Ms. Teresa Gage is the Junior Room directress.
MPCC currently has 2 full time Junior Rooms comprised of children ages 3 to 5. Kindergarten curriculum is included as part of the Junior Room work for those children who are developmentally ready. Maria Montessori felt the mixed age environment was important as it encourages a strong sense of community among the children.
This is a beautifully prepared environment in which the children are offered a wide variety of hands-on activities from the five basic areas of the Montessori curriculum:
- Math
- Language
- Practical Life
- Sensorial
- Cultural
The multi-age setting enhances each child's self-confidence and acceptance of others as everybody works at their own pace and with their own set of strengths. Qualities of leadership, independence, self-motivation, love of learning, joyful social interaction, responsibility and respect for all living things are the products of our rich and orderly environments.
Throughout the year we enjoy many special activities such as our field trips to the apple orchard, children's theater and the zoo. We participate annually in the 4H incubation project which produces several live chicks each year and we like to do cooking projects and special lunches. Each year the children participate in Spring and Fall Musicals for the parents and relatives. The juniors are a busy group and love to spend time outdoors collecting bugs, playing in the sunshine or snow and simply enjoying the changing seasons in our delightful playground.
