This website is fortunate to have business financial support.  While no one who works on creating content for the website is compensated, third-party expenses are constant and can be substantial.  Support from the following businesses are gamechangers:  A Plus Electric, Beach Bar, Brokerage House, Brooklyn Plumbing, Heating & Air Conditioning, Doyle’s Market, Eagle Point Marina, Monroe Superstore, and M-R Builder.  The recent story that introduced the new owners of Doyle’s ended with acknowledgement of  the business supporters of the website, and was tagged with this sentience – “Another is soon to join the group – stay tuned!”  Time for the reveal.

ClarkLakeSpirit.com welcomes Countryside Montessori School, Clark Lake Campus, to the website.  Through the website’s previous articles, you are probably aware that Brad and Diane Smith are converting the former Clarklake Community Church into a Montessori pre-school.  The work, still in progress, is nearing completion.  Diane says “we’re now accepting students for this fall.”

To provide the proper setting, significant physical alterations are taking place both outside and inside.  Outside changes can be observed when you drive by.  Not so, inside.  In this video, Diane takes you on a room by room tour, describing former usage, the transformation taking place, and how the renovated space will contribute to the progress of students and aid teachers.  Diane’s granddaughter, Ellen, was first to enroll.  She plays a co-starring role in this video.

In September, the Clark Lake campus will hold a community-wide open house and plans to open on October 7th.

During the school year, the preschool will serve children ages 33 months to 6 years.  In the summer, seven and eight year-olds can also enroll.  Hours are 7:30 am to 4:30 pm, Monday through Friday.

Diane holds the phone for a before and after look.

The Montessori system is well-establish.  Its philosophy began to catch on in 1906 and has been prevalent around the world ever since.  Diane says Montessori is loved by children, is very successful at giving them a good basis in life, and creates a joy of learning.  That provides motivation for them to move forward.

Diane notes the Montessori philosophy rests on four pillars – independence, self-direction, real work, and respect.  Montessori aims to foster a classroom environment that empowers students to do things for themselves., thus fostering independence.  It encourages real work that could include cooking in an actual kitchen instead of play, helping with laundry and vacuuming.  The idea is to inspire confidence in the child’s ability to look after him or herself.

When it comes to self-direction, teachers watch the child to evaluate when he or she is ready to be introduced to math and language.  The classroom consists of mixed ages.  Some kids are already reading.  A three year-old might become curious and want to do the same.  As children are exposed to this, the teacher will head them in the right direction.

Respect is taught by explaining the social graces so the child can interact properly. That would include how to introduce yourself to others, handshakes and greetings.  The intent is to give the child confidence in different social settings, and for he or she to understand what’s expected.

The Clark Lake campus is the second location for Countryside Montessori.  The Hillsdale campus will continue to operate as Diane brings its successful Montessori experience to Clark Lake.  For more, click on the Countryside tile on this website.

When you are looking for help for products or services represented by the website’s supporters, please consider getting to know them.  Each has a strong connection to the Clark Lake community, and in many cases, are neighbors.