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The Kennedy Heights Montessori Center was founded in 1965 by a group of neighborhood
residents wishing to provide a beneficial pre-school experience for their young
children. The school was organized as a parent co-operative with a philosophy
and curriculum based on principles developed by Maria Montessori.
The
school originally was located in the Kennedy Heights Presbyterian Church. In 1976,
with the opening of the Woodford Primary School and Recreation Center, the school
moved to space in the Recreation Commission portion of the new building. This
joint venture helps the Montessori Center provide high quality programming at
a reasonable cost to families and continues to be a successful example of public/private
cooperation. With
the move, the Center added full-day day care service to the half-day Montessori
classroom experience. A building addition constructed in 1990 increased capacity
for full-day programming as well as improving existing classroom space. The
school serves 90-100 children a year. From the earliest days, the Center has maintained
a strong commitment to a racially and economically diverse student population.
Our admission policies continue to reflect this commitment.
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Dr. Maria Montessori, born in Italy in 1870, developed an educational theory and
practice that has been adopted by early childhood centers worldwide. For many
years, children of widely diverse cultural and economic groups have benefited
from her keen observation of and respect for, the work children do in the construction
of their individual personalities - what she called "the development of the
human potential."
In
the United States, her method is experiencing a re-birth of major proportions.
Early childhood educators have recognized the validity of her observation that
thinking in young children is directly tied to their interactions with people
and materials. Young children learn best and most by actively exploring their
environment, using hands-on materials and building upon their natural curiosity
to make sense of the world about them. Montessorians
can agree whole-heartedly with the developmentally appropriate curriculum defined
by the National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC). In such
a program, children select from among activities the teacher has prepared and
those initiated by the children themselves. Children spend most of their time
working individually or in small groups. Children are allowed to move at their
own pace to acquire important skills. Because children will be at varying levels
of skill acquisition, the classroom contains materials for a wide range of development
interests. Teachers add more complex materials or ideas to the environment based
on their observation of a child's needs. We
recognize that learning for young children does not thrive in narrowly defined
subject areas. Skills in reading and math are incorporated into a variety of activities
such as geography, science, art, music, cooking, etc. Equally important, we understand
that learning must take place within an atmosphere that fosters a sense of belonging,
self-confidence and respect for the rights of others.
Accreditation:
The State of
Ohio and the Cincinnati Health Department license the Kennedy Heights Montessori
Center. All our teachers are certified by the American Montessori Society (AMS)
or the Association Montessori International (AMI). Click
here for a brief biography of Dr. Maria Montessori from the American Montessori
Society website (www.amshq.org).
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As a parent co-op, the Kennedy Heights Montessori Center considers parental involvement
central to our earl childhood educational mission.
Many studies have
shown that children do best in school when they enjoy active support from their
parents. At Kennedy Heights, the school could not function without that involvement.
Parents are invited to be partners in their child's education through
regular interaction with teachers, invitations to chaperone field trips and by
attending special events. Parents also are expected to work for the school through
committees that perform various vital tasks including cleaning and maintenance,
fund raising, and programs. Some parents also support the work our teachers do
by serving as class secretaries.
Parents also play central roles in
governing the school. The parent-led Board of Trustees, with approval from parents
as a group, sets the school's budget and fees. It also selects the director and
decides various policy matters.
The hands-on work of parents is important
to keeping some budget expenses under control. More importantly, direct involvement
of parents helps build a personal level of commitment to the school and to the
success of their child's education.
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Click Here for a copy of the most recent school calendar.
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Kennedy Heights Montessori Center
6065
Red Bank Road
Cincinnati, Ohio 45213
513-631-8135
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use MapQuest below for directions | | | | | | |
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