In the calm, ordered space of the Montessori prepared environment, children work on activities of their own choice at their own pace. They experience a blend of freedom and self-discipline in a place especially designed to meet their developmental needs.
Take a look inside our classrooms below:
Toddler Room
Primary Rooms
Elementary Room
Adolescent Room
